In 1936 Thomas Maloney of Wilkes-Barre, Pennsylvania, and his grandson were killed opening a mail bomb that had been placed in a cigar box similar to this mock-up. Inspectors used the mock-up to alert local postmasters to be on guard for similar packages, and to train new postal inspectors on the characteristics of mail bombs. Inspectors traced the remnants of the bomb’s address to a local man, Michael Fuggman. Inspectors determined that the bombings resulted from local union disputes concerning protest activities over conditions at an anthracite mine.

On loan from the United States Postal Inspection Service, Dangerous Mail Investigations and Homeland Security Group