Antiques
1870's era Wood, Wall-Mounted "Coffin" Antique Telephone
- Item Number
- 180
- Estimated Value
- 200 USD
- Sold
- 68 USD to nycounsel
- Number of Bids
- 7 - Bid History
Item Description
Antique phones are a reminder of a bygone era. Wood, wall-mounted “coffin” telephones were the first phones put into wide circulation, around 1879. Typically tall and bulky, they needed several compartments to hold the batteries and magneto (a hand cranked generator to signal an operator who actually placed the call). The coffin telephone, made from 1879 on, used the Watson polarizing ringing system. There was a magneto crank on the outside of the box, which sparked the mechanism inside the phone. There were also two call bells on the top, with an automatic switch hook below the crank to transfer between talking and calling. This phone ran on a Blake transmitter and a wet-cell battery.
Item Special Note
*Thank you Shirley Gallegos for this donation.
*If out of town, winning bidder will be responsible for the cost of shipping this item.
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