✅ SOLVED Old telephone contraption? Something else?

[Customx_12]

Bought this at an estate sale and they didn’t know what it was. I don’t either but the guy used to work for Pac Bell. Not sure if it’s telephone related or not.

Any help is appreciated.

 

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[ticndig]

hand crank phone generator

 

[Customx_12]

hand crank phone generator View attachment 2056902

Awesome, thank you!

 

[ANTIQUARIAN]

I'm aware that your question has been answered; but I thought you might be interested to see one of these 'generators' in it's original case. I've owned a number of these early phones, they were made for many years in the US & Canada.
Dave

 

[Retired Sarge]

Another interesting historical note for you.

There were people who used these things to fish with. It didn't kill the fish, just stunned the fish, and worked great on catfish. It's pretty much illegal now, but I read that it's legal in some North Carolina counties since 1985.

 

[Back-of-the-boat]

As a kid we had a hand crank generator or maybe it was from a phone like that and we hooked it to the door of our tree fort and shocked people trying to come into our fort, it was normally my friends little brother who we shocked. LOL that brought back good memories.

 

[Customx_12]

Thanks for all of the extra information, everyone! Now I’m debating trying to sell it, go fishing with it, or use it as home security, lol

 

[Retired Sarge]

Thanks for all of the extra information, everyone! Now I’m debating trying to sell it, go fishing with it, or use it as home security, lol

Hmm....So many ideas, could lead to some fun or some trouble. Decisions, decisions........What to do!

 

[Tony in SC]

Thanks for all of the extra information, everyone! Now I’m debating trying to sell it, go fishing with it, or use it as home security, lol

You can wire a flashlight bulb to the out put and it will light when cranked. Educational for the kids and fun!