Downtown in Sacramento in Sacramento County, California — The American West (Pacific Coastal)
A&T Phones
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 9, 2025
1. A&T Phones Marker
[Captions for the six phones in the photograph:]
"Coffin" Wall Telephone (1878)
Dial Candlestick Phone (1919)
"300" Series Desk Phone (1937)
Princess Phone (1959)
Big Button Design Line Phone (1981)
Caller ID Phone (1993)
Topics. This historical marker is listed in this topic list: Communications.
Location. 38° 34.753′ N, 121° 29.252′ W. Marker is in Sacramento, California, in Sacramento County. It is in Downtown. It is on 14th Street north of J Street, on the right when traveling north. Touch for map. Marker is at or near this postal address: 1401 J Street, Sacramento CA 95814, United States of America. Touch for directions.
Regionally, this marker is in Sacramento Valley and specifically in the Central Valley. It is also on the American Pacific Coast. Globally, it is in North America, on the Ring of Fire, in the Pacific Rim, in the Western Hemisphere, in the Western World, and in the Anglosphere. Historically, it finds itself in what was once New Spain and also Mexicos Alta California.
Other nearby markers. At least 8 other markers are within walking distance of this marker: 1888 Telephone Employees (here, next to this marker); A Safety-Man's Nightmare (a few steps from this marker); 1903 Construction Crew (a few steps from this marker); 1905 Test Board (a few steps from this marker); 1910 Telephone Operator (a few steps from this marker); First Transcontinental Telephone Line (within shouting distance of this marker); 1911 Telephone Wires (within shouting distance of this marker); 1890s Telephone Lineman (within shouting distance of this marker). Touch for a list and map of all markers in Sacramento.
More about
this page online
Also see . . . The Williams "Coffin" Telephone.
Excerpt: "Within two years of Bell's invention, the 'coffin' telephone was manufactured in the Boston electrical shop of Charles Williams. This phone was the first 'complete' telephone consisting of two wooden receivers (one was for listening and the other for speaking), a magneto generator, a ringer and a switch. The first generation 'coffins' had only one combination receiver/transmitter which would be like trying to clean all the floors of your house with a broom and having the dustpan attached to the end of the handle. The caller would speak into the instrument and then place it to his ear while his party was talking."(Submitted on February 13, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 9, 2025
2. A&T Phones photo and marker
The six phones in this photo: "Coffin" Wall Telephone (1878); Dial Candlestick Phone (1919); "300" Series Desk Phone (1937); Princess Phone (1959); Big Button Design Line Phone (1981); Caller ID Phone (1993)
Photographed by Sean P. Flynn, February 9, 2025
3. A&T markers
There are 7 photos and captions on the west side of the two-building AT&T complex, part of a series of 29 total that surround three of the four sides of the complex.
Credits. This page was last revised on February 13, 2025. It was originally submitted on February 12, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois. This page has been viewed 91 times since then and 6 times this year. Photos: 1, 2, 3. submitted on February 12, 2025, by Sean P. Flynn of Oak Park, Illinois.
