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Washington, D.C., 1916. "Post Office Department, sealing machine." Which is a Mailometer. Harris & Ewing Collection glass negative. View full size.
Looks like she is wearing what they call a "Finger Cot" to help in sorting
Such a dignified lady, but oh she looks so weary of life.
One commenter noted her beautiful hand and long fingers, while another was concerned that her tie might get caught in the machinery. But on looking more closely at her hand, I fear that perhaps it was her middle finger that got caught in the Mailometer.
[Is she wearing one of those rubber-thimble-things? - Dave]
ETA: Maybe... or a bandage? We can only hope.
OK, hand, as you can only see one. The PO machinery is interesting, but I'm more taken with that beautiful hand. Look how long her fingers are; she could probably reach two octaves! Wonder if she played piano?
The use of "USPS" in this context brings out the pedantic in me (like that's difficult). At this time and up until 1970, it was the Post Office Department, a Cabinet-level executive department just like State, Agriculture, War, etc. The Postmaster General as well as the local Postmasters were appointed by the President, and the Department's finances controlled by Congress. The PMG post often went to the President's campaign manager (e.g., James Farley in the FDR administration and Larry O'Brien in JFK's). The Postal Reorganization Act of 1970 removed it from the cabinet, eliminated the political patronage and transformed it into an independent Executive Branch agency funded by postage revenue rather than Congressional appropriation, and renamed it The United States Postal Service.
Why does it look like someone tried to drive a stake through her heart and missed? Maybe it is an on/off button. The USPS's early attempt at automation.
That tie is giving me the willies! I can't believe they'd allow such a thing amongst whirling and spinning machinery.
Before anybody asks "Since when is it the Post Office's job to seal mail?" I'll point out that this is undoubtedly Post Office Dept. Headquarters and those are probably official missives being sent out to the hinterlands or some other kind of info dump. It does, though, looks a lot like a "Flyer" cancelling machine, and I was all ready to hit the "AHA!" button before I took a closer look
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