Mailbox Whistle Anyone?

Mailbox Whistle Anyone?

I have a unique mailbox whistle on my Keck engine here in Pinckneyville. It's been a part of my engine since the early 1950s, when it was removed from the top of the old Pinckneyville Milling Company. This whistle served as a signal for employees to start their workday. From what I've gathered, many such whistles were used in factories and steamboats. According to local legends, its sound could travel as far as 7-8 miles when mounted on a building and with favorable wind conditions.

I'm uncertain of its exact age. However, the whistle drew steam from the same two large boilers that powered the Corliss steam engine, which operated all the line shafts for the flour mills in the three-story mill building. This mill, and the Corliss steam engine, can currently be seen on display at the American Thresherman Show at the north end of the fairgrounds. The Corliss steam engine was acquired and installed at the mill after being exhibited at the 1904 St. Louis World's Fair. This information comes from my late great aunt, whose husband and brother owned the milling company. Therefore, it's likely that the whistle is at least as old as, if not older, than the Corliss engine.

The whistle is encased in a sizeable cast iron box, appearing much larger than the one in Beth's picture. It emits a single tone that, while not particularly melodious, is immensely powerful. Standing close to it when it blows can make the ground shake and your chest vibrate. A friend even joked that it could make the wax fall out of your ears and your teeth fillings loosen!

I'll try to post some pictures tonight, and next time I fire it up, I'll capture a video to provide a better sense of its sound and appearance. Meanwhile, you can check it out on YouTube where the Keck is on the sawmill (view from 2:09-2:30) and to hear the whistle, go to 8:12. Just follow the chains to the whistles, mine is the one furthest to the left near the steam dome:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4mn3YLN0z5c&feature=related

There are also some good pictures of it in another video when the Keck is on the separator (watch from about 4:45-5:00):
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qFGL2bBR428&feature=channel

Hope this helps you - Enjoy!

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Griswold Cast Iron Mailbox - "Did I get taken?"

Claudia from Fellsmere, Florida, reached out to me through the contact form, wondering if she got a fair deal on a vintage Griswold cast iron mailbox. She acquired a No.1 mailbox with pattern numbers 380, 381, and 382 for $30 but couldn't find any information about it.

“I just bought a No.1 mailbox with 380, 381 and 382 on it with a shingled top on it for $30 and can’t find any information on it. Did I get taken on it?”

I assured her she hadn't been taken advantage of and asked her to send photos. The mailbox is an authentic Griswold No.1 cast iron piece, featuring pattern numbers 381 (door) and 382 (lid), manufactured in the 1930s by the Griswold Manufacturing Company in Erie, PA. It's detailed in the Blue book on page 180 (5th edition), indicating its availability in both black and black with a green lid.

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What is the value?

According to the Blue book, the value of a Griswold No.1 cast iron mailbox ranges from $150 to $200. The Blue book was published in 1995, prior to the proliferation of internet sales platforms like eBay, which have since made it easier to locate such items.

For an updated market value, it's advisable to check "sold" listings on eBay, which reflect recent sales. In the past 90 days, a comparable Griswold mailbox was listed for $99.95 plus $18.61 shipping as a "Buy it Now" option, but it sold for less as a "best offer."

When searching for "Griswold mailbox 382" on Google, 13,500 results were returned, with several images of similar mailboxes. These images can provide additional insights into their selling prices and conditions.

Did Claudia get "taken?" Absolutely not. She should enjoy her purchase!

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