The history of letter boxes The Postal Museum


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Street Letter Boxes Introduced in 1858 On March 9, 1858, Philadelphia merchant Albert Potts received a patent for a cast-iron letter box designed to fit over city lampposts. In July 1858, on behalf of the Post Office Department, Potts petitioned Philadelphia's city council for


Letter Box in the street stock photo. Image of putting 68336314

A "letter box", or "mail slot" in American and Canadian usage, is a slot, usually horizontal but sometimes vertical, about 30 cm by 5 cm (12 inches by 2 inches), cut through the middle or lower half of a front door. This style is almost universal in British homes and offices, but in the US is limited primarily to urban areas.


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The Street Letter Box was fashioned with a self-closing hinge door that kept mail safe from the elements and potential thievery. In 1917, Downing was issued a patent for a handheld envelope moistener, and the following year, he invented a new type of desktop notepad.


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Browse 7,400+ street letter box stock photos and images available, or start a new search to explore more stock photos and images. Typical american outdoors mail box on suburban street side. Three differently coloured front doors at the entrance of old. Detailed isometric illustration of a residential neighborhood.


Letter Box in Cyprus. Yellow Pillar for Letters Standing at a Roadside on the Street Editorial

The remnants of this Orr & Painter letter box was found following the great Johnstown Flood of 1889, a major disaster that cost thousands of lives. During the same year as the Johnstown Flood, the Post Office Department ordered the production of a new style mailbox. Designed by Willard D. Doremus, three sizes of this style of box were produced.


Oct.27, 1891 a Black inventor named Philip B. Downing patented the 'street letter box' which is

A typical street letter box, similar to the one used by the two young ladies in Berlin to mail their letter in 1912, was 10" wide, 9" deep, 14 1/2"high in front, and 17 1/2"at the back. The differing height between front and back is explained by its sloping roof, a feature designed to drain off precipitation such as rain, snow, and ice..


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Philip B. Downing designed a metal box with four legs which he patented on October 27, 1891. He called his device a street letter box and it is the predecessor of today's mailbox. One year earlier, Downing patented an electrical switch for railroads which allowed railroad workers to supply or shut off power to trains at appropriate times.


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The Downing letter box patent became the basis of the letter box we have today. About Philip Downing. Philip Bell Downing was an African American inventor born in Providence, Rhode Island on March 22, 1857. He was the son of a well-known and respected business owner, George T. Downing and Serena L. deGrasse.


African American Inventors Inventions ResearchGuides at Linda Hall Library

Can't find what you're looking for? Visit FAQs for answers to common questions about USPS locations and services. FAQs. 204 MURDOCK RD. BALTIMORE, MD 21212-1823. 205 MURDOCK RD. BALTIMORE, MD 21213-1824. Locate a Post Office™ or other USPS® services such as stamps, passport acceptance, and Self-Service Kiosks.


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While not the earliest, in 1892, George E. Becket, of Providence, R.I., was granted a patent for his "house-door letter-box," an improved mail slot that was permanently mounted on the front door of a house. The first letter box (where the public could leave its letters) sanctioned by the United States Postal Service was patented on March 9.


The history of letter boxes The Postal Museum

Known for. Improvements of street letter box, and operating street railway switches. Philip B. Downing (1857-1934) was an African American inventor from Providence, Rhode Island. He is best known for his two most significant inventions; the street letter box (though not the first street letter box patent), and operating street railway switches.


Letter Boxes Lined on the Street Stock Photo Image of common, mailbox 15378850

Philip Downing designed a metal box with four legs, which he patented on October 27, 1891. What's known today as a mailbox, he named a "street letter box" at the time. Until this point, those wishing to send mail usually had to travel to the post office. Downing's invention would instead allow for nearby drop-offs and pick-ups for both.


A history of the letter box in the UK Virily

That patent was for a Street Letter Box, essentially the box we see all around the country where you can post a letter anytime of day. Close and convenient.. He has a total of 7 known patents. In 1891, he received the patent for the "street letter-box", and the "letter-box"; those are what we call mailboxes today. He died on June 8.


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C1 Street Suffix Abbreviations. C1. Street Suffix Abbreviations. The following table lists examples of suffix forms that are primary street suffix names, common street suffixes or suffix abbreviations, and recommended official Postal Service standard suffix abbreviations. Primary.


Red Letter Box on the City Street. Editorial Photography Image of letterbox, brand 153705252

What is General Delivery? - USPS


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During the late nineteenth and the early twentieth century, Philip Bell Downing successfully filed at least five patents with the United States Patent Office. Among his most significant inventions were a street letter box (U.S. Patent numbers 462,092 and 462,093) and a mechanical device for operating street. Read MorePhilip B. Downing (1857-1934)

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