19th Century Electrical Cable Gauge Salesman Sample

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1878; New England Telephone & Telegraph Company - Boston, Massachusetts.

Glazed wooden display case produced for New England Telephone & … Read more 1878; New England Telephone & Telegraph Company - Boston, Massachusetts.

Glazed wooden display case produced for New England Telephone & Telegraph, housing a graduated set of electrical cable gauge samples used for sales presentation and technical reference. Each cylindrical sample represents a different wire size, topped with exposed conductor material and accompanied by engraved metal plates denoting pair counts and gauge specifications. The samples are arranged sequentially for direct visual comparison, allowing engineers, contractors, and purchasing agents to clearly understand scale, capacity, and material differences at a glance. Period paperwork visible beneath the samples further reinforces its professional, in-house use rather than retail display. Constructed with a solid hardwood case and glass viewing panel, the piece reflects the clarity-driven, utilitarian design standards of the earliest phase of American telephone infrastructure.

New England Telephone & Telegraph operated briefly from 1878 to 1879 before being reorganized under Bell-affiliated successor companies, making marked material from this firm exceptionally short-lived within the formative years of U.S. telecommunications. See less