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Smithsonian sunburst Smithsonian National Postal Museum
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    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

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RFD: Marketing to a Rural Audience
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  • Supplemental Equipment
Click to view social media share links

Supplemental Equipment

From metal lock boxes to hold stamps and cash to creative ways to sort and hold the mail, rural letter carriers dipped into their pockets to purchase a variety of things to make their daily rounds a bit easier, or more comfortable.

R.F.D. News ad, 'A warm driver on a cold day means rural delivery happiness.'
Harrington Manufacturing Company advertisement
Chicago Flexible Shaft Company Clark Heater advertisement
Heaters

Learn more About Heaters

Bell Odometer advertisement
Odometers

Learn more About Odometers

Ahsman Heater Company scale advertisement
Scales

Learn more About Scales

William Corfman distribution bag advertisement
Sorting and Distribution Bags

Learn more About Sorting and Distribution Bags

Charles Boyer cash box advertisement
Stamp and Cash Boxes

Learn more About Stamp and Cash Boxes

Spring Belt Drivers robe ad
Miscellaneous Other Items

Learn more About Miscellaneous Other Items

RFD: Marketing to a Rural Audience

  • A Burgeoning Service
  • A New Market
  • Using the Carriers
    • Side Jobs
  • Early Transportation
    • Wagon Manufacturers and Sellers
  • Uniforms
    • Uniform and Cloth Manufacturers
  • Miscellaneous Supplies
    • Supplemental Equipment
      • Heaters
      • Odometers
      • Scales
      • Sorting and Distribution Bags
      • Stamp and Cash Boxes
      • Miscellaneous Other Items
  • Selling the Box
    • Mailboxes
  • Entering the Auto Age
    • Motorcycles
    • Automobiles
  • Becoming Normal
  • Outline
‹ Miscellaneous Supplies up Heaters ›

HomeSmithsonian National Postal Museum

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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Owney, the Railway Mail Service Mascot

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