Phillip B. Downing

Life & Legacy

Phillip Bell Downing (March 22, 1857- June 8, 1934) was an African-American inventor 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 33 years and seven months after a patent was granted to Albert Potts for the first mailbox in the United States. Downing 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.