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What is this wooden box?
https://www.rypn.org/forums/viewtopic.php?f=1&t=36853		 Page 1 of 1
Author:  Bisquerose1125 [ Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:03 pm ]
Post subject:  What is this wooden box?
Hi! I found this little wooden box on a recent antiquing trip in GA. I've never seen anything like this before so I picked it up. Unfortunately somebody sadly decided to turn it into a bank and crudely made a cut through the metal plate on the top. The plate only has the partial name on there that says Hall and Signal Co (but I checked online and there was a company named Hall Switch and Signal Co). There are four perfectly aligned circular holes in the front and a circular hole (with a removable plug) on the bottom. Does anyone have any idea as to what this might have originally been used for or how old it might be? Thanks for your time! :-)

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Author:  Bad Order [ Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:17 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wooden box?
I'm gonna say it's a battery box for an old crank telephone..... Room for 2 dry cells inside....
The battery boxes mounted on top of the phone box.
Author:  kevin kohls [ Thu Jul 10, 2014 9:57 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wooden box?
Hall Switch and Signal Company of Garwood, NJ (Inventor of the Hall Banjo and the Searchlight Signal,also built the first B&O RR cpl signals) was bought out by Union Switch and Signal Co. in 1925.
Your wooden box appears to be part of a telephone system and was used as a JACK BOX for plugging in.

Kevin K.
Author:  JTKovach [ Fri Jul 11, 2014 7:11 am ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wooden box?
Correct Kevin.

And as Hall equipment is so rare, it breaks the heart.

JK
Author:  Bisquerose1125 [ Fri Jul 11, 2014 12:16 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wooden box?
Thanks so much for your responses. I really appreciate it. It's a pretty neat box so I'm going to leave it as-is. Wish I had a way of fixing that name plate though :-(
Author:  Alan Walker [ Mon Jul 14, 2014 2:02 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wooden box?
Bisquerose1125 wrote:
Thanks so much for your responses. I really appreciate it. It's a pretty neat box so I'm going to leave it as-is. Wish I had a way of fixing that name plate though :-(


If you could fix it, then you would be facing the same question about altering the historic fabric of the artifact that affects us all.
Author:  buzz_morris [ Thu Jul 17, 2014 8:46 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wooden box?
This is a replica switch box I made for the IRM's signal department. It is in the old station office and is used to switch the key to several different lines via the shorted 1/4” plug.
Western electric patch jacks and plugs are still available, even new. The 3-conductor version in use at many telephone and broadcast facilities.
The jacks in your box were attached with a flat head machine screw from the face.
Author:  buzz_morris [ Thu Jul 17, 2014 8:54 pm ]
Post subject:  Re: What is this wooden box?
This is a replica switch box I made for the IRM's signal department. It is in the old station office and is used to switch the key to several different lines via the shorted 1/4” plug.
Western electric patch jacks and plugs are still available, even new. The 3-conductor version in use at many telephone and broadcast facilities.
The jacks in your box were attached with a flat head machine screw from the face.

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