Postal mechanisation

Postal mechanisation is difficult to specifically define. Even so, it is fair to say that there are around 100 objects in our museum collection that help tell its story. These include the only surviving parts of the first automatic sorting machine used in Britain, an example of the first successful British-built sorting machine and the latest trials in automated collecting.

Collecting, sorting, cancelling and delivering the mail have traditionally been very labour intensive activities. With postal reform in 1840 there was a huge increase in the use of the postal system, putting more and more pressure on manual work. From very early on the post office sought a way of mechanising these processes.

Developments began with the mechanised cancelling of mail but mechanisation of the British postal system began in earnest in the 1930s. 

In our collection...

Cancelling
Cancelling is perhaps the easiest part of the postal system to mechanise. The BPMA collection contains a number of different cancelling machines.
See examples of our cancelling machines...

Collecting and delivering
Of all the areas of the postal system, collecting and delivery are the least easy to mechanise. Having said that, the BPMA collections do have some objects linked with these process.
See examples of our objects used in collecting and delivering the mail...

Sorting
Sorting is perhaps the most mechanised postal process. We hold examples of some of the most important mechanised sorting equipment.
See examples of our objects used to sort the mail...

Access

This material is accessible by appointment only. For more information, or to make an appointment, please contact us by telephone on 020 7239 2570 or by email to info@postalheritage.org.uk. Please quote the accession number of the object you would like to see when making your enquiry.