 This cupboard had sliding doors and was situated under the bench of the sorting fittings. Originally they would have had plain wooden doors and secured with a small rather insubstantial lock, used for the stowage of high value packets (HVP's), large registered items and at the end of duty a few unofficial empty bags (to give the crew a start the following evening !)After the events of 1963 (the Great Train Robbery) the Post Office decided that it had to take security seriously and one of the measures it employed was to reinforce these sliding cupboards with steel plates that ran in deep grooves. It can be seen that a strong hardened steel swivel has been attached to the left of the door. When the door was locked it was secured with a high quality Ingersoll lock. At the top of the door there is a hole and the intention was, that if the train was attacked, the registered officer who had or ought to have had, his HVP's secured behind the locked doors, would drop the keys through the hole. Or at least that was the theory !!! |
 The nest of storage drawers under the bench of the sorting fittings were required to keep the numerous forms used by TPO staff during the course of their duties. There were over 50 such forms ranging from those peculiar to individual TPO's, general TPO forms common to all staff over the network and general Post Office forms. Ink for stamp pads was often kept in the bottom drawer. |
 The Records cupboard was used for such records as might be used and referred to by all staff. Layouts of sorting fitting plans for all journeys covered by the TPO, Distribution lists, Forward lists, Duty rosters and responsibilities, TPO Orders and Blind lists were typical of the contents of this cupboard. |
 This galvanised tray was located under the 'news desk' where packets, newspapers and large items were sorted. It was used by the bag opener on occasions to keep his bills and similarly to place mugs of tea on ! Unofficially it was sometimes used as a card table during slack periods. Its correct use has been lost in the mists of time but the fact that the tray was lined would seem to indicate that it was there to prevent liquids from spilling and the only liquids used with official blessing, were the ink for stamp pads and tea. |
 The second nest of drawers would have been used for the same purpose as the one in the second picture. |
TPO's also had stores boxes (one is visible on the left hand side of the second photograph and were known as 'woolsacks'). These boxes had padded tops and doubled as seats for registered officers and leg weary supervisors ! Their primary purpose was to retain bag ties, seals, string and bundles of labels.
Stripping the Interior - Lighting & Electrics
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