Tying letters with string

[mikek]

Hi Guys
I was a telegram boy at Sutton in Surrey back in the 1960s and remember that in the sorting office all the sorting racks had, in each position, a large roll of string and a razor sharp hook attached to the desk (not so hot on health and safety in those days). When a batch of letters needed securing there was a very easy and fast method of bundling them, knotting the string and then cutting it on the hook. All GPO staff were taught how to tie this useful knot.

The beauty of the knot was that it could be tightened by a simple pull before cutting and a looped bow allowed for easy undoing of the knot.

From the amount of elastic bands I find on my driveway I reckon that this is not now current practice as I'm sure people use to find lengths of string on their drives instead.

Does anyone remember how to tie that knot?
Cheers
Mike

[rockytony67]

When I started in the early eighties, there were still some of the old boys using string in my office, I was taught how to do it, but I was never any good at knots as it was, so I couldn't do it now if you paid me

[TrueBlueTerrier]

It took me ages to get a "dolly" knot done when I was a drivers mate for a while.

[mikek]

Spent a few years driving trucks too. Tying a "dolly" (used when roping and sheeting) is still useful when trying to get some serious purchase on something connected to a hook, or other device you can get a loop over, however it doesn't let you get the sort of tight binding on a package that you could get with that knot used on the letters. The point being you use the dolly to tie something to something else i.e. a load onto a truck whereas the knot used on the letters is tying something to itself.

[johnnyp]

I was shown when i was trained for 2 weeks at the school in Kings Cross,but im ashamed to say ive forgotten how to do it .Loads of the lads at my DO used to use the string,but made there bundles massive

[TrueBlueTerrier]

The way these new red bands break after only being used twice we might all have to back to string soon.

[Stormproof]

The way these new red bands break after only being used twice we might all have to back to string soon.

or bands not getting ordered, quite often we have to hunt round for them. Perhaps they should get string in for an emergency.

[DGP1]

The way these new red bands break after only being used twice we might all have to back to string soon.

or bands not getting ordered, quite often we have to hunt round for them. Perhaps they should get string in for an emergency.

No elastic bands, no delivery until your DOM gets you some It's not your job to hunt around for anything, it's theirs.

[NWpostie]

The last time I saw them used must be 1991 ish I remember breaking the bundles up for sorting by putting the bundles on top of the hook and pulling back to cut it, sliced my finger once for being careless in doing so.

[Lounge Lizard]

The way these new red bands break after only being used twice we might all have to back to string soon.

They are probaly made to break after being used only twice so that nobody bothers to steal them.

[ar26]

I only get one use out of mine before they tend to snap, maybe it's the cold or are my bundles too big lol

[BIG AL]

Only remember using string when the business ran out of bands.
It was torture, I like others have mentioned, tied my mail in big bundles and hoped I would'nt fall or drop it.
I also remember a couple of colleges using the string very effectively and having little problems.
When I asked them about their skills; I was told they had used the string in shops where they worked as assistants!

Another amusing story regarding elastic bands; was when my Lino pulled me into his office one day.
He looked at me very sternly and told me I was in 'Big Trouble!'
There had been a complaint about me;
from a former postman non-the-less.
Nerviously, I asked him 'What have I done Wrong?'
My crime was- I had dropped/scattered used elastic bands all over hs pavement/street!
At this point, my Lino started to P....s himself laughing.

On my last day on the Walk, I 'accidently??????' dropped a few bands on his path/street.

[orienteer]

I worked for An Post in Ireland, they're still using string now over there now. I was the only one using bands, having previously worked for RM. I had to buy my own.

[Stormproof]

I worked for An Post in Ireland from 95-04, they're still using string now over there now. I was the only one using bands, having previously worked for RM. I had to buy my own.

Bet you made sure they were'nt dropped over the path, i expect you bought better quality bands then we get at RM otherwise it would be costing you a fortune

[TrueBlueTerrier]

Welcome to RMC orienteer, glad you found your way here . If you like the site spread the word as the more members we have the more we can pass information around.