James Cutler received U.S. Patent 284,951 on September 11, 1883 for the mail chute.  

The first one was installed in 1884 in the Elwood Building in Rochester, New York.[

Cutler ultimately received thirty patents for variations of his invention. The original approved patent No. 284,951 design stated that it must "be of metal, distinctly marked U.S. Letter Box," and that the "door must open on hinges on one side, with the bottom of the door not less than 2'6" above the floor." If the building were more than two stories tall, the collection box was to be outfitted with a cushion to prevent injury to the mail. 

The mail chutes had to be accessible along its entire length so lodged mail could be removed.  

The first experimental "Cutler mail chute" device was successful at the Elwood Building so later it was installed in two New York City office buildings. Additional ones were then installed in railroad stations and some public buildings as a test. Eventually Cutler Mail Box produced over 1,600 such devices in buildings over the next twenty years.

Then the postal service allowed "Cutler mail chutes" to be placed in hotels taller than five stories. They were also installed in public apartment buildings of more than fifty apartments.