Mailboxes on my street

[Chris Dodkin]

Wandering down the street in rural Sedona AZ today - I was struck by the variety in the US standard mailboxes.

My red mailbox

Hot Rod Mailbox

Growing out of the Cactus Patch

Dual Mailboxes

Redneck solution to putting your mailbox post in the ground!

Graffiti Artist at #140

Vintage patina at #50

All shots Canon 5D2 and 85mm f1.2L

 

[Brian Moore]

Great set! Love 'em Chris.

 

[Hamish Gill]

I've never got this ... Does people's post not go missing?
Does everyone have one of these then?
Great set though Chris!

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Amazingly it rarely seems to happen

It is a Federal offense to mess with the US mail, so that may deter folks

Don't know if mail boxes are everywhere in the US - but in the states I visit they're the norm.

Some are bog standard - others are 'custom'

Some are designed to keep the mail away from the crims

The one's on the street in Sedona are all beaten-up - kids drive by and hit them with baseball bats for fun!

 

[Darren Bradley]

Nice series. It takes a foreigner to point out something we don't even see anymore and make it interesting. Even though Chris has been here long enough to qualify as a "native" by most people's definition

To answer the question on mailboxes, that's the traditional design around the United States for rural mailboxes. The design was first mandated in 1915, and it's called the "tunnel top" or Joroleman mailbox (named for the designer). I think I posted this shot once before, but here's another example in the countryside east of San Diego:


Up until the mid-70s, it was the only approved USPS design for rural mailboxes. So it you wanted to get your mail, you needed one of these (or pick it up from the local post office directly). Now, there are lots of different designs that are approved, so you did see more variety, as Chris said.

 

[Hamish Gill]

why not just have letter boxes on the front door ...
Basically, British postmen have it harder I think ... All those drive ways to walk up ... Lazy Americans only have to walk down a road ...

 

[Hamish Gill]

... Interesting to know though Darren, please excuse my casual racism

 

[Pete Askew]

You actually walked down the street! In the US!! And you weren't arrested or anything? Amazing!

Still, good job you did or you wouldn't have come up with this little collection.

 

[Chris Dodkin]

Lazy Americans only have to walk down a road ...

They don't actually walk at all Hamish - the local posty drives up to each mail box and puts the mail in, all without leaving his special right hand drive mail truck!

 

[Hamish Gill]

That's why he's fat! (a fair assumption I believe)

 

[Chris Dodkin]

I'll mention that to Robert, my 6' tall, lean & mean posty, and he'll run you down and kick your ***!