If you live in New England, or any place with roadside mailboxes, you know the beating they take: people not paying attention while driving sideswipe them, teenage kids think it’s a game to take them out, and worse, snow plows knock them right over.
People do all sorts of things to keep their mailboxes upright, such as cement them into large buckets or use sturdy metal posts versus wooden ones. Then you have the “creative” setups: One homeowner in my neighborhood used a combination of plastic crates and cable ties. Modern art, ha!
My old mailbox, which I inherited from my neighbor, bit the dust in 2017 when the hinge screws on the door finally rusted out. I used cable ties to keep the door on the box, but the mail carrier didn’t like that.
She kept ripping off the door and throwing it on the ground. My response each time: “How dare she?!” I was using my best Yankee ingenuity to solve a problem, plus being frugal, I didn’t want to buy a new box when the current one had years of life left!
After receiving a nasty note from the carrier, I finally replaced the box with a beautiful, Made in USA Janzer Mailbox. Installation was super easy.
I also painted the post and was so proud that my mailbox and post matched my garage door and front door. I know, it’s the little things.
As a side note, the number decals were made by Modern House Numbers in Tucson, AZ. Separate post to come!
Janzer — a trusted name since 1986
Gaines Manufacturing purchased Janzer Company in 2012. Gaines was formed in 1991 to fill a need for a line of beautifully designed and expertly manufactured mailboxes. The new mailboxes were an instant success — so the acquisition of Janzer was a good fit for them.
According to the company About page, Gaines “committed extensive resources and product know-how to enhance the design, functionality, and visual appeal of select Janzer products.”
I love the classic shape and the magnet closure on the door. And most important, at least to me, Gaines Manufacturing supports American jobs, families, and their local communities. Company headquarters and manufacturing plant are located in San Diego, CA.
Taken out by a snow plow
The Janzer Series collection is made from premium galvanized steel and finished with a weather-resistant powder coating. The finish has withstood eight years of New England rain, snow, and sun — but the box was no match for a rogue snow plow driver.
I was out shoveling, went in for a quick break, and came out to find my post in two pieces on the ground. If you look at the photo above, the post is behind a tree and set back from the road. In all the years it has stood there, no plow has done damage — so the dude was driving fast and pushing a lot of snow.
In fact, I later learned he took out 16 posts on my street alone. Wow.
My neighbor did a quick fix for me to tide me over — but what bummed me out was my beautiful mailbox was now dented. A few months later, when he put in the new post for me, I was able to bang out all but one of the dents and we were good to go.
I love my mailbox. Walking Rocky as I do, I look at people’s boxes and feel proud that mine is quite handsome, well-made, and manufactured in the US. It’s why I affixed the Made in America sticker — which my client, Brandon Acker, CEO of Titan Abrasive, gave to me. It’s the same one he affixes to his Made in USA blast equipment.
Get the Keep It Made USA newsletter.
Twice monthly; zero spam.
Links
Gaines Manufacturing — “Our Story”
Modern House Numbers, made in Tucson, AZ — Our Story
Powered by Ingenuity: Brandon Acker, Titan Abrasive — a Keep It Made USA write up
Full Disclosure
I’m not paid nor asked to write about products or the companies that make them. All links in this piece are FREE — meaning, they’re not sponsored or paid for.
My mission is to keep manufacturing jobs stateside and this blog is my way of giving back. We like to think a “small” choice, such as purchasing something made in the US, won’t make a difference. It does.
