Ingenuity in Simplicity

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Just now I was opening envelopes containing 'classified ad' forms and mused how rare it is to damage the contents of an envelope with a paper knife.

This caused me to pay more attention to the process and I noticed that the the way the envelope 'leaf' folds and overlaps the bottom of the envelope covers the contents, guiding the letter knife so it cannot easily get 'inside' the contents and damage them. Envelopes with long thin leaf (instead of the traditional shape) seem to have a longer tab at the ends to fulfill the same function, though the letter knife goes in one layer 'deeper'.

It made me realise that tapping an envelope to move undersize contents down to the end is a good way to minimise the risk of tearing the contents.

Is this by accident or design?

<Yes, typing out ads is one of the most boring bits of editing MEW!>

Neil

[JasonBModerator @jasonb]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 05/03/2019 11:41:33:

<Yes, typing out ads is one of the most boring bits of editing MEW!>

But you do get the chance to snap up any bargains before Joe Public even gets to see the adds

[Neil WyattModerator @neilwyatt]

Posted by JasonB on 05/03/2019 11:52:35:

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 05/03/2019 11:41:33:

<Yes, typing out ads is one of the most boring bits of editing MEW!>

But you do get the chance to snap up any bargains before Joe Public even gets to see the adds

It can be very tempting!

The only time I have succumbed to the dark side was when a Adept shaper came up!

Neil

[PlasmaParticipant @plasma]

Perks of the job Neil, perks of the job. 😉

[Ron LadenParticipant @ronladen17547]

Posted by Neil Wyatt on 05/03/2019 11:41:33:

Just now I was opening envelopes containing 'classified ad' forms and mused how rare it is to damage the contents of an envelope with a paper knife.

This caused me to pay more attention to the process and I noticed that the the way the envelope 'leaf' folds and overlaps the bottom of the envelope covers the contents, guiding the letter knife so it cannot easily get 'inside' the contents and damage them. Envelopes with long thin leaf (instead of the traditional shape) seem to have a longer tab at the ends to fulfill the same function, though the letter knife goes in one layer 'deeper'.

It made me realise that tapping an envelope to move undersize contents down to the end is a good way to minimise the risk of tearing the contents.

Is this by accident or design?

<Yes, typing out ads is one of the most boring bits of editing MEW!>

Neil

I think you need to get more fun out of life Neil..

[mark costello 1Participant @markcostello1]

If He's got a shaper (and a telescope) He does not need much more fun.

[Nick Clarke 3Participant @nickclarke3]

Neil – You have reminded me of the description in Ben Macintyre's book Operation Mincemeat about how the Spanish or Germans managed to extract a letter from its envelope on the body left in the sea as a decoy – (The man who never was)

Insert a rod almost split in two – like a 6" long split pin, into the gap at one corner of the envelop flap so it catches in the fold in the letter. Twist and the contents wrap around the rod and can be slid out of the ungummed gap at the top corner of the envelope flap – reverse to re insert after reading! Cunning or what!

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