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Police Telephone and Fire Alarm Call Boxes (Circa 1910?) | Telephones389 of 552 |  |  |
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Posted 3 years ago
potrero
(155 items)
These little call box stands are still found all around San Francisco, painted as brightly today as they probably were when they first rolled out (100 years ago?). They're about 5 ft high, with Police on one side (blue) and Fire on the other (red).
Wonder how long they'll last in the age of cell... fortunately I've never seen anyone use one.
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TelephonesPeople started collecting phones shortly after Alexander Graham Bell patent…
FirefightingFirefighters save lives with the help of countless tools—fire extinguishers…
The Police side would typically be used by police department personnel, as they required a key to open the door/cover. I'm not sure if they were usually connected to a regular line with the ability to dial anywhere, or were simply manual phones with private line/ringdown circuits to a dispatcher or switchboard.
I've never seen the inside of the Fire version, so am not sure if they also contained a phone for fire fighters to use, or if their only function was for the public to report fires using the external 'hook'.