American letterboxes are real eye-catchers thanks to their eye-catching look. They have a lot of fans outside of the USA for nothing, because they offer a lot of space for post. In addition to the standard model of unpainted aluminum with red flag, there are now all sorts of designs. Whether classic, colorful or in animal look – who is looking for an American mailboxis, should first inform about the different variants. We introduce the differences.

What makes the American mailbox?

The classic US Mailbox with its typical shape immediately catches the eye: the bottom is flat and elongated, with a raised half-tube made of aluminum or weatherproof steel sheet arching over it. The mail is put into the box through a flap at the front end. On the side of the mailbox has a red flag, which can be folded up and down as desired. The classic US mailboxes are stand mailboxes, In the US, they are right on the road, even if the house or the farm is located a few hundred meters further on a large plot of land. This way, the postman can conveniently load the mail without having to walk to the front door.

Stand or wall mounting?

In the US, American mailbox mailboxes are almost always standing mailboxes. They can either be set up freely on a support post or fastened on a fence rail. Make sure to mount the mailbox stably, because opening and closing the flap regularly causes forces on the case. Those who want to make sure that their American mailbox consistently defies wind and weather concretes the support post with a small foundation in the ground. Speaking of the weather, if your American mailbox is free, make sure the door closes tight to prevent moisture from entering and ruining your mail. If possible, place the box so that the opening is not on the side facing the weather. In addition, the material must be stainless.

Anyone who fastens the box to the wall, robs him a little of its original charm. Sometimes it is not possible otherwise because of the local conditions. Some models are also designed specifically for wall mounting. In any case, you should make sure that the box can be easily opened and closed after fixing. Models that are suitable for wall mounting are sometimes supplied with a matching wall bracket.

What is the red flag for?

Most users of American mailboxes in Germany expect the postman to fold up the red flag when he puts something in the box. In the US, however, the flag has a different meaning: Here the postman not only brings the letters, he also picks them up from their senders at the same time. Therefore, a raised flag means that the owner has put mail in the mailbox – the messenger will thus empty the box and put the found letters in the delivery. However, this form of collection is not common in Europe. Therefore, many postmen use the red flag to indicate to the owner that he has received mail.

Not classic, but pretty: special shapes

American mailboxes inspire designers and artists to let their imagination run free. The result is funny, attractive and sometimes bizarre designs, guaranteed to be an eye-catcher in your front yard. A US mailbox in dog form, as a catty cow or cheeky monkey conjures certainly your deliverer a smile on the lips. If this is too playful, please refer to the original US mailboxes in the familiar design: In addition to the silver-colored version and colored variants are available in stores.