Pay Telephone, circa 1898
Add to SetSummary
By 1905, telephones had been around for almost thirty years. Although most people didn't have phones in their homes, they had become indispensable in certain situations -- business and emergencies. Hotels, grocery stores, and restaurants owners often installed pay telephones in their establishments. This phone features William Gray's mechanism for making a secure pay phone, which was licensed to many phone manufacturers.
By 1905, telephones had been around for almost thirty years. Although most people didn't have phones in their homes, they had become indispensable in certain situations -- business and emergencies. Hotels, grocery stores, and restaurants owners often installed pay telephones in their establishments. This phone features William Gray's mechanism for making a secure pay phone, which was licensed to many phone manufacturers.
Artifact
Coin-operated telephone
Date Made
circa 1898
Keywords
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
00.3.14329
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Wood (Plant material)
Metal
Color
Brown (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 74 in
Width: 16 in
Length: 13.25 in
Inscriptions
below and in front of the gooseneck mouthpiece are five slots marked: DOLLAR / HALF DOL / QUARTER / DIME / NICKEL on receiver on the left side of the bell box: WESTERN ELECTRIC / COMPANY.- / CHICAGO NEW YORK. under the bell box on the wall is a white plate marked: DIRECTIONS. / CALL THE CENTRAL OFFICE IN THE / USUAL WAY / DO NOT DEPOSIT ANY / MONEY UNTIL TOLD TO DO SO BY / THE OPERATOR. / THE TELEPHONE MUST BE OFF THE HOOK WHEN THE. MONEY IS DEPOSITED ./ BE SURE AND DROP MONEY IN / THE PROPER SLOT / F.E. MARSLAND, NEW YORK. on panel of stand is a metal bell shaped plate marked: GRAY TELEPHONE PAY STATION CO. / PATENTED / August 13,1889 to May 18, 1898 / HARTFORD, CONN., U.S.A. inside stand on metal coinreceiver it is marked: THE GRAY / TELEPHONE / PAY STATION / CO. / HARTFORD, / CONN. / U.S.A.
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