Mail chute

A mail chute is a device by which mail is collected for pick-up by a post office from within high-rise buildings, such as offices, hospitals, and hotels. Deposit boxes on upper floors are connected via a chute to a central depository at ground level, from which the mail is picked up.

The mail chute was patented by James Goold Cutler, an architect from Rochester, New York, in 1883. A company founded by Cutler would become the principal manufacturer of such systems for new hotels, apartment buildings, and offices, defending the original patent and modifications. Use of the mail chute declined with the advent of modern mailrooms designed to more efficiently handle increased volumes of mail and issues that could be caused by clogs or letters falling through. In 1997, the National Fire Protection Association updated its voluntary codes to ban new chute installations, as the vertical shafts could spread smoke in the event of fire. However, thousands of existing mail chutes continue in use, including hundreds in New York City alone.