Bidspirit auction | Gray Telephone/W.E. Portable Telephone Pay

Gray Telephone/W.E. Portable Telephone Pay Station - Gray Telephone/WE Portable Telephone Pay Station, antique pay-as-you-go coin-operated telephone station allowed businesses to provide telephone service to customers without building a permanent, heavy wall booth, stamped ”PAT IN USA JAN 26 15”, confirming the authentic Western Electric telephone component, black box is a pay station manufactured by Gray Telephone Pay Station Company, stamped text on back confirms ”The Gray Tel. Pay Sta. Hardford Ct. U.S.A.”, manufactured between 1911 and 1915, three-slot portable station with coin entry at top for quarters, dimes and nickels, the user dropped a coin into the slot that struck a different internal mechanical bell, the chime sounds traveled through the transmitter horn to the human operator down the line, operator would listen to the tones to verify that you paid correct amount before connecting the call, eavesdropping operators were the world's first reality TV audience, in 1915, the cost of a 3-minute phone call depended on how far away you were calling, local calls $0.05, long distance, $1-$4, transcontinental $20 which is equivalent to about $500-$600 today, no chipping or deep scratches, minimal signs of pitting, original yellowed card in window intact, receiver cord intact, missing coin box key, good condition, see photos.