LETTER SORTING.

Taranaki Herald, Volume LV, Issue 13967, 27 July 1909, Page 1

LETTER SORTING.

FURTHER IMPROVEMENTS AT

THE POST OFFICE

During the last few days a further addition has boon made to the many improvements that have been effected at the New Plymouth Post Office, which now boasts of all the latest facilities in use at the city offices. It is a little contrivance for stamping letters, and is tho patent of Sir. Donald Robertson, sHoietary of the Post and Telegraph Department. The invention is simpliritv itself, but is one of the best l.ihour-snving machines seen for some time. Neat in appearance, and something similar to a ladies' sewing machine in size, it does its work with wonderful rapidity. It is driven by a Wagner electric motor of 1 h.p., anil is capable when working at full pressure of .stamping about lo(X) ordinary letters or postcards per minute. A Herald representative saw a number of letters and postcards stamped, and although the machine stamps with such lightning speed it also does its work efficiently. A youth — one of the smartest users of the hand stamp at the local office — was set to stamp a bundle of letters against time in order that our reporter lrfifiht compare tho old and the new side by side. The youth certainly was very clover, stamping about 180 in the minute. He was, however, working at a high pressure, and it would be impossible to maintain this speed for any length of time. It would be a fair average to assume that with the old method a man would stamp about 1.30 per minute. Compare this with the capacity of the machine — 1500 per muuite — and one has a good idea of its value in a post ollice, where everything has to bo done with tho utmost disnatcli. In tho past, it four men have been engaged in sorting, the stamping has required the attention of four men. Now the whole staff, with the exception of one to manipulate the machine, may be employed sorting, and the machine will bo more than able to keep time with them. The machine works in much the same manner at the latest machines in a printing office, but at a greater speed.