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Smithsonian sunburst Smithsonian National Postal Museum
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Handheld door knocker for letter carriers

Object Details

Description
Some letter carriers chose to use wooden, dumb-bell shaped door knockers on their city free delivery service rounds. Convenient, light-weight, and easy to grasp, the knocker saved wear and tear on hands and sounded a load crack to announce the carrier’s arrival.
The postman really did ring twice, or knocked, or blew a whistle. Letter carriers waited for someone to answer their signal, if no one was home, they took the mail back to the post office and tried again the next day. Studies showed carriers spent an average of two hours daily waiting at the doorstep. To save work hours, the Post Office Department required residents to install mailboxes or letter slots in 1916.
Data Source
National Postal Museum
Date
After 1863
Object number
0.263796.1
Type
Employee Gear
Medium
wood
Dimensions
Diam 2 in. (5.08 cm.)
Place
Pennsylvania
See more items in
National Postal Museum Collection
On View
Currently on exhibit at the National Postal Museum
Topic
Postal Employees
Record ID
npm_0.263796.1
Usage
Not determined
GUID
http://n2t.net/ark:/65665/hm8d1ae0cc9-55f1-4e26-8c33-1b9b0ac4b787
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IIIF provides researchers rich metadata and media viewing options for comparison of works across cultural heritage collections. Visit the IIIF page to learn more.
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HomeSmithsonian National Postal Museum

Plan a Visit

Open daily 10 a.m. to 5:30 p.m.

Admission is always free!

2 Massachusetts Ave., N.E.
Washington, DC 20002

The museum's main entrance is located on the corner of First Street and Massachusetts Avenue NE. Other entrances have variable hours.

street map of Postal museum

Learn more
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