Memphis daily appeal. [volume] (Memphis, Tenn.) 1847-1886, 1870-01-17
4 Naw Invention IN Lgtter ROxgs.

4 curious invention IS described by
a Berlin paper as follows: One OF the
citizens, the proprietor of a large
bathing establishment, has invented
a letter box that not only receives all
letters deposited in it by the carrier,
but also pays the requisite postage on
all unpaid letters, gives a receipt for
all registered letters, as well as tele-
graphic dispatches, st the same time
giving the owner of the box iInmedi-
ate notice whenever anything is de-
posted in it. This would seem hardly
credible, yet 1t is, like NEST inventions,
quite simple, as will be seen by the
following description:
This automatic letterbOx consists Of
two parts, one in the other, the out
side case containing the mechanism,
ana the inner one being a common
receptacle for the letters, etc. The
outer one, which is made Of brass, IS
square, and measures about eight
inches each way, having horizontal
lid at It's lower edge Con which the
owners name is placed), working on
hinges, which is, however, kept closed
ky springs. As soon as this is opened
TO put letter Into boxra clock work
is set Ia motion, which can COmmuni-
cate with a bell, either on the door
where the box Is fastened, or in dis
tant room, placed In communication
With it either by pneumatic tube or
electric wire. II the box Is required
to pay postage, the letter 2aErier
places his key (which fits all boxes on
the route) in the lower right hand
kew hole, turns his key, when a sort
OF coin, Oi tue value OF about three
cents, is thrown out into a projecting
receiver, and the clock is caused TO
strike at the same time. As often as
he turns the key he receives such
coin, until he has the amount he re-
quires. II smaller amount Is re-
quired he goes through the same ma
nipulations with the lower left hand
key hole, ny which coin valued at
one cent is thrown out, These coins
are Of common metal, OF no intrinsic
value, and have on their face the num-
Der OF the letterbOX In which they are 10
be used, aud mpst be bought the same
as our Stamps in the pOstofice, They
are of value only to the PO5tOf1ce De-
partment, and to the owner of the
box, and it would therefore be useless
to steal them by meaGs OF ialse keys,
II a receipt for q registered package
is 10 be given, the carrier uses the up
per left hand keyhole, when paper
roller, visible from the outside, through
a small window, is caused to revolve,
accompanied by the ringing OF a bell,
and a partly separated gummed strip
projects through small cerVlce, which
the carrier tears of, and upon delivery
1T the postOtfice it Is pasted in book
designed for that purpose, On each
corner Of this receipt is the number of
the bCx from which it is taken, and
the centre of it Is the running number
of the receipt. The owner OF the box
can always see from the outside, if q
receipt during his absence, for in
stance, has been taken away, pro-
vided be has taken notice OF the last
visible number. The same action Is
taken by the telegraph messenger,
only he uses the upper right hand
keyhole, Instead of the left hand one,
and he also sets the hands on dial
on the top of the box, to the hour and
minute ut which he delivers the mes
sage. The dial contains numbers from
one TO twenty-four, thereby avoiding
the use of the lette5 am. and pm,
and each point between the figures
indicates five minutes. BY means OF
the box the delivery of letters and
dispatches at night is facilitated with
out disturbing the party tor whom
thov ara intended