Black Box, circa 1972

Summary

Black boxes connected to home telephones, allowing callers to bypass long-distance charges. These illegal devices tricked automated telephone exchanges into believing no one answered the receiving end of the call. In the 1960s, notorious "phone phreakers" infiltrated telephone networks; their actions were comparable to modern-day hackers. William Claxton built this box to connect with his brother, living 300 miles away.

Black boxes connected to home telephones, allowing callers to bypass long-distance charges. These illegal devices tricked automated telephone exchanges into believing no one answered the receiving end of the call. In the 1960s, notorious "phone phreakers" infiltrated telephone networks; their actions were comparable to modern-day hackers. William Claxton built this box to connect with his brother, living 300 miles away.

Artifact

Electronic device

Date Made

circa 1972

Location

Not on exhibit to the public.

Object ID

2017.151.2

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford.

Material

Polystyrene

Color

Pink (Color)
Purple

Dimensions

Height: 1.188 in  (Case)

Width: 1.188 in  (Case)

Length: 3.25 in  (Case)

Inscriptions

on bottom of case: AMAC PLASTIC PRODUCTS CORP. SAUSALITO, CALIF.

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