Australia - Brown years: 1923-1939.
Ordinary rate transmission form: AB-TO-8.
General characteristics:

Heading and notes: Form number T.G. 41.
Heading is TELEGRAM in a central box.
Message area: 35 boxes in 5 lines.
Reverse side: Single large advertisement in orange.
Colours (text & form): Black on cream paper.
Size of form overall: 126 × 202 mm.
Distinctive characteristics of the form:

During the period of use of this form, telegram rates were changed.
From 1 July 1939, rates were based on a reduced number of words - from 16 to 14 - but they allowed the 15 miles provision to include destinations to another State.  

 

AB-TO-8A
Printed in October 1935. Other printings to November 1937.		 AB-TO-8A.

Used transmission form with Annuello date stamp of 22 April 1938.

Characteristics:

  • telegraph charges included in "STAMPS" box;
  • schedule number split across bottom of "STAMPS" box and in lower right corner.

NOTE: this form has discoloured badly over the years and is now quite brown.
AB-TO-8A rev Reverse side of the above form
AB-TO-8A showing advertisement for DELIVERY OF YOUR CORRESPONDENCE printed in orange (blank margin around advertisement has been deliberately trimmed by the scan).

Advertisements on reverse appear to be:

  • on C.1449 ...5176 form -
    "The Prompt Delivery ...", "Birthday Greetings ..." and "A Telephone Costs You ...";
  • on C.1449 ... 6416 form:
    "The Prompt Delivery ...", "Consider the Advantages of a Telephone ...", "Install Extension Telephones ..." and "Register Valuable Mail" (see below);
  • on C.1958 ... 7063 form:
    "Install Extension Telephones" and "Postal Precepts".
Reverse side of form AB-TO-8A printed in October 1935 with the advertisement for
"A TELEPHONE COSTS YOU ...".

See a review of advertisements on telegrams included elsewhere.
Reverse side of a 1935 Form
Sch. C. 1449. - 10/35. 6416
showing the advertisement for the rates for Registration.
Reverse side of a November FormAB-TO-8A with SCH. C. 1958 - 11/1937 and 7063 in the lower right corner
showing the advertisement for installing extension telephones.

Printed in October 1939.		 AB-TO-8B.

Characteristics:

  • telegraph charges are printed in three lines without reference to an inter-state rate;
  • Schedule number has been moved to the left in the Cash Register box.

Advertisement on the reverse side in orange is for "Time - By Telephone!".

 
AB-TO-8C
Printed in October 1939.		 AB-TO-8C.


Characteristics:

  • no telegraph charges included on this version of the form;
  • Schedule number moved to the left in the Cash Register box.

Advertisement on the reverse side in orange is for "Birthday Greetings ...".

Details of use and rarity.

Form
sub-number		 Schedule number
(last 4 digits ar printed in LRC)		 Earliest recorded date Rarity rating
TO-8A Sch. C. 1449. - 10/35
P.564/10.35. - 5176.		 22 April 1938 at Annuello, Vic. NC
  Sch. C. 1449. - 10/35. 6416 30 November 1937 to Caulfield. NC
  Sch. C. 1958. - 11/1937. 7063. 3 August 1939 at Yelarbon, Qld. NC
TO-8B Sch. C. 2556 - 10/1939 6363   NC
TO-8C Sch. C. 2556. - 10/1939 6363.   NC