hard to find antique american victorian era decorative cast bronze hinged flush mount oversized commercial door mail slot likely fabricated by the sargent hardware co., new haven, ct. the spring-loaded hinged flap contains the word "mail" in fanciful lettering. the surrounding border features intricately designed foliated scrollwork combined with unique geometric forms. the metallic bronze inlay accentuates the casting detail. in 1810 the sargent family entered the hardware business, beginning the trail that eventually led to the present sargent manufacturing company. joseph bradford sargent and his two brothers operated a wholesale hardware business in new york city, and subsequently obtained an interest in one of their suppliers, the peck and walter manufacturing company of new britain, ct. the sargent brothers bought full ownership of the new britain firm in 1857. seven years later, in 1864, they moved the factory to new haven to be closer to the sea for shipping purposes and the delivery of raw materials, and incorporated under the laws of connecticut as sargent & co. the original new haven location was along water street, with a portion of the plant bordering wallace and hamilton. the original plant started out with a series of five-story brick buildings, storage sheds, and, as the business grew, other buildings were added. connecting these various structures were catwalks, or bridges, spanning busy city streets. by 1914 the sargent product catalog listed some 60,000 different items, making it one of the largest hardware manufacturing plants in the united states.