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U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:02 pm
by PT7
My daughter got a belated Christmas gift from her former landlady when they visited yesterday. The gift was a special memory from the years my kids were in junior high and high school in Baldwin City, KS. It is U.S. Postal Box #174 from that small-town post office.
The wood box is really beautiful workmanship, and has the U.S.P.O. metal door and frame on the front. I don't know the details of why the door is no longer in the post office, but this is box number 174 which was used there for many years of mail delivery. When my wife and I first moved to Baldwin City in the early 1980s, we had box number 146 which was just a couple of rows away on the U.S.P.O. wall.
I don't know what kind of wood was used, but I think it is quality material. Like I noted, the fit and finish are excellent. (Maybe BrokenolMarine will comment?). The lock works just fine, no squeaks when opening the door, and it is a very heavy box. The top measures 5" square and it is 6-1/2" tall. I think the grains have popped beautifully, and I really, really like the stain color. Just like I love to view Henry rifle stocks, this is also a very appealing wood piece.
Wish I could say I built this box.

Hope you all enjoy the pics.
PT7

- Top Commemorative Plaque
- Baldwin City postal box_3514.JPG (227.3 KiB) Viewed 6079 times

- Lockbox Front Door
- Baldwin City postal box_3515.JPG (283.91 KiB) Viewed 6079 times

- Lockbox Mechanism
- Baldwin City postal box_3516.JPG (210.12 KiB) Viewed 6079 times

- Wood Box Interior
- Baldwin City postal box_3518.JPG (255.87 KiB) Viewed 6079 times

- Back of Wood Box
- Baldwin City postal box_3519.JPG (263.78 KiB) Viewed 6079 times
Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:08 pm
by markiver54
That's really beautiful Bob, great story and great gift!
Looks like quality Oak to me.
Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:10 pm
by RanchRoper
That's awesome.
Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box
Posted: Sat Dec 28, 2019 10:59 pm
by Stray Cat
That is a neat idea. I can still remember the combo to the box we had for the grain elevator. It used letters vs. numbers.
Two turns to the right then, ABIC...pretty easy to remember during the era of the Bic pens.
Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 7:06 am
by GunnyGene
Very nice. It's Red Oak, btw. A lot of oak is/was used for this and much other office and home furniture. Book cases, chairs, dining tables, cabinetry, etc. due to it's availability and strength. Also widely used for the old White Clad ice boxes and similar things. Brings back a lot of old memories of life before TV, home Air Conditioning, and electric kitchen appliances.
Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 7:34 am
by TMB
What a beautiful box and great gift. Thanks for.the story.
Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 7:42 am
by PT7
Thanks for noting the kind of wood used for this box, Gunny. Mark also thought it looked like oak to him.
PT7
GunnyGene wrote: ↑Sun Dec 29, 2019 7:06 am
Very nice. It's Red Oak, btw. A lot of oak is/was used for this and much other office and home furniture.
Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 4:34 pm
by BrokenolMarine
Yup, I was going to say oak, as it would match both our roll top desks. Nice job on the box...
I saw a half dozen of those on ebay, missed them. Then saw a pair for sale on s woodworking forum, missed them too. Day late.
Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 4:48 pm
by PT7
BrokenolMarine wrote: ↑Sun Dec 29, 2019 4:34 pm
Yup, I was going to say oak, as it would match both our roll top desks. Nice job on the box...
I saw a half dozen of those on ebay, missed them. Then saw a pair for sale on s woodworking forum, missed them too. Day late.
Marine,
My daughter is going to ask the lady who got her the lockbox/wood box gift for the name of where she got it. I'll remember to pass it your way if any are available.
PT7
Re: U.S. Postal Box inside a Wooden Box
Posted: Sun Dec 29, 2019 5:11 pm
by BrokenolMarine
PT7 wrote: ↑Sun Dec 29, 2019 4:48 pm
BrokenolMarine wrote: ↑Sun Dec 29, 2019 4:34 pm
Yup, I was going to say oak, as it would match both our roll top desks. Nice job on the box...
I saw a half dozen of those on ebay, missed them. Then saw a pair for sale on s woodworking forum, missed them too. Day late.
Marine,
My daughter is going to ask the lady who got her the lockbox/wood box gift for the name of where she got it. I'll remember to pass it your way if any are available.
PT7
I was only looking at the old post office box doors so I could make banks.

You can find replicas. But these I had missed were originals, reclaimed from demolition or upgrades to old post offices. Sometimes you find people clearing out their shops of "I thought I would eventually," project items too.
