Rare antique bronze letter box made in the early 1900s by Rochester, New York company Cutler Mail Chute Co. Used in big city multi-story office buildings, hotels, apartment buildings, and high rise public buildings, mail chutes were a letter collection device patented by James Goold Cutler in 1883. Letters were dropped from a building's upper stories and collected at a receiving box located on the ground floor, such as this letter box. The original approved patent No. 284,951 stated that each box must "be of metal, distinctly marked U.S. Letter Box," and that the "door must open on hinges on one side, with the bottom of the door not less than 2'6" above the floor." The Cutler company made approximately 1600 receiving boxes from 1883-1904, and there are more than 900 still in use in New York City. This letter box is a beautiful and unique piece of US history salvaged from a high-rise in St. Louis, Missouri. The box would make a fabulous storage cabinet, cocktail cabinet, or statement piece. The mail box is in very good antique condition with verdigris spots across the top, as pictured. The letter box measures 22" wide, 41" tall, and projects 12". The letter slot opening measures 5-7/8" wide by 2" tall and the mailbox door measures 11-1/2" wide by 19-3/4" tall.

Antique Garden & Architectural
Antique Architectural Elements