✅ SOLVED Antique Clock or Timer What is it?

[Turnabuck]

Does anyone have a clue what this is. Two hands. Just four numbers. Very, very old. Found at a flea market today.

 

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[Hdubya]

I have no idea what this is, maybe something that would have been on a ship? or maybe a ringer for the maids, they would know what room to go to.

 

[Indian Steve]

Old door bell?

 

[Frankn]

That was used to call the help. The master of the house would push a button at a location and the hand would point to the number that represented a room. At the same time the bell would gong to alert the help. That was usually in the kitchen. They usually had a push button to reset the hand. Frank...

I haven't seen one since I was 10 .

 

[mojjax]

Wild Wild stuff - I like frankn's idea

 

[Mudslide]

Very neat!

 

[creskol]

Looks like a 4 party "party-line" telephone ringer.

 

[doublet2a]

I thought of Time Clock at first,??
Now I like the phone ringer idea.

Tim

 

[GpSnoopy]

I think Frankn has the right idea. Found this listed as a 4 Room annunciator and same purpose as Frankn stated. And if you google it, you'll find other examples, as well as some made for multiple rooms.

This is a 4 Room Annunciator electric door bell system which would be placed in the servants hall and used to call for service. A charge of electricity causes the bell to ring and one of the needles to point to the room # w service is required. Calls are cancelled by pushing up the plunger at the bottom.

 

[creskol]

Good work ! Well done Frankn & Snoopy!

 

[Frankn]

Looks like a 4 party "party-line" telephone ringer.

There was no dial on a party line. You picked it up and listened to see if it was in use. To use it you turned the crank. Frank...

 

[creskol]

There was no dial on a party line. You picked it up and listened to see if it was in use. To use it you turned the crank. Frank...

View attachment 824877

The ones we had when I was a kid had bell recognition .. ours was three rings .. our neighbor's was one.

 

[Turnabuck]

Thanks guys. The one you pictured GpSnoopy is the exact same minus the paint loss. You can't see it in the photos but the button at the bottom is there to reset. Good job.

 

[Bigcypresshunter]

We had a party line as a kid and if someone was using it, we waited but we didnt have a crank. Im not that old. No private conversations. It may also have had bell recognition for incoming.
Our phone number started with 2 letters. HO985 I think (Hobart 985)

Good ID Frankn. Your phone had a crank?