On Wed, 11 Nov 2009 10:39:59 -0000, "Tinkerer"
wrote:


"Roger R" wrote in message
...

"Andy Cap" wrote in message
o.uk...
The Medway Handyman wrote:

Thus saving the trouble of cutting a letterbox size slot in a door - and
fitting one of the **** poor designed letterboxes. Why they can't
recess
the spring is beyond me, cutting out a slot to take it is a right PITA.

I've had a couple now, of the type where both outside and inside portions
are the same, with sprung and sealed flaps, but with one part sliding
inside the other. They function well and are completely draft proof,
apart
from when the paper guy doesn't push it right through !


The design of letter box fittings leaves a lot to be desired with many
offerings having inadequate width for an A4 envelope (even if only 5mm
thick) to pass through without being folded.

The type similar to your desription -as sold in B&Q- with brush draught
excluders inside both flaps has its limitations because flimsy envelopes
don't penetrate the inner brush/flap and remain crushed up in the inner
space. I find myself looking in the flap each day to see if my lottery
cheque for 94 million pounds has somehow got hidden in it.

The traditinal type with a single inward opening metal flap closed by a
strong spring also results in the flimsy letters being crushed as the
postman tries to force open the flap by thrusting the letter against it -
works sometimes. If the spring is weak the flap blows open allowing
draughts.

I'm inclined to think the type with a lift up outward opening flap is the
most efficient but its a two handed job for the postman - one to lift the
flap the other to thrust the item in.


In my far off days as an instructor at "The London Postal Training School"
postmen were trained to always use two hands for safety. Many of the
sprung letter box flaps are made from thin stainless steel and the bottom
edge can be very sharp. A common cause of accidents was pushing the
letters in with one hand and then attempting to guillotine the fingers on
the way out, hence the training to open with one hand and insert with the
other.

Using two hands also makes it easier to remove your digits from the
dog's jaw.
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