Airgraph 1943

A forgotten form of communication, the airgraph was only used for a few years during the 1940s. Developed by Kodak in around the 1930s, airgraph wasn't accepted by most people until World War II.

Many of our troops were overseas, in the Middle East in particular, and the airgraph proved to be faster than letters. But also for the mail carriers, the airgraph was very lightweight. Because the aeroplanes of the time didn't have the power for long flights, they had to take short trips or light baggage. The original mailbags weighed a lot in those days (around 50 pound) so space and volume was the main problem.

To send an airgraph the sender would write their note onto a form or a special template. This was then photographed and sent on a film spool to the destination. Upon arrival the airgraph letter was then reproduced for the receiver.

Spools of 1600 airgraphs only weighed 5 half ounces. Very light indeed.

The airgraph didn't really survive as flight technology improved and it finished up in 1945.

(For more info, see ABC Gippsland Vic)

This is an airgraph sent by Bill Logan, b 1922, to his parents.