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#1 2012-06-17 21:43:10

Sal
Member
Registered: 2009-08-03
Posts: 2859

Western Union Telegram

Anyone recall the Western Union Telegram messengers who would deliver these small  yellow envelopes throughout the City all times of the day.

Before all the latest technology(up until the mid 1960's),this was the cheapest means of communication for European and foreign communication.

Most of the visits to residential homes normally brought bad news-death of a loved one. Military family member injured or missing in action.

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#2 2012-06-18 00:38:13

ed d
Member
Registered: 2008-05-12
Posts: 1391

Re: Western Union Telegram

3 fastest means of communication   Telegraph...Telephone...Tell a Woman

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#3 2012-06-18 10:11:36

CharlieP.
Member
Registered: 2008-05-12
Posts: 2409

Re: Western Union Telegram

Sal, I never used it,but my grandmother got one when her son was killed on Guam,during the second world war.

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#4 2012-06-18 19:40:41

reege
Member
Registered: 2010-02-27
Posts: 122

Re: Western Union Telegram

My mother got one to inform her she had won the Irish Sweepstakes. This was in the early 50's and I think the prize was about 50 Irish pounds - a tidy sum then.

But I think you're right - usually it was bad news, especially during the war years.

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#5 2012-09-07 19:50:28

floisnj
New member
Registered: 2012-05-16
Posts: 9

Re: Western Union Telegram

yep sure do, worked for WU in NJ  for 15 years pasting those yellow strips to paper, singing telegrams, reading teletype tape and  transcribing phone messages on those clunky black  manual typewriters.   We sent fax over a spindle to companies long before current technology and it took 4 hours to wire money,   Its a lost art. Spoke with and met   numerous celebs... those were the days.

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