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Post Office departments and abbreviations (Bristol area)

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leamphil
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Joined: 23 Dec 2015, 14:38
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Post Office departments and abbreviations (Bristol area)

Post by leamphil »

I collect Bristol postmarks and have come across a number of department names and abbreviations on handstamps that I would appreciate help with understanding. For completeness I've included some that I reckon I do know, as well as my guesses on what the abbreviations stand for.
The dates are those that I have cancels from, not the full dates when the department would have existed (I'd be interested in any of these if known).

1) "BOX OFFICE / BRISTOL" appearing on oval handstamps c.1995-1996 - would this be the department dealing with PO Box numbers ?

2) "BRISTOL / CALLERS OFFICE" on rubber handstamp 1992 - purpose of department ? When might it be used ?

3) "BRISTOL / C.C.O." from 1904 - probably not PO, County Court Office ? [Don't expect anyone to have worked with this !]

4) "BRISTOL / E.D.O." variety of cancels from 1930-1985 - East District Office ? Eastern Delivery Office ?? I guess it could change over time.

5) "BRISTOL / F.S." variety of cancels from 1907 to 1981- Foreign Section

6) "BRISTOL Investigation Duty" cancel from 1980 on P125H slip saying sorry packet has been delayed - what would the Investigation Duty department be doing (it was a postcard from Jersey not a packet) ?

7) "BRISTOL / M.O.O." from 1876 - Money Order Office

8) "BRISTOL / N.D.O." on variety of cancels from c.1920 to 1975 - North District Office ? Northern Delivery Office ??

9) "Bristol PCO" labelled as Repacking office stamp on card saying open parcel was enclosed in plastic sack - Parcel/Package Control Office ??

10) "BS1 PDO" on oval cancels on high value (£15) block of stamps from 2002 - Parcel Delivery Office ??

11) "Postal Coding" / "Postcode Section" department dealing with postcode errors/issues ?

12) "CANCELLED / P.O. Supplies Dept" on an oval cancel of a stamp with a BS IMP cancel from 2000 - what would a PO Supplies dept be doing cancelling an envelope ?

13) "Reporting Office / BRISTOL" oval cancels from 1998-2005 - what is the role of the Reporting Office wrt cancelling mail ?

14) "R.L.B. / BRISTOL" variety of cancels 1885-1967 - Returned Letter Branch
15) "R.L.D. / BRISTOL" from 1970 - Returned Letter Department
16) "R.L.S. / BRISTOL" from 1972 - Returned Letter Section

17) "S.D.O. / BRISTOL 3" from c.1965 to 1970 - South District Office ? Southern Delivery Office ??

18) "Bristol / S.E." from 1977-1985- Bristol South East Office ?

19) "Bristol / Stamp Room" on envelope to sub-office postmaster in 1983 - the department that distributes stamps to sub-offices ?

Looking forward to your help with the above.

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Post Office departments and abbreviations (Bristol area)

Post by POSTMAN »

Good luck! :nervous
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ttsdriver
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Joined: 26 Dec 2019, 11:49
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Post Office departments and abbreviations (Bristol area)

Post by ttsdriver »

Hi.

I worked at Bristol MLO and WoEMC so have some answers for you.

1) you are correct
2) The callers office was a counter at the MLO for customers to post items/ purchase stamps etc. It allowed late posting of items up until about 9pm.
3} no idea
4) East Delivery Office BS5 Postcode
5) Prob Fgn Section
6) Would guess the item was delayed by a dishonest postie, occasionally bags of mail would be found at a posties property, perhaps the items were then forwarded on to the correct destinations with the card stamped by the investigation branch.
7) ?
8) North Delivery Office BS6 / 7
9) ?
10) ?
11) ?
12) ?
13) The reporting office dealt with damaged mail etc Also lots of stamps would detach from items of mail which would need to be cancelled to prevent re use.
14/15/16 correct
17) South Delivery Office BS3/13
18) South East Delivery office BS4/14
19) ?
leamphil
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Joined: 23 Dec 2015, 14:38
Gender: Male

Re: Post Office departments and abbreviations (Bristol area)

Post by leamphil »

Thanks very much - just spotted your reply !
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