Posted 12 years ago
mrmajestic1
(66 items)
I went to a yard sale, on a Sunday, just as they were closing. The woman had two beer flats full of different items and told me if I took them both they were mine for nothing. Needless to say I packed them home and this was one of two locks. I used to have an old canvas postal bulk bag that would have used one of these but, alas, it is long gone.
Long-live Rural Free Delivery!
Don't I know it - small P.O.'s are closing left and right...trying to do my part to keep the mails moving, one letter at a time. :)
Thanks AR8Jason. I have not been able to find a maker's mark on my lock though there is a #16 on the bail.
Thanks Hunter, bratjdd, packrat and Manikin.
RFD locks were made to Post Office department specifications. They were not intended for the mail carriers, but for the rural folks whose mailboxes were in remote locations.
The PO Dept offered free delivery of the mail as long as the recipients (farmers) maintained a road for the carrier to travel on. Because locks were on Post Office boxes, the P.O. maintained that a lock should be placed on the mailboxes of the RFD customers.
There are 12 changes (different individual keys) to the locks and then the carrier had a master key that would open them all. The lock manufacturers would make the locks and ensure the P.O.'s key would work. This is very much similar to the TSA locks that have to be used on checked baggage for today's air travel.
-- Earth
Thank you all for the loves and likes.
And Earthling, I appreciate the information on this lock. I was aware of the road maintenance rule but have never learned any other of useful information. Thank you.