In Adelaide there are two manufacturers of through fence letterboxes suitable for brush fencing, as pictured below.
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The "Ackland F23" style letterbox. |
The "Superior" Brand box |
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"Ackland" Box - rear |
"Superior"- Rear |
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"Ackland" Rear - Open |
"Superior"- Rear - Open |
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"Superior"- Side View |
The Ackland box comes in a variety of sizes and escutcheon (front) openings, whereas the 'Superior' box has just the one multi-purpose size.
The Ackland box has a vertical body located behind the fence with a brass or 'colorbond' escutcheon plate on the front attached to a narrow throat which passes through the fence and mates with the body opening. The 'Superior' box on the other hand has the whole of its horizontally aligned body passing through the fence with a fixed front plate and a sliding flange to the rear for mounting.
Each has its pros and cons. Larger mail items tend to hit the back of the Ackland box thoat and jam, whilst the 'Superior' box's mail slot causes thicker and folded items to jam in the opening itself. The Ackland has a rain drainage mechanism in the throat, whilst the 'Superior' has a small rain guard over the slot.
The Ackland box requires a smaller hole to be cut through the brush and I have found is easier to fit than the 'Superior'. If attached to a brush fence as the Ackland manufacturer suggests (metal tags that attach to the wiring), there can be problems as a fence ages, with the letterbox dragging the wiring down and the brush work dislodging. We have over the years developed a non proprietry means of securing the Ackland box in a way that prevents such damage.
The 'Superior' box is the best option for machine made panel fences.
The Ackland box does not have an area on the front where a street number can be mounted, whilst the 'Superior' does.
Cost wise, the plain fronted Ackland 'F23' sized box and the 'Superior' are about the same, but the brass-fronted Ackland is slightly dearer.
© Copyright 1998; Adelaide Brush, South Australia 5126; Tel +61 8 82513309, Fax. +61 8 82893155, Mobile 0418 841 889.
