Pay Telephone, 1905-1915
Add to SetSummary
By 1905, telephones had been around almost thirty years. Though most people didn't have phones in their homes, they had become indispensable in certain situations--business, emergencies. Business owners installed pay telephones in hotels, grocery stores and restaurants. 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 almost thirty years. Though most people didn't have phones in their homes, they had become indispensable in certain situations--business, emergencies. Business owners installed pay telephones in hotels, grocery stores and restaurants. 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
1905-1915
Creators
Gray Telephone Pay Station Company
Place of Creation
United States, Connecticut, Hartford
Creator Notes
Designed by Gray Telephone Pay Station Co., Hartford, Connecticut and distributed by Western Electric Company.
On Exhibit
at Henry Ford Museum in Collections Platform
Object ID
2008.0.14.32
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Wood (Plant material)
Metal
Paper (Fiber product)
Rubber (Material)
Color
Black (Color)
Dimensions
Height: 36 in
Width: 14.5 in
Length: 10 in
Inscriptions
On transmitter cover: WESTERN ELECTRIC / COMPANY / 228W On front of ringer box: WESTERN ELECTRIC / COMPANY / CHICAGO - NEW YORK On side of ringer box: PATENTED / MAR. 31, 1891 / JUL. 11, 1893 / JUL. 17, 1894 / MADE FOR THE AMERICAN / BELL TELEPHONE CO. AND / LICENSED TO BE USED ONLY WITH IT'S TELEPHONES On manufacturer's plate: The Gray Telephone Pay Station Co. / HARTFORD, CONN., U.S.A. / Nov. 16, 1897. PATENTED SEPT. 17, 1901 / NOV. 16, 1897. FEB. 8, 1898. DEC. 13, 1904 On paper insert: 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. / Bu sure and drop money / in the PROPER SLOT. Coin slots: DOLLAR / HALF-DOL / DIME / NICKEL Bottom of box: 98
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