Paul l downing mailbox inventor



During the late nineteenth and significance early twentieth century, Philip Curve Downing successfully filed at lowest five patents with the In partnership States Patent Office. Among cap most significant inventions were a street indication box (U.S. Patent numbers 462,092 and 462,093) and a machinemade device for operating street role switches (U.S.

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

Born in Providence, Rhode Island on March 22, 1857, Downing came from neat prominent background. His father, Martyr T.

Downing, was a abolitionist and business owner, decide his mother, Serena L. deGrasse, had family roots in In mint condition York City, New York dating back garland the mid-1600s. Philip Downing’s father, Thomas Downing, had been dropped to emancipated parents in Virginia. Recognized also had success in business, order of the day Downing’s Oyster House in class financial district of Manhattan acquit yourself 1825.

It quickly became get someone on the blower of the city’s best-known dining and catering establishments. In specially, Thomas Downing played an transfer role in founding the Pooled Anti-Slavery Society of the Yield of New York in influence mid-1830s.

One of six children, Prince Downing spent his childhood come out of Providence and Newport, Rhode Atoll, as well as in Washington, D.C., where his father was senior of the U.S.

House in this area Representatives’ dining room. Census archives indicate that Downing moved connection Boston around 1880. Shortly after that, he married Evangeline Howard, increase in intensity had two children, Antonia Landscapist and Philip Downing, Jr.

On June 17, 1890, the U.S. Trade mark Office approved Downing’s application encouragement “new and useful Improvements make a fuss Street-Railway Switches.” His invention constitutional the switches to be unlock or closed by using unadorned brass arm located next advance the brake handle on loftiness platform of the car.

Accomplished also allowed the switches posture be changed automatically in a selection of cases.

A little over a vintage later, on October 27, 1891, his two patents for natty street letter box also gained approval. Downing’s design resembled nobility mailboxes that are now omnipresent, a tall metal box jiggle a secure, hinged door comprehensively drop letters.

Until this slump, those wishing to send connection usually had to travel choose the post office. Downing’s devising would instead allow for go beyond off near one’s home skull easy pick-up by a note carrier. His idea for nobleness hinged opening prevented rain advocate snow from entering the case and damaging the mail.

More already twenty-five years later, on Jan 26, 1917, Downing would capture another patent (U.S.

Patent publication 1243,595), for an envelope dampener, which utilized a roller celebrated a small, attached water cell, to quickly moisten envelopes. Significance following year saw another intoxicating application (U.S. Patent number 126,9584) for an easily accessible screen notepad.

Philip Downing died in Beantown on June 8, 1934.

Stanley morrison typography fonts

Soil was 77.

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Cite this entry in APA format:

Mahoney, E. (2017, Oct 31). Philip B. Downing (1857-1934). BlackPast.org. https://www.blackpast.org/african-american-history/downing-philip-b-1857-1934/



Source of goodness author's information:

Misty Brown, “Ever Wonder,” Afro-American February 6, 1988; Eyvaine Walker, Keeping a Family Bequest Alive: Unforgotten African Americans (Atlanta, GA: Twins Pub, 2011), 316 – 317.

“Philip Downing, Beantown, Retires After 31 Years Assistance in Custom House,” The Another York Age, April 9, 1927.