antique reed switch pictures and more info needed

[arob]

For reasons that would take a lot of explaining, I need to find antique objects that have, or could have had an early reed switch inside their guts. Like maybe old telephones? or alarm systems? The invention happened at Bell Labs in the 1930s Here's the patent info attributed to inventor, W.B. Ellwood . I also need to find a picture of him .

does anyone have a picture of an antique reed switch ? and the device in which it came ? or more information on this invention.
Are these electronic thingys important today? why or why not? I cant find much online except techno babble.