Comments and Tags
Be the first to comment on this item!
Call Box
Identifier:
133745Description:
These call boxes were made by the Western Union Telegraph Company. When the knob above the words "Western Union" was turned, a predetermined code would be sent to a local telegraph office and from there, a messenger would then be sent to the location of the call box. Boxes such as these were used for telegraphs but they were also used by taxi services, fire departments, and police departments.Date:
circa 1890Materials:
MetalDimensions:
3.5"" h 3.5"" w 5.75"" dCurrent Location Status:
In StorageCollection Tier:
Tier 2Source:
Gift Of Arthur E. LewisRelated Entities:
Arthur E. Lewis (donor) Western Union (creator)Alternate names: New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company, Western Union Telegraph Company
Western Union was founded in 1851 as the New York and Mississippi Valley Printing Telegraph Company by Samuel L. Seldon, Hiram Sibley, and others. In 1856 it merged with the New York & Western Union Telegraph Company and became the Western Union Telegraph Company. Until 2006, the company was the most popular telegram business in America.
