Improved Means for Preventing Theft of Letters and other Postal Packets from Pillar, Wall, and other Letter Boxes.
Year: 1894

page_text: Date of Application, 31st Jan., 1894
Complete Specification Left, 31st Oct.. 1894-Accepted, 1st Dec., 1894
PROVISIONAL SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Preventing Theft of Letters and other Postal
Packets from Pillar, Wall, and other Letter Boxes.
I, HENRY MULLINEX HAWES, of 26, Belmont Road, Saint Andrews, Bristol,
Commercial Traveller, do hereby declare the nature of this invention to be as
follows:-
This invention has for its object to prevent abstraction of letters and other postal
packets from pillar, wall and other letter boxes.
The improved means for accomplishing this end which constitutes this invention
are as follows. Fixed to that side of the letter box at which the admission slot is
situated is an inclined shelf extending inwards and downwards in the box. The
lower edge of the shelf is serrated and curved downwards. At a point still further
down in the box is a second shelf similar to the first and fixed at the same side.
The second shelf extends further across the box than the first. A third shelf inclined
and serrated is fixed to the opposite side of the letter box. This third shelf
underlaps, that is to say, extends beyond the lower edge of the second.
Letters and other packets inserted in the slot drop on to the first shelf and thence
on to the second and third shelves in succession and are finally received in the space
below the lowermost shelf.
A device commonly employed for abstracting letters and packets is a plummet
attached to a string or the like and covered with leather or other suitable material
to which bird lime or other adhesive substance has been applied. Should such
device be used in a letter box fitted in accordance with this invention, it is
prevented by the shelves from being withdrawn and the string is liable to be
severed by the teeth at the edge of the shelves.
It is obvious that a stick or the like could not be inserted so as to reach the
letters and packets protected by the shelves.
Dated this 30th day of January 1894.
NICHOLAS WATTS,
Bristol, Chartered Patent Agent.
COMPLETE SPECIFICATION.
Improved Means for Preventing Theft of Letters and other Postal
Packets from Pillar, Wall, and other Letter Boxes.
I HENRY MULLINEX HAWES of 162 White Ladies Road Bristol Commercial
Traveller late of 26 Belmont Road Saint Andrews Bristol do hereby declare the
nature of this invention and in what manner the same is to be performed, to be
particularly described and ascertained in and by the following statement :-
This invention relates to letter boxes and has special reference to the internal
construction of same.
The object of the special construction hereinafter described is to prevent the
unlawful abstraction of letters from said letter boxes.
I carry my invention into practice in manner as follows.
I place trays or shelves in certain angular positions in the letter box over which
the postal matter can slide from one tray or shelf to another and finally fall into a
secure position into the bottom of the letter box.

page_text: In order that my invention may be more clearly understood annexed hereto is
one sheet of drawings which are to be taken and read as part of these presents.
Figure 1. is a vertical longitudinal section of the letter box.
Figure 2. is a plan of the letter box.
Figure 3. is a plan of one of the shelves or trays.
Figure 4. is a sectional elevation in which the shelves or trays are shown curved.
Like letters apply to like parts in all the figures.
A. B. is the inside of the letter pillar of which A is the top portion and B the
bottom portion. K is the aperture for introducing postal matter. L is a hood over
same. C. E. G in Figure 1 and C'E' G' in Figure 4 are shelves or trays the
free ends of which may be vandyked or scolloped and the edges of the vandyke or
scollop may be serrated as I. J. Figures 2 and 3. The arrows show the direction
the postal matter when passed through the aperture K takes, it passes over the
top surface of the shelf or tray C. C' then over those of E. E and G. G
respectively and is finally deposited in the part B of the letter box.
Having now particularly described and ascertained the nature of my said inven-
tion and in what manner the same is to be performed I declare that what I
claim is.
1. The placing of one or more shelves in letter boxes in an angular or curved
position in the manner as hereinbefore described and set forth.
2. The serrating the free edges of such shelves substantially as hereinbefore
described.
3. The vandyking and scolloping the free edges of such shelves in combination
with serrating the edges of the vandyked or scolloped portions, as hereinbefore
described and set forth.
4. The bending down in a curve or otherwise of the free ends of the shelves.
Dated this 29th day of October
1894.
CLODE
WM. LLEWELLIN, C.E.,
15, King Square, Bristol, Agent for Applicant.