We recently purchased this fine old Briardale brand “Imperial” mustard tin. It is in terrific shape. We are not sure exactly how old it is but know that it was probably produced before a particular date, the year that zip codes first appeared, because there is no zip code (with the company name and location) on the tin. That’s always a good way of determining how old some commercial products are: before-ZIP codes or after-ZIP codes? Here’s a two question test for you:
1. In what year were Zip codes first used by the Post Office here in the United States?
(a) 1958
(b) 1963
(c) 1968
(d) 1973
2. ZIP is an acronym meaning what?
(a) Zastrow Inter-Postal Plat
(b) Zonal Integration Program
(c) Zones in Post
(d) Zone Improvement Plan
Answers below…
ZIP codes were first implemented in (b) 1963. “ZIP” stands for (d) “Zone Improvement Plan.”
Another valuable lesson learned at America’s Mustard College, POUPON U.
