Late 19th Century Cast Iron Telephone Pay Station picnic MM - 301448 - 062223

MM - 301448 - 062223

5" W x 7" H

Includes two dividers

This ashtray has developed natural patina and is in excellent condition

Late 19th Century Cast Iron Telephone Pay Station picnic MM - 301448 - 062223Gray Automatic Telephone Pay Station Co. Hartford, CT Antique cast iron telephone pay station. This piece was designed and manufactured by William Gray and his eponymous pay station company in 1898. The coin operated mechanism was used to prepay for outgoing calls and would have been connected to a bank of telephones. An electronic signal would be sent to a central operator who would be notified of the prepayment and patch the call through. The