Key features:

• Unit is controlled by remote control

• Head on door turns to the left and right.

• Eyes are green lights.

• Spotlight is on the door at the base of the doll.

• Water pump shoots water from her mouth about 3-4 feet out.

SAFETY FEATURES:

• Red light on back of unit tells me when the power is on to the unit.

• White light on the back tells me when the door is open.

• Switch on the door will not allow the water pump operate while the door is closed which would spray the inside electrical components.

• Internal fuse for circuit overload and accidental short due to water.

The mailbox was my first inspiration.  I owe it all to my buddy Mark Burnside.  Mark called me one day and asked if I could make something that opened a mailbox and a hand popped out.  A year later and a staggering amount of additions later I had a mailbox.

At first the doll head was simply mounted to the door when it opened and nothing else (boring).  It also ran off of batteries which only lasted an hour at best.

Year two led to the addition of the entire unit being ran off of 120V power (including the remote control), a turning head, lighted eyes (and best of all) a water pump that makes her "spit" a stream of water from her mouth.  A set of walkie-talkies  also lead to some interesting conversations with kids.  The parents generally know what is going on and will come over to us while we are messing with the kids.  The parents will tell us the name of their children and I will turn the doll head to that child and call them by name.  It is at that point the kid doesn't know whether to talk back or scream for his life.  Suddenly this freaky looking doll head knows who they are and is staring right at them.  Shear terror has now set in.  This is what it is all about!

Another interesting story goes along with the mailbox.  I was managing a construction project up in Mishawaka, IN at the Hummer 2 facility back in 2001.  I took the mailbox with me to my hotel room to work on to pass the time at night after work since my family was 5 hours away.  It was at  this time the September 11 disaster occurred. (May God be with the victims and their families). Everyone was stirred by the terrorist attack...including the cleaning lady.  In my hotel room is this disassembled mess of wires, servos, tools, soldering irons, metal, wood....there is nothing that resembles a mailbox but a whole lot that looks like a bomb.  The manager of the hotel was waiting for me when I got there that evening.  Through the course of the months I was there my room got searched about twice a week.  I also blew the circuit breaker a couple of times.

Too much wiring to list.

Water spray in action.

My son shows how it's done!  He just loves to spray people with the water.

The mailbox is always a crowd pleaser.  It's funny to see how many people stair and try to figure out how you made it.