The Jeep, developed by the military during World War II, was quickly adapted by the post office as a mainstay for local postal transportation. This 1963 quarter ton jeep was typical of the jeeps which were used for decades.

This 1959 Eschelman three wheeled vehicle is a rare find. This is unit number 7 of only 59 ever made. This mode of transportation was not a favorite with the carriers since they sat over the engine and inhaled the carbon monoxide fumes. Though this quarter ton vehicle could hold 500 pounds of mail, they tipped over quite easily. Postal workers note that the only nice thing about this vehicle was that it could actually be picked back up.

In 1964, the public was introduced to the Zone Improvement Plan with "Mr. Zip" as the mascot. This plan was the implementation of the five digit zip code. Mail carriers spent many hours sorting the mail but through the use of the zip code and the more modern bar code system, mail is presorted for the carrier in order of his route. Through this delivery system, vacation and hold notices can be entered, automatically holding mail from delivery. The system boasts a 98% accuracy rate.

Various stamp machines are displayed, including one that originally was used in the Delphos Post Office. A glance at the machines reflects such rates as five cents compared to the current rate of 41 cents. The machine on the right side of this picture was located in the Remlinger's Rexall Drug Store in Delphos.

This rural sleigh dates to approximately 1920. The sleigh is made of tin to keep it light. The rail is detachable and has a set of wheels for the summer. The familiar quote "Neither snow, nor rain, nor heat, nor gloom of night stays this courier" was painted on the sleigh. This quote originated with the Greeks and referred to the Greek messengers that would run from town to town. It is not really the post office's motto but has been long been associated with it.

Rural Free Delivery (R.F.D.) began in West Virginia in 1895. A typical mode of transporting the mail was this 1910 Harrington rural coach. The frame is made out of canvas. The coach has four bolts so it could easily be lifted off its frame. Coaches were made light so that horses could pull them for long distances. Some coaches had lamps and some even had foot stoves with the pipe coming out of the roof.

This mail coach tumbled down a steep embankment; the remains of the horse are visible to the right. All mail that was involved in an accident, whether it was being delivered by horse, train, truck or plane, was retrieved and stamped "Wrecked Mail". There are collectors around the world who collect only mail with this marking.

This group of gold prospectors waited in line at the Skagway, Alaska Post Office for their mail to arrive by dog sled. Today, mail is delivered by seaplane.

Mounted on the wall is an assortment of collection boxes dating from 1880 to 1945. The boxes were in various designs and colors, ranging from olive green to red.

At one point, the solid red collection box on the left was a common sight. However, this color scheme had to change because people in major cities mistook them for fire boxes which were used as a fire alert. The confusion could be costly in reaction time to the fire. It took approximately ten years of this problem before the blue and red color scheme was finally adopted. The collection box on the right reflects the revised color scheme.

This cart was used to deliver parcel post through the streets of Brooklyn, New York. Eventually, Brooklyn did not need the cart and rather than disposing of it, the post master pointed to a spot on the map, thinking that smaller towns would still find it useful. West Carrolton, Ohio was the lucky recipient of the cart. The post master of Brooklyn simply had "West Carrolton Ohio" written on the under side of the cart and mailed it.

Though this looks like the old tin box the milk man would deliver his wares to, it was actually converted to a mailbox. Of local interest is the advertising that was painted on the mail box. "King Bros. Druggists, Delphos O" is an example of several area businesses from days gone by.

On the wall of the Transportation Room, is a picture display of many interesting and humorous mailboxes found throughout the countryside of the nation. While there are basic design requirements for mailboxes, people have enjoyed giving their mailbox some "character". An example is this mailbox, designed to resemble a McDonald's Restaurant.

A glimpse of what the museum offers inside can be observed by this Westcoaster three-wheeler, which is displayed in front of the Delphos Post Office. There were four designs of the three-wheeler purchased by the post office; this is a one piece unit.