Members blue2blue Posted February 4, 2006 Members Share Posted February 4, 2006 Telegram Passes Into HistoryAssociated Press 10:00 AM Feb, 02, 2006 For more than 150 years, messages of joy, sorrow and success came in signature yellow envelopes hand delivered by a courier. Now the Western Union telegram is officially a thing of the past.The company formed in April 1856 to exploit the hot technology of the telegraph to send cross-country messages in less than a day. It is now focusing its attention on money transfers and other financial services, and delivered its final telegram on Friday."The decision was a hard decision because we're fully aware of our heritage," Victor Chayet, a company spokesman said Wednesday. "But it's the final transition from a communications company to a financial services company."Several telegraph companies that eventually combined to become Western Union were founded in 1851. Western Union built its first transcontinental telegraph line in 1861. _________ More: http://www.wired.com/news/technology/0,70147-0.html?tw=wn_index_18 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members soapbox Posted February 4, 2006 Members Share Posted February 4, 2006 Sad news STOP. --- Best, Geoff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted February 4, 2006 Author Members Share Posted February 4, 2006 So... in the old days (and if I'm saying that I think we understand I'm talking about the old days)... did they send out the telegrams with the word "STOP" instead of periods? I THINK the first telegrams I remember just had periods. Then again, they were clearly teletype, I THINK, with the lines of text pasted on... Anyhow... I knew telegrams weren't what they used to be but I was still a bit surprised to see them go completely. You'd think they'd just stamp the brand name on some kind of e-communication. No reason, I suppose, they can't do that later. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members Super 8 Posted February 4, 2006 Members Share Posted February 4, 2006 Originally posted by soapbox Sad news STOP. --- Best, Geoff Good one, Geoff. You took the words out of my mouth. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members aliengroover Posted February 4, 2006 Members Share Posted February 4, 2006 Originally posted by Super 8 Good one, Geoff. You took the words out of my mouth. LOL! Yeah, I got an awesome guffaw out of it! Peace Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members elsongs Posted February 5, 2006 Members Share Posted February 5, 2006 I can't help but wonder who was the last person to send/receive a telegram. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members blue2blue Posted February 5, 2006 Author Members Share Posted February 5, 2006 Originally posted by elsongs I can't help but wonder who was the last person to send/receive a telegram. I feel an E-Bay auction coming on... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Members ZED Posted February 5, 2006 Members Share Posted February 5, 2006 What took so long? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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