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Teletalk office intercom
Teletalk office intercom

Teletalk office intercom

Object number1996.051.0003
Datecirca 1940
ClassificationsArtifacts
ObjectIntercom
Credit LineThom Dublin Collection/The Sixth Floor Museum at Dealey Plaza
MediumWood, Metal, Plastic
Dimensions7 1/2 x 15 x 7 1/4 in. (19.1 x 38.1 x 18.4 cm)
Collections
DescriptionWebster Electronic Co. Teletalk office intercom from the Texas School Book Depository. The unit has a wooden case with a speaker on the left side, two rows of six switches on the right side and three knobs across the bottom. There are four cream-colored buttons on the top of the unit on the left side. The switches are labeled: 1- PBX 2- ORDER 3- RUSSELL 4- Cochran 5- Jenkins 6- FEC 7- Yard Whse. 8- Center 9- West 10- East 11- Lower Whse. 12- Upper Whse. There is an earphone attached with a fabric-covered cord on the left side. A thick fabric-covered cord is attached to the right side of the unit at one end and to a brown wood and metal box at the other. This box is then attached to another fabric-covered cord. The back of the unit is covered with wood and metal mesh. A tag on the bottom is partially scratched off. "WEBSTER 21200(?) 1? VOLTS Serial No. 160??6 Webster Electric Co. Racine, Wisconsin United States of America P-3793"
Curatorial Commentary

When he donated these items, Mr. Dublin told me he found them in a large pile of discarded equipment outside the former Texas School Book Depository years after the assassination and thought they looked interesting. Whether this intercom was in use in 1963 is unknown. It was likely discarded in the late 1970s when Dallas County bought the building and remodeled much of the interior.  

The intercom could have been used for internal communications and also for the Texas School Book Depository warehouse, which was located at 1917 Houston Street two blocks north of the main building.  Since that would require a way to connect the two, perhaps the Emerson radio was used? - Gary Mack, Curator