The Unofficial Mamod and Other Steam Forum

steamman · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:18 pm Post subject: A rare Lamson cash carrier

I thought you may like to see a very rare piece of retail history. From about 1880 until 1960 many large department stores were fitted with internal 'cash railways' so send customer payments to the cash office for change. This meant that there were no tills left alone on the shop floor when all the staff were serving. At the Jacksons department store in Reading, where I work, we operate the last fully working example in the UK. This is still used for cash payments and used six days a week. The store has been trading since 1875 and is still family owned. I have recently wrote a book about the history of the store and the cash system and sold over 300 copies.

The system is known as a pneumatic tube and the carriers which contain the money is propelled through the tubes by a vacuum and air pressure.

enjoy

_________________
You should buy a Marklin, their Great!!

johnreid · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 5:26 pm Post subject:

I remember those from the Department Stores that my Mother shopped at when I was young, At one in particular every purchase went to the office upstairs and the carrier would return with the change and a receipt.
Drive through Banks still operate a similar system.
_________________
Non Impedite Raditioni Cogitationis

Bugsy · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:13 pm Post subject:

The big deparment stores in Sydney used them when I was a kid.
It would have been very exciting if they'd used steam instead of compressed air.

_________________
See you in Sala!

madeinenglang · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:17 pm Post subject:

Roly Williams · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 6:51 pm Post subject:

I remember those. I had no idea they were still being used

_________________
Regards
Roly Williams

"The weather is always weird somewhere" (Gregg Easterbrook)

Les · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 8:46 pm Post subject:

Tesco's use them' usually when there is too much cash in the till.
_________________
Les - I would give up drinking but I am not a quitter.

www.freewebs.com/lesmarsh

pauly · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:14 pm Post subject:

they have a set of those in my local Tescos and B&Q.
_________________
The Woodrow story
http://modelsteam.myfreeforum.org/ftopic10347-0.php

Steve_S · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:34 pm Post subject:

I remember those in th Co-op in West Hartlepool when I was a child. They made a very distinctive noise that I've never forgotten.

steamman · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:39 pm Post subject:

Some of our customers have memories of working in shops with cash carriers and ask us if they can send the money up the chute

_________________
You should buy a Marklin, their Great!!

steamman · Posted: Sun Nov 22, 2009 9:44 pm Post subject:

The system at Jacksons dates to the 1960s and was one of the last to be installed in a shop.

The systems found in supermarkets work the same way but the carrier, once finished with in the account office, is returned by hand to the till.
_________________
You should buy a Marklin, their Great!!

robertosala · Posted: Mon Nov 23, 2009 5:26 am Post subject: