{"product_id":"vintage-the-wombat-envelope-letter-opening-machine","title":"Vintage The Wombat Envelope \/ Letter Opening Machine","description":"\u003ch1\u003eVintage The Wombat Envelope \/ Letter Opening Machine\u003c\/h1\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIf you love old office related tech then you'll love this mechanical Vintage \u003cem\u003eThe Wombat Envelope \/ Letter Opening Machine, \u003c\/em\u003emanufactured by GA Robinson (Stoke-on-Trent) Ltd, Staffs, UK.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003e\u003cstrong\u003eApproximate Size and Weight:\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWeight: 3.1kg unpacked\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eWHD: 38cm ( 15\") x 10.3 cm  (4\"0) x 10.3 cm\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eIt's portable and operated manually i.e. the mechanism is not automated nor electric. In pretty good used working condition with surface scuffs and blemishes commensurate with age and use.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eThese devices are becoming very difficult to find. I'm not quite sure why it was called a 'Wombat' unless it's referring to its 'pouch' like mechanism?\u003cstrong\u003e\u003c\/strong\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eMade from hammered finished grey metal, it's very heavy and beautifully engineered with an enclosed mechanism similar to that of a rotary guillotine. There was a label on the side of the machine (mainly rubbed off) and a metal label underneath with the following information. \u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cul\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eThe Wombat Envelope Opening Machine\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eSerial No. AMC 6466\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eBritish Patent No. 621186 \u003cem\u003e(published on 5th April 1949). \u003c\/em\u003eRegistered no. 853086 \u003cem\u003e(dates to 1948)\u003c\/em\u003e\n\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eCanadian Patent No. 470292. Foreign Patents applied for.\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003cli\u003eManufactured by G.A. Robinson (Stoke-On-Trent) Ltd, Hartshill, Stoke -on -Trent, Staffs, England\u003c\/li\u003e\n\u003c\/ul\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eA real 'slice' of history, this large desk device was a piece of late 1940s \/ 1950s time saving, hand operated, technology for opening the small pile of business letters you may have received instead of using a letter opener knife.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eYou insert an envelope into the chrome slot feed, pull the chrome handle down and it clips off \/slices a small portion of the envelope to create an open end. The waste strip, if any, is dropped underneath the machine. The last two photos shows a closed envelope and the envelope opened after it has been in the machine.\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003eI've never seen another. What a statement piece as a desk ornament!\u003c\/p\u003e\n\u003cp\u003ePlease click on the following link for more \u003ca rel=\"noopener\" href=\"https:\/\/mullardantiques.co.uk\/collections\/vintage-office\" target=\"_blank\"\u003evintage office equipment.\u003c\/a\u003e\u003c\/p\u003e","brand":"GA Robinson Ltd","offers":[{"title":"Default Title","offer_id":55280745644407,"sku":"","price":63.0,"currency_code":"USD","in_stock":true}],"thumbnail_url":"\/\/cdn.shopify.com\/s\/files\/1\/0303\/5122\/8972\/files\/DSC02487.jpg?v=1749650328","url":"https:\/\/mullardantiques.co.uk\/en-us\/products\/vintage-the-wombat-envelope-letter-opening-machine","provider":"Mullard Antiques and Collectibles","version":"1.0","type":"link"}