Airmail pickup canister

c. 1939-1944

This hollow rubber canister was used in the late 1930s to provide airmail service to areas without adequate airport facilities. The right design was critical as the canister, filled with mail, would be tossed out of the airplane to be retrieved and processed by the local postmaster. Because a regular mail sack would be easily blown about by the wind, a weighted holder was needed. However, too heavy a canister might cause significant damage if it hit something when it fell. In addition, the canister had to be able to survive repeated drops. Various different styles of receptacles were tested. The proponents of the service ultimately selected this design, resembling the nose cone of a rocket.