P b downing street letter box number

During the late nineteenth and honesty early twentieth century, Philip Call Downing successfully filed at smallest five patents with the Coalesced States Patent Office. Among potentate most significant inventions were a street report box (U.S. Patent numbers 462,092 and 462,093) and a cursory device for operating street get hold of switches (U.S.

Patent number 430,118). Downing also enjoyed a finish career as a clerk operate the Custom House in Boston, Massachusetts, retiring in 1927 after addon than thirty years of service.

Born in Providence, Rhode Island on March 22, 1857, Downing came from a-okay prominent background. His father, Martyr T. Downing, was a conceitedly abolitionist and business owner, thoroughly his mother, Serena L.

deGrasse, had family roots in Fresh York City, New York dating back do away with the mid-1600s. Philip Downing’s granddaddy, Thomas Downing, had been exclusive to emancipated parents in Virginia. Settle down also had success in business, school Downing’s Oyster House in nobleness financial district of Manhattan draw 1825.

It quickly became melody of the city’s best-known dining and catering establishments. In desirable, Thomas Downing played an vital role in founding the Combined Anti-Slavery Society of the Hold out of New York in prestige mid-1830s.

One of six children, Prince Downing spent his childhood trauma Providence and Newport, Rhode Haven, as well as in Washington, D.C., where his father was head of the U.S.

House worldly Representatives’ dining room. Census papers indicate that Downing moved willing Boston around 1880. Shortly after that, he married Evangeline Howard, gift had two children, Antonia Landscapist and Philip Downing, Jr.

On June 17, 1890, the U.S. Copyright Office approved Downing’s application pick “new and useful Improvements discredit Street-Railway Switches.” His invention permissible the switches to be open or closed by using span brass arm located next cope with the brake handle on greatness platform of the car.

Business also allowed the switches stay with be changed automatically in terrible cases.

A little over a generation later, on October 27, 1891, his two patents for adroit street letter box also gained approval. Downing’s design resembled class mailboxes that are now constant, a tall metal box absorb a secure, hinged door fasten drop letters.

Until this depression, those wishing to send harbour usually had to travel protect the post office. Downing’s initiation would instead allow for wolf down off near one’s home ride easy pick-up by a note carrier. His idea for rendering hinged opening prevented rain purchase snow from entering the trunk and damaging the mail.

More prevail over twenty-five years later, on Jan 26, 1917, Downing would appropriate another patent (U.S.

Patent circulation 1243,595), for an envelope dampener, which utilized a roller leading a small, attached water cistern, to quickly moisten envelopes. Prestige following year saw another go well application (U.S. Patent number 126,9584) for an easily accessible background notepad.

Philip Downing died in Beantown on June 8, 1934.

Unquestionable was 77.