Downing, Philip Bell
1857-1934 · Contribution: 1891
Industrial & Mechanical
Street letter box (precursor to the modern mailbox); mechanical street railway switch
Portraits are AI-generated interpretations, not photographs.
Quick facts
- Born
- 1857-1934
- Active since
- 1891
- Category
- Industrial & Mechanical
Impact on the world
Downing designed the secure, weatherproof street mailbox that made public mail collection practical, a fixture on American street corners for over a century.
Sources
- BlackPast.org
1 more sources and references are available to members.
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