Gray Pay Telephone, circa 1900
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
circa 1900
Location
Not on exhibit to the public.
Object ID
2014.0.17.157
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford.
Material
Iron alloy
Nickel (Metal)
Rubber (Material)
Wood (Plant material)
Dimensions
Height: 59 in
Width: 13.25 in
Length: 16.25 in
Inscriptions
plaque, top: DOLLAR / HALF-DOLLAR / QUARTER / DIME / NICKEL plaque, transmitter: WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY / 250W plaque, front (bell shaped): GRAY TELEPHONE PAY STATION CO. / PATENTED FEB. 23 1892 . . . NOV. 16 1897 / THE FOLLOWING U.S. PATENTS OWNED BY THIS COMPANY / AUG. 13- 1889 . . . JAN. 18-1898 / HARTFORD, CONN. U.S.A. transmitter, rear: PROPERTY OF THE AMERICAN BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY PATENTED JULY 9-1898 . . . NOV. 1-92
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