I used to work with a switch board like that when I was a desk clerk for the US Army in Garmisch. Coming to work in 1990 was lik egoing back in time each day I slipped behind the front desk for my shift ...looking at the pic is a trip down memory lane:) Great photos!!
This is the kind of switchboard I worked on while stationed in Korea. It was actually really fun to work with. "Camp Page, Specialist Frett speaking, how may I help you, sir?" The ma'ams always got upset when you called them sirs, but how did you know until they talked , right?
I did not see a skull, only the drunken badger. I asumed this was in or near the aforementioned "Badger Club". The badger looks a little big like a panda bear. Most badgers I have met are a lot toothier and mean. Maybe the booze makes them happy and cuddly.
I remember doors like this also. They were usually in fancy hotels or departments stores. I think there may be one or two left in downtown Minneapolis. In Minnesota. In USA. Up on the top.
I know how ! The thing probably would still work with a little dusting, electricity and a phone line. Of course one would need a similar machine to recieve the message.
I was a telecommunications operator in the Army back in the early eighties. When stationed in Korea we used ancient machinery that must have been installed during the war. Cranks and dials and telephone modems. Each message had a special header address that could not contain any errors. The text body could have typos, but we were soldiers and we did not make mistakes (sarcasm). I would not be suprised if they still have the same machines. I also worked at a switchboard where you had to pull the cords and plug them into the various line connections. Crazy.