The St. Johns herald., 1892-03-24
A MECHANICAL MARVEL.
An Ingenious Invention for the Collection
 Of Mail.

CT si2il.
 4 circular was lately issued by the department asking the inventors of the country to exercise their wits in de- vising Q suitable letter box for attach ing to each citizens door in every town and city in the union. It was explained that the object was to save the post mans time in waiting for an answer to the bell and to render the delivery of nail as convenient to the recipient as 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 at 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 a 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 mendation by the commission appointed for. judging the competition. Only one, however, was actually recommended, and this pattern will undoubtedly re- ceive the official approval of the post master general some time within the next few days. It is a mechanical mar vel, at once beautiful in it's simplicity and admirable in it's effectiveness for the purpose contemplated.
 The cOntrivance looks somewhat like an ordinary lamp-post letter-box on small scale. It is attached to the front door and is rather decorative than oth- erwise. The postman comes along with mail matter to deliver. He thrusts the letters into the box from beneath, and they are retained in such manner that it is impossible to withdraw them. They can only be taken out from above by the householder. who has key for that purpose. However, it is not nec- essary for the latter to open the recep- tacle every time that he wishes to as certain if it contains anything. There 10 sb oCA IlAS5 SiO OiAC OOtCO41 W iiIC1i IciIlS rapidly to touch if the box is empty; otherwise. supposing that even a postal card is inside, it is immovable. Suppos- ing that the intended recipient is inside the door, he is not obliged to go outside in order to investigate, for a 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 is a 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 onlN a 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 little target bearing a red disk two inches in diameter and Che target cannot be shut down again 10 long as anything remains in that compartment. The postman can see Che exposed red disk very easily from across the street. IL says: "Here is mail to collect" He opens a 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.