1935 had Twitter, but no easy way to play "Mafia Wars". No wonder it took 70 years for Tweeting to take off.

Robot Messenger Displays Person-to-Person Notes In Public

TO AID persons who wish to make or cancel appointments or inform friends of their whereabouts, a robot message carrier has been introduced in London, England.

Known as the “notificator,” the new machine is installed in streets, stores, railroad stations or other public places where individuals may leave messages for friends.

The user walks up on a small platform in front of the machine, writes a brief message on a continuous strip of paper and drops a coin in the slot. The inscription moves up behind a glass panel where it remains in public view for at least two hours so that the person for whom it is intended may have sufficient time to observe the note at the appointed place. The machine is similar in appearance to a candy-vending device.

via tumblr.absono.us and ModernMechanix.com

That appeared in the August 1935 issue of "Modern Mechanix" magazine. Pretty cool.

I wonder if one of these is still laying around somebody's garage in the UK someplace. I'd love to see one in person. I have a fascination for retro-tech. Especially failed retro-tech.

Posted via web from thepete's posterous