The Roanoke times. [volume] (Roanoke, Va.) 1890-1895, 1891-12-11
a MECHANICAL Marvel.
An Ingenious Inveution for tho Collection
of Mall.

l. Z.
An Ingenious Invention for tho Collection
of Mall.
a circular was lately issued by tho
department asking the inventors of the
country to exercise their wits in de-
vising suitable letter box for attach
ing to each citizens doorin every town
and city in the union. 1t was explained
that the object was to save the post
mans time in waiting for an answer to
tho bell and to render the delivery Of
mail Us convenient to the recipient rs
possible. Requirement was made that
the receptacle should be cheap, neat in
appearance, simple of operation, secure
against thieves, and so constructed that
Its contents should be protected against
rain, sleet, snow and dust. Further
more, the mail was not to be accessible
ut the same time to the postman and the
recipient.
In response to this advertisement,
says the Washington Star, four hun
dred models were submitted, but none
of them was deemed satisfactory, and
SO q second circular to similar effect
was sent out. Ten hundred and thirty
five models rewarded this second ap-
peal, and among the number several
designs were thought deserving of COM
incubation by the commission appointed
for. judging the competition. Only one
however, was actually recommended,
and this pattern will undoubtedly re-
ceivo the official approval of the post
master general some time within the
next few days. 1t is a mechanical mar
vel, ut once beautiful in it's simplicity
f1,,,i, III -,
the purpose contemplated.
The continuance looks somewhat like
an ordinary lamp-post lettcr-box on Il
small scale. 1t is attached to the front
door and is rather decorative than 9th
erwisc. The postman comes along
with mail matter to deliver He thrusts
the letters into the box from beneath,
and they are retained in such n manner
that it is impossible to withdraw them.
They can only be taken out from above
by the householder, who has n kew for
that purpose. However, it is not nee
cssary for the latter to open the rcccp-
tacle every time that he wishes to as
certain if it contains anything. There
is spring 1T the bottom which yields
rapidly to n touch if the box is empty;
otherwise, supposing that even postal
card is inside, it is immovablc. Snppos-
ing that the intended recipient is inside
the door, he is not obliged to go outside
in order to investigate, for little knob
projects through the door panel,
which he has merely to pull in order to
inform himself on the point. If it fails
to yield there is letter, otherwise there
is none. In other words, the owner
upon reaching home, or at any time
while indoors, can learn by simply
touching button whether there is mail
for him.
But this wonderful box is not only
receptacle for mail, it also delivers let
ters to the carriers for posting. If the
owner has any missive to send he drops
them in through slot at the top of the
box. He can only do this after first
lifting into view Il little target bearing
rcd disk two inches in diameter and
the target cannot be shut down again
so long as anything remains in that
compartment. The postman can see
the exposed red disk very easily from
across the street. 1t says: "IIcrc is
mail to collect" lie opens n side door
and takes out the letters. A spring at
tachment serves to hold newspapers.
The whole device only costs one dollar
and ten cents.