The man who posted himself to Australia
On the theme of People Who Have Posted Themselves Through The Mail, so far we have already noted the achievements in this line of activity of Henry Bray, May Pierstorff, and Johann Beck.
We can add to our list Reg Spiers, about whom the BBC News recently ran an article. In the mid-1960s, Spiers posted himself from London to Australia as a way to cheaply get back home in time for his daughter's birthday. The cost of a plane ticket was actually cheaper than the cost of shipping such a heavy crate, but Spiers knew that he could send the crate cash-on-delivery, so that payment would only be required once he was in Australia.
His plan succeeded. When he arrived in Australia, the crate (with him inside it) was put in a storage shed from which he managed to escape and hitchhike home. He never had to pay the shipping fees.
We can add to our list Reg Spiers, about whom the BBC News recently ran an article. In the mid-1960s, Spiers posted himself from London to Australia as a way to cheaply get back home in time for his daughter's birthday. The cost of a plane ticket was actually cheaper than the cost of shipping such a heavy crate, but Spiers knew that he could send the crate cash-on-delivery, so that payment would only be required once he was in Australia.
His plan succeeded. When he arrived in Australia, the crate (with him inside it) was put in a storage shed from which he managed to escape and hitchhike home. He never had to pay the shipping fees.
Comments
I'm thinkin' I'll take a cruise ship.
Posted by Expat47 in Athens, Greece on 03/09/15 at 10:20 AM
I'm thinking that posted warnings on the crate like, "Do Not Drop", "This End Up", or "Handle With Care" would seem more like a challenge to freight handlers.
In one of my guises as a warehouse worker, I noticed that some of the packages had little stickers pasted on that consisted of a small glass vial that would fracture within and change color when roughly handled. Many arrived intact, but once in a while ...
I'm with Expat - I'll take a method of transport more conducive to humans.
In one of my guises as a warehouse worker, I noticed that some of the packages had little stickers pasted on that consisted of a small glass vial that would fracture within and change color when roughly handled. Many arrived intact, but once in a while ...
I'm with Expat - I'll take a method of transport more conducive to humans.
Posted by KDP on 03/09/15 at 05:03 PM
Now someone would freeze to death in a planes cargo hold due to high altitude.
Posted by Patty in Ohio, USA on 03/09/15 at 05:40 PM
Patty, you didn't read the end of the article.
Posted by ges on 03/09/15 at 08:34 PM
I'm looking forward to Patty's "box" this weekend on a visit. She has a wonderful way to make a man seem like he is so alive and loved.
Posted by BrokeDad in Midwest US on 03/09/15 at 09:50 PM
Henry "Box" Brown escaped from slavery by mailing himself from Richmond to Philadelphia. http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Henry_Box_Brown
Posted by ges on 03/10/15 at 11:32 PM
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Category: 1960s | Postal Services