Washington standard. [volume] (Olympia, Wash. Territory) 1860-1921, 1870-03-05
A New Invention in Letter. Boxes,


Berlin paper as follows: One of our citi-
zcns, the proprietor Of large bathing cs-
tablishment. has invented lcttcr-box
that not only receives all letters deposited
in it by the carrier, but also pays the re-
quisite postage on all unpaid letters, gives
receipt for all registered letters, as we'll
as telegraphic dispatches, at the same
time giving the owner of the box immc-
diate notice whenever anything is dcpos-
tied in it. This -weuld feem hardly credi.
BILE; yet it is. like most inventions, quite
simple, as will be seen by the following
description
This automatic lc!ter-box consists Of
two parts, one in the other, the outside
case containing the mechanism, and the
inner one being u common receptacle for
the letters, &c. The outer ono, which is
made of brass, is square, and measures
about eight inches each way, having a
horizontal lid at its lower edge (on which
the owners name is placcd,) working on
hinges, which is, however. kept closed by
springs. AS soon as this is opened to put
a letter in the box, clockwork is set in
motion. which can communicate with q
bell, either on the door where the box is
fastened, or in distant room, placed in
communication with it by either a pneu.
matte tube or electric wire. lfthc box is
required to pay postage, the lettcr-carricr
places his key (Which fits all boxes on the
route) into the lower right hand kcyhole.
turns his key, when sort of coin, of the
value of about three cents, is thrown ont
into projecting receiver, and the clock is
caused to strike at the same time. AS Of
ten as he turns the key, he receives such
a CON, until he has the amount he requires.
If smaller amount is rcqu red, he goes
through the same manipulations with the
lower left hand keyholc, by which coin
valued at one cent is thrown out. These
coins arc of a common metal, of no in.
trinsic value, and have on their face the
number of the letter.box in which they
arc to be used, and must be bought the
same as our stamps in the Post-ofiicc.
They are of value only to the Post-office
department and the owner of the box, and
it would therefore be useless to steal them
by means Of false keys. Ii receipt for a
registered package is to be given, the car
rier uses the upper left hand kcyholc,
when paper roller visible from the out
side, through small window, is caused to
revolve accompanied by the ringing of u
BELL, and a partly separated gummed strip
proj Gets throug a small crev;ce which the
carrier tears of. and upon delivery to the
Post-uffico it is pasted in book designed
for that purpose. On each corner of this
receipt is the number of the box from
which it is taken, aud in the centre of it
is tho running number Of the receipt. The
owner of the box can always see from the
outside if a receipt during his absence, for
instance, has been taken away, provided
he has taken notice of the last visible
number. The same action is taken by the
telegraph messenger, only he uses the up
per righthand keyhole, instead Of the left
hand one, and he also sets the hands on a
dial on the top of the box, to the hour
and minute at which he delivers the mes
sage. The dial contains numbers from
to "a, thereby avoiding the use Of the let
ters a. NJ. and p. NJ, and each points be-
tween tho figures indicates five minutes.
by means of this box the delivery of let
ters and dispatches at night is facilitated
without disturbing the party for whom
they arc intended l'~"2s.' a'" ea