Mail chute
Encyclopedia
A mail chute is a largely defunct letter collection device used in early multi-story office buildings, hotels, apartment buildings and other high rise structures. Letters were dropped from the upper stories and collected (usually at the ground level) at a central depository by the postal service. This innovation was before the time of the modern "mail room" normally associated nowadays with high rise buildings. It was for the convenience of the users of the building so they would not have to take their mail to an outside mail box
or to the post office.
received a patent on September 11, 1883 for the mail chute. The first one was installed in 1884 in the Elwood Building in Rochester, New York
. Cutler ultimately received thirty patents for variations of his invention. The original approved patent No. 284,951 design stated that it 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." If the building was more than two stories then the collection box was to be outfitted with a cushion to prevent injury to the mail. The mail chutes had to be accessible along its entire length so lodged mail could be removed.
The first experimental "Cutler mail chute" device was successful at the Elwood Building so later it was installed in two New York City office buildings. Additional ones were then installed in railroad stations and some public buildings as a test. Eventually Cutler Mail Box produced over 1,600 such devices in buildings over the next twenty years. Then the postal service allowed "Cutler mail chutes" to be placed in hotels taller than five stories. They were also installed in public apartment buildings of more than fifty apartments.
The design of the mail chute was of a thin shaft going from the top floor of a building to a lobby collection box. The tenants or employees of an office building on each floor would simply put their letter into the slot on their building floor they were at. Hopefully the letter would drop into the lobby collection box, but sometimes it became lodged in the chute itself. The mail chutes in large buildings often became congested. There is a story of where in the fifty-floor McGraw-Hill Building
in New York City there were some 40,000 pieces of mail stuck. To dislodge the mail cinder block
s had to be removed.
It was announced on Sunday, May 9, 1909, by the New York Times, "Cutler and Other Companies Join in a $2,000,000 Corporation".
, the Chrysler Building
, and the old RCA Building
in New York City have shut down their chutes. The reason is the increase of modern mail rooms in the building lobby with associated mail boxes available for the building tenants. There remain, however, about 360 buildings in Chicago with mail chutes, and more than 900 active chutes exist in Manhattan
and the Bronx
of New York City alone, as well as elsewhere. Since 1997, however, the National Fire Protection Association
has banned mail chutes in all new building construction. The historic Lenox Hotel
in Boston's Back Bay is one of the few known properties with an active Cutler Mail Chute system. Built in 1900, the "original boutique" boasts a Cutler U.S. Mail Chute on every guest floor at the elevator bank. The Chanin Building in New York City also has an active Cutler Mail Chute System. So although the Cutler Mail Chute Company itself currently is not active, its product remains in use in some old buildings.
had a system installed. The chute slot for 'London & Abroad' mail plate says 'Cutler Mailing-System Cutler-Mail-Chute-Co Rochester,NY,USA'.(As shown BBC 'Art Deco Icons: London Transport' TV programme aired Nov 09.)
Letter box
A letter box, letterbox, letter plate, letter hole, mail slot, or mailbox is a receptacle for receiving incoming mail at a private residence or business...
or to the post office.
Original design and usage
James Goold CutlerJames Goold Cutler
James Goold Cutler was a prominent Rochester, New York architect and businessman, and served as the Mayor of Rochester from 1904 to 1907. He was born in Albany, New York, the son of John N. Cutler and Mary E. Cutler. On September 27, 1871, he married Anna Catherine Abbey, and in 1872 he and his...
received a patent on September 11, 1883 for the mail chute. The first one was installed in 1884 in the Elwood Building in Rochester, New York
Rochester, New York
Rochester is a city in Monroe County, New York, south of Lake Ontario in the United States. Known as The World's Image Centre, it was also once known as The Flour City, and more recently as The Flower City...
. Cutler ultimately received thirty patents for variations of his invention. The original approved patent No. 284,951 design stated that it 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." If the building was more than two stories then the collection box was to be outfitted with a cushion to prevent injury to the mail. The mail chutes had to be accessible along its entire length so lodged mail could be removed.
The first experimental "Cutler mail chute" device was successful at the Elwood Building so later it was installed in two New York City office buildings. Additional ones were then installed in railroad stations and some public buildings as a test. Eventually Cutler Mail Box produced over 1,600 such devices in buildings over the next twenty years. Then the postal service allowed "Cutler mail chutes" to be placed in hotels taller than five stories. They were also installed in public apartment buildings of more than fifty apartments.
The design of the mail chute was of a thin shaft going from the top floor of a building to a lobby collection box. The tenants or employees of an office building on each floor would simply put their letter into the slot on their building floor they were at. Hopefully the letter would drop into the lobby collection box, but sometimes it became lodged in the chute itself. The mail chutes in large buildings often became congested. There is a story of where in the fifty-floor McGraw-Hill Building
1221 Avenue of the Americas
1221 Avenue of the Americas, also known as the McGraw-Hill Building is a skyscraper built in 1969, located at 1221 Sixth Avenue, Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States, between Sixth Avenue and Seventh Avenue...
in New York City there were some 40,000 pieces of mail stuck. To dislodge the mail cinder block
Cinder block
In the United States, a concrete masonry unit – also called concrete block, cement block, and foundation block – is a large rectangular brick used in construction. Concrete blocks are made from cast concrete, i.e. Portland cement and aggregate, usually sand and fine gravel for high-density blocks...
s had to be removed.
It was announced on Sunday, May 9, 1909, by the New York Times, "Cutler and Other Companies Join in a $2,000,000 Corporation".
Current use
Recently certain buildings like Chicago's John Hancock CenterJohn Hancock Center
John Hancock Center at 875 North Michigan Avenue in the Streeterville area of Chicago, Illinois, is a 100-story, 1,127-foot tall skyscraper, constructed under the supervision of Skidmore, Owings and Merrill, with chief designer Bruce Graham and structural engineer Fazlur Khan...
, the Chrysler Building
Chrysler Building
The Chrysler Building is an Art Deco style skyscraper in New York City, located on the east side of Manhattan in the Turtle Bay area at the intersection of 42nd Street and Lexington Avenue. Standing at , it was the world's tallest building for 11 months before it was surpassed by the Empire State...
, and the old RCA Building
General Electric Building
The General Electric Building, also known as 570 Lexington Avenue, is a historic 50-floor, -tall, skyscraper in Midtown Manhattan, New York City, United States, at the southwest corner of Lexington Avenue and 51st Street). Originally known as the RCA Victor Building when designed in 1931 by John W...
in New York City have shut down their chutes. The reason is the increase of modern mail rooms in the building lobby with associated mail boxes available for the building tenants. There remain, however, about 360 buildings in Chicago with mail chutes, and more than 900 active chutes exist in Manhattan
Manhattan
Manhattan is the oldest and the most densely populated of the five boroughs of New York City. Located primarily on the island of Manhattan at the mouth of the Hudson River, the boundaries of the borough are identical to those of New York County, an original county of the state of New York...
and the Bronx
The Bronx
The Bronx is the northernmost of the five boroughs of New York City. It is also known as Bronx County, the last of the 62 counties of New York State to be incorporated...
of New York City alone, as well as elsewhere. Since 1997, however, the National Fire Protection Association
National Fire Protection Association
The National Fire Protection Association is a United States trade association that creates and maintains private, copywrited, standards and codes for usage and adoption by local governments...
has banned mail chutes in all new building construction. The historic Lenox Hotel
The Lenox Hotel
The Lenox Hotel is a hotel in Boston, Massachusetts, USA. It is located at the corner of Boylston and Exeter Streets. One block from Newbury Street, Copley Square, and the Prudential Tower, The Lenox sits next to the Boston Public Library.-History:...
in Boston's Back Bay is one of the few known properties with an active Cutler Mail Chute system. Built in 1900, the "original boutique" boasts a Cutler U.S. Mail Chute on every guest floor at the elevator bank. The Chanin Building in New York City also has an active Cutler Mail Chute System. So although the Cutler Mail Chute Company itself currently is not active, its product remains in use in some old buildings.
Other installations
The London Transport HQ at 55 Broadway55 Broadway
55 Broadway is a notable building overlooking St. James's Park in London. It was designed by Charles Holden and built between 1927 and 1929, and in 1931 the building earned him the RIBA London Architecture Medal...
had a system installed. The chute slot for 'London & Abroad' mail plate says 'Cutler Mailing-System Cutler-Mail-Chute-Co Rochester,NY,USA'.(As shown BBC 'Art Deco Icons: London Transport' TV programme aired Nov 09.)