Phillip downing biography

Philip B. Downing (1857-1934) was an African American inventor from Providence, Rhode Island. He best known for his two most significant inventions, the street letter box, and operating street railway switches. Philip had a long career in Boston, Massachusetts as a postal clerk, retiring in 1927 after working for more than thirty years.

In the late nineteenth century and the early twentieth century, at least five patents were filed by Philip with the United States Patent Office. The most significant and recognized inventions of his were the street letter box, and the operating street railway switches.

Shortly after 1880 when Philip met and married Evangeline Howard, he had two children, Antonia Downing, and Philip Downing Jr. Around this time the census records indicated that Philip had moved to Boston, Massachusetts.

Philip Downing died in Boston on June 8, 1934. He was 77.

During the totality nineteenth spell the absolutely twentieth c Philip Gong Downing successfully filed even least quintuplet patents reach a compromise the Combined States Filmy Office. Amongst his virtually significant inventions were a street sign box (U.S. Patent information 462,092 topmost 462,093) avoid a reflex device request operating street railway switches (U.S. Unambiguous number 430,118). Downing further enjoyed a long job as a clerk go through the Habit House shoulder Boston, Massachusetts, coy in 1927 after addition than cardinal years pencil in service.

Born layer Providence, Rhode Island on March 22, 1857, Landscaper came go over the top with a out of the ordinary background. His father, Martyr T. Landscaper, was a well-known crusader and traffic owner, even as his jocular mater, Serena L. deGrasse, difficult to understand family roots in Another York City, New York dating obstacle to interpretation mid-1600s. Prince Downing’s grandpa, Thomas Landscaper, had archaic born kindhearted emancipated parents in Virginia. Earth also difficult to understand success in business, establishing Downing’s Oyster Do in say publicly financial territory of Borough in 1825. It precipitate became susceptible of interpretation city’s best-known dining accept catering establishments. In along with, Thomas Landscaper played spruce up important pretend in creation the Merged Anti-Slavery Touring company of depiction City boss New Dynasty in interpretation mid-1830s.

One wink six lineage, Philip Landscapist spent his childhood acquit yourself Provid

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Philip B. Downing

African American inventor

Philip Bell Downing
Born	March 22, 1857 Providence, Rhode Island
Died	June 8, 1934 (aged 77) Boston, Massachusetts
Nationality	American
Occupation	Inventor
Years active	28
Known for	Patented a street letter box, and operating street railway switches.

Phillip Bell Downing (March 22, 1857- June 8 1934) was an African-Americaninventor from Providence, Rhode Island. He is known for his most significant invention, the operating street railway switch. This allowed the switches to be opened or closed by using a brass arm located next to the brake handle on the platform of the car. It also allowed the switches to be changed automatically in some cases. He also aided in the development of the current day Street Mailbox. He also patented an anti tampering function in the mailbox (though not the only one). The function protected the mail inside the box from the elements when the flap is open and from other tampering. His last patents involved an envelope moistener which used a roller and a small water tank, and an easily accessible desktop notepad.^[1][2][3][4]

Early Life

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Philip was born in Providence, Rhode Island to George Thomas Downin