"Philip-B-Downing"

In 1891 anyone interested in mailing a letter would have to make the long trip

to the post office.He designed a metal box with four legs which he patented on October 27,1891.He called his device a street box and its predecessor of today's mailbox.


One year earlier,Philip patented an electricial switch for railroads which allowed railroads workers to supply or shut off power to trains at appropriate times.Based on the design,innovators would later create electricial switches such as light switches.