MAKE | History of the payphone

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By Phillip Torrone
Posted 2008/07/15 @ 10:41 am
Category General

This is a long shot, but does anyone know anything about this fantastic indy publication “Payphone History” ? – it seems to be a small run “book” about 130 pages, excellent information and I love the paste up style. Here is the cover and table of contents.

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4 Responses to History of the payphone – mystery book

John Doe on July 15th, 2008 at 9:12 pm said:

This is “Payphone History” by Ron Knappen.

The only place to find this seemingly small-run book is at an ebay “antique phone store” here: http://stores.ebay.com/THISUNDTHAT5HNQ

The book is actually supposedly 480 pages:
“The book is divided into 3 main sections:
I. The Payphone (321 pages),
II. Booths (63 pages)
III. Signs – 810 signs (74 pages).”

It’s unclear if they are the publisher or not, but the “buy it now” auction states: “We are offering these at the price of $25 plus mailing in order to sell enough to pay for the cost of printing before we have to pay the bill. After June 1st the price goes up.”

Anyways, I just bought one ($25 + $5 shipping). I’m *very* interested in this type of thing…

Reply ↓
Jody Georgeson on July 16th, 2008 at 1:15 pm said:

Ron Knappen can be contacted at:
http://www.phonecoinc.com/

19813 East Mill Road
Post Office Box 70
Galesville, WI 54630
Phone: (608) 582-4124 Â· Fax: (608) 582-4593

If you are interested in this kind of material, please see our web site at http://www.telcomhistory.com, or contact us at telcomhist@aol.com.

Reply ↓
Samantha on March 3rd, 2009 at 7:18 am said:

I saw this history of payphones book at the payphone museum in New York City.

Reply ↓
- Benji on March 16th, 2012 at 11:37 am said:
  
  where is the payphone museum?
  
  Reply ↓