Page 57 - Jamaica Post Office Guide 1977

56 POST OFFICE GUIDE

General Information: Speeial Packing Regulations For Certain Articles, contd.

Maps, drawings and so on: These should be enclosed in strong cardboard tubes
with rigid support in the form of a wooden rod inside the roll, or stout strips of
wood on the outside as recommended for umbrellas and so on.

Live bees, leeches, silkworms and certain parasites: Live bees, leeches and silk­
worms must be enclosed in boxes so constructed as to avoid all risk of injury to
officers of the Post Office and to allow the contents to be ascertained. The parcel
should bear a label with with the words “Live Animals” written in bold letters
Metal castings, tiles and similar articles:These should be packed in rigid boxes
of wood or fibreboard with plenty of soft material, such as straw roping, hay
roping or wood wool to prevent movement within the box. The boxes should be
tied securely with strong string.
Musical instruments: These should be enclosed in stout wooden cases with
sufficient soft packing to prevent movement and damage through jolting. Leather
or cloth cases do not alford adequate protection, especially to stringed instru­
ments. The bridges of stringed instruments should be removed and packed
separately.
Nuts, bolts, small machine parts and so on: Becauses of their very heavy weight,
nuts, bolts, small machine parts and so on, are liable to burst all but the strongest
packing. Such articles should be wrapped in hessian, sacking or similar stout
material with sufficient soft packing to prevent movement and be tied securely
with strong string.
Paint, varnish, enamel and kindred substances: Those with flashpoints of 150°F.
and over may be sent by letter or parcel post subject to compliance with the
packing conditions for liquids. Those with flashpoints between 90°F and 150CF.
may be sent by letter or parcel post provided not more than one quart is enclosed
in a single postal packet and the following special packing conditions are complied
with:-
The substance must be in a metal container hermetically scaled or, if in a lever
top tin, with the lid fastened down to the body of the tin by means of solder.
(Tins with lids affixed to the body solely by means of wire clips must not be used).
An air space of not less than 7J- per cent of the container’s total cubic content
must be left in each tin.

The tin containing the substance itself must be packed in a stout metal or
wooden box with the lid fixed in such a manner that it cannot easily become
detached. Between the box and in the space there must be packed sufficient saw­
dust or other absorbent material to prevent movement of the inner container and
to absorb all the liquid contents in the event of breakage. Exceptionally, small
packets not exceeding 8oz gross weight may be sent by parcel or letter post under
the packing conditions laid down for liquids (see above).
Paints and so on with flashpoints lower than 90°F. are totally prohibited from
transmission by post.
Pictures in frames: Pictures in frames should be protected at the front and back
by stout w'ooden boards each rather longer than the frame. Soft packing should
be placed firmly between the corners of the frame and the boards, but not so as to
press on the glass.
Powders and fine grains: These must be so packed that the contents will not
soil or taint other packets. They must have an inner covering, securely closed and
a strong outer covering of metal, wood, fibreboard, cardboard or strong plastic
material. Cardboard boxes are not suitable, however, for quantities exceeding
3 lb in weight.