Robby Raccoon
Trash Digger
I do antique telephone paraphernalia as a distant hobby (rarely find anything cheap) and identified this as a Bell/Ringer Box. I'm guestimating it to be about 1910 - 1920. The only markings are as shown in the following link and say 800 ENAM. Enam I found a confusing 1921 reference to, but it was very unhelpful.I'm wondering if it's Western Electric-made?
Anyone have any better ideas of age and who made it? It appears to have been repaired once. One knob is missing (see above.) It's mainly brass and oak. Dovetailing was very common at this time (how the wood was put together.)
The wood is several separate pieces. The lid has two parts to it. As I was driving it home from its very cheap pickup, it rang for me several times-- thus causing me to laugh.
Another angle.Inside. Top.Bottom has little holes at the corners that seem to small to have it be mounted to a vertical surface, but someone might have tried. Side.
