2016-10-18 Tue

The pneumatic tube mail was a unique postal system operating around the world prior to the World War I till the mid 20th Century.

Pneumatic post or pneumatic mail is a system to deliver letters through pressurized air tubes. Invented by the Scottish engineer William Murdoch in the 19th century, Pneumatic post systems was later developed by the London Pneumatic Despatch Company.

An item to be transmitted by pneumatic post came be called a “pneu.” The pneus were placed in a small capsule. The capsule was inserted into a network of tubes and propelled by air pressure, either pushed or pulled, to the destination. The tubes went through sewers, along rail and subway lines, and across bridges.

Pneumatic post systems were used in several large cities starting in the second half of the 19th century including London, Paris, New York, Prague and many more. Here is some interesting information about this system spread worldwide.

A major network of tubes in Paris was in use until 1984.

In Prague, in the Czech Republic, the network extended approximately 60 kilometres.

Italy was the only country to issue postage stamps specifically for pneumatic post.

Austria, France, and Germany issued postal stationery for pneumatic use.

A typical French postal stationery from the late 19th century and early 20th century has inscriptions such as “tubes pneumatiques” (pneumatic tubes) and “carte-telegramme” (telegram card), and the imprinted stamp has the word “telegraphe” instead of the usual “postes.

A 1.60 francs stamp of France celebrating the Centenary of the Paris Pneumatic Post depicts pneumatic tube map.

As Pneumatic post stations usually connect post offices, stock exchanges, banks and ministries. It played a vital role during the Cold War to pass highly confidential information through the county.