PENNY-IN-THE-SLOT STAMP MACHINE.

Wanganui Chronicle, Issue 12856, 24 October 1912, Page 2

PENNY-IN-THE-SLOT STAMP MACHINE.

EXPERIFAOES AT MARTON

MACHINE A FAILURE

(L'y Oar Travelling Reporter.)

MAKTON, October 23. The penny-in-the^slot stamp machine is a splendid invention, but it is not a suceesfi in all places. Marton Junction luis proved the exception, and the n'achino has been given up for a bad job. The stamp machine was placed in a comparatively sheltered part of the station building and for a few days proved itself a source of convenience to the travelling public desiring stamps. Tho metal casing of the machine, how-e-ier, appeared to attract the moisture, and the gum at the back of the stamps soo7\ became- affected. Some people used naughty words when they found they had to work pretty hard, and engage all kinds of manoeuvring in order to get value for the penny which had dropped into tho slot" "beyond recall" or recovery. The sticky stamp had a habit of adhering to the mouth of the machine, and seemed to defy all kinds of persuasive methods to accommodate. Perhaps just as the rightful owner of the stamp thought that he was succeeding "seats plea.«e" reminded him that he stood thp risk of losing his seat on tho train, as well as the stamp in the machine, and in desperation he usually succeeded in getting a little portion of tho stamp to go on with. Quite a largo number of stamps were destroyed in tlr's way, and chloride of calcium, an •absorber of moisture, was tried as a moans of obviating the difficulty. This experiment however, also proved a, failure; in fact, additional moisture was gathered from outside, and about an egg cup full of water was found in the machine at the end of 24 hours. There was no hope for it, therefore, but to remove tho machine and this was done to-day. In a completely covered-in room where the machine is protected absolutely against dampness," tho penny-■iu-the-slot stamp machine is a success, but at Marton Junction railway station, where it was partially exposed, ,i machine not «,o subservient to moisture only could possibly be a success.