Vol. 18 No. 7  July/August, 1988 Make Tomorrow Happen Evolution of Messenger's Uniforms Omer Lavallee Historian   The different styles of uniforms worn by telegraph messengers can be seen here. In photo 1 is the 1920s-era uniform which was grey with a military-style stand-up collar. It was modelled for this 1984 photo by Dennis Letourneau. In photo 2, Jim Bristol was one of the last CPT messengers to wear the blue-grey chauffeur-type uniform in 1960. In photo 3, handsome blue serge uniforms are worn by CP messengers W. Miller, F. Tucker, A. McNeil, and W.W. Cressmean in front of the Kitchener, Ontario, office in 1938.     My recent columns on telecommunications have sparked some response on the part of readers. F.E. Benson, retired from the mechanical department in 1970, writes that he worked as a telegraph messenger in Swift Current between 1917 and 1923. Although he was given a badge, a uniform was never issued to him.   As nearly as I can determine, uniforms for bicycle messengers were introduced about 1910, but it is probable that staff in the larger cities were given priority over those in smaller communities. The first version of the uniform was shown in the photo accompanying this column two months ago.   Late in the 1920s, both CP and CN adopted a much more elaborate uniform design, featuring riding breeches and leather leggings instead of long pants. This design was based on contemporary automobile chauffeur fashion which was also widely-used by police, truck drivers, service station employees, and others. When properly worn, this costume gave the messenger force a professional, business-like appearance.   Initially, the cloth used by CP Telegraphs was dark grey, but in the mid-1930s, it was changed to dark blue serge, the same as that used in train and station employees' uniforms.   I am indebted to pensioner W.W. Cressman, who retired in 1984 from intermodal services at Calgary, for supplying the accompanying photo of his colleagues and himself wearing this uniform half a century ago.   Late in the 1940s, the colour was changed again, to blue-grey. At the same time, messengers were provided with long pants for wear in summer.   Escalating costs late in the 1950s resulted in the discard of the "chauffeur" style in 1960 for CP messengers with CN following suit about 1963.   Another influence for the change was the popularization of "fad" clothing amoung young people such as leather jackets and motorcycle boots which, when worn with parts of the old uniform, resulted in and improbable - even menacing - appearance! The more practical and less-expensive replacement was a uniform consisting of a soft-crowned cap, windbreaker, and long pants.   While, as a historian, I usually resist a tendency to yearn for the "good old days", it is difficult to get enthusiastic about current styles when one observes the typical urban bicycle courier of today mounted on his 10-speed bike and clad in an "Iron Maiden" T-shirt, flowered bermuda shorts, and brightly-coloured, mismatched sneakers!   This Canadian Pacific Railway News article is copyright 1988 by the Canadian Pacific Railway and is reprinted here with their permission. All photographs, logos, and trademarks are the property of the Canadian Pacific Railway Company.