Police Post First Aid Box

[starcross]

This is another lucky eBay find. When it popped up I recognized it right away, and while the seller thought it was for a GPO Van, it matches the FA kit in the CoL Police Post at Avoncroft.

The markings on the bottom have MP ♔ 1959, which leads me to believe it is for the Met Police. Since we have photos of the St John Ambulance First Aid Kit for Boxes, that must mean these were exclusive to the Police Posts.

The FA box measure roughly 6" x 8" x 6" tall, making it a nice fit inside the police posts.








For Contrast here is the Avoncroft Fist Aid Kit.

 

[galacticprobe]

It's photos like those of the Post that make you realize just how far we've come with regards to safety. Back then, they obviously didn't think anything of it having a metal First Aid box sitting inside the same cubby as a DANGER 250 V.A.C. electrical connection panel, with some exposed wiring here and there. (Although I suppose if someone really got nailed when reaching for that metal first aid box, they could always have used some of that 250 VAC and exposed wiring as a make-shift defibrillator!)

"CLEAR!"

Dino.

 

[starcross]

Well to be fair that is only the flashing circuit, there isn't much in there beyond a mercury switch and a coil or two. I'm sure there is a picture of the inside of one of those somewhere on this site.

Anyway, as long as the box was properly grounded there isn't much of a danger of your scenario happening.

 

[galacticprobe]

Anyway, as long as the box was properly grounded there isn't much of a danger of your scenario happening.

Darn... what a bummer. ONLY KIDDING! I'm just glad they did have safety in mind. It's just that after working with electronics since 1981 I get a little paranoid when I see how things were back in those older days. Like those desk fans with the "safety grille" on them that had gaps large enough for you to put a fist through. Sure, that grille would keep your head out of the blades ;D, but not much else, like today's desk fans that you can barely get a toothpick through.

Well to be fair that is only the flashing circuit, there isn't much in there beyond a mercury switch and a coil or two.

A mercury switch! An actual Fluid Link! I love it!

I'm sure there is a picture of the inside of one of those somewhere on this site.

I think I've seen it. I just can't remember where, and now that I'm looking for it, of course I can't find it.

Dino.

 

[hb88banzai]

Beautiful find Starcross!

Nice to see one with all that detail.

The Met Box versions were standard small St. John Ambulance First Aid Boxes, confirmed both in memos from when they were first deployed and in photos like this one of the Mark 3 replacement Box on Robin Hood Way (V31--taken in the early 1960s) --



You can see the St. John seal on the end, and the whole thing is quite a different shape than the Post version above.

Somewhere I have a list of what they contained, with the splints (not included in Post installations) kept separately in the bottom, ventilated cupboard (the First Aid box occupying the middle compartment, the phone the top).

Please note that the supposed Box first aid box in the relics section http://tardisbuilders.com/index.php?topic=6006.0 is more like one of those used in Met Police vehicles (also mentioned in the above memos), which used a medium sized St. John box with splints included in the same kit.

Oh, and here's the interior of that relay (courtesy of ironageman, if memory serves) --

 

[mikey]

Believe this is the first aid box used in the Met’s boxes. It was on eBay until yesterday.