Antique Commercial Travellers Board

 Okay, how cool is this! I found this interesting piece of history on Marketplace. I really had no idea what it was until I search it up on Google Images. 

And these were the results:

The image shows an antique "Commercial Travellers Ward" board. These boards were used in the late 19th and early 20th centuries in hotels and inns to hold letters and messages for traveling salesmen, also known as commercial travelers. Each slot on the board would have been labeled with the name of a traveler, and the ropes were used to secure the mail or messages in place.

Further searches included:

The "H.M.O." likely stands for His Majesty's Office, indicating a government connection or regulatory purpose.   

The board in the image has the initials "H.M.O." at the bottom, which might refer to the hotel or inn where it was used.

These boards were used to hold the keys for commercial travelers (salesmen) while they were out on business.

  

Original wording and original ropes.

 An original name label.

And numbered slots.

If anyone has any more information on it I'd love to hear from you. 

 

I love this little unusual piece of history. For now it is in the entryway, probably the most appropriate place given it's original purpose. Maybe I'll hang some antique keys and mail on it.