Philip B. Downing

Philip B. Downing (1857-1934) 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. He 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.

Philip had a long career in Boston, Massachusetts as a postal clerk. Shortly after 1880, when Philip met and married Evangeline Howard, he had two children. He retired in 1927 after working for more than thirty years. In total, at least five patents were filed by Philip with the United States Patent Office. Around this time, census records indicate that Philip had moved to Boston, Massachusetts.