Payphone whatsit?

[HarrySmith]

Just came across this one. Listed as a payphone. I am not sure what it is. Any ideas?
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Telephone-Pay-Phone-Coin-Box-With-Key-/264456331742

[tubaman]

Looks like it connects the phone to the line for a number of hours using a clockwork timer.
I've never seen anything like it before.

[FABphones]

11 bids so far, will be interesting to see what this one reaches.

Close up photo below taken from listing, how 'To Secure Telephone Service':

[SUnset2]

I wonder if it is for a hotel room?  Like the coin meters they used to have for TV.

[19and41]

Looks like it'd make the phone pay, allright.  A few extra cents in the innkeeper's pocket.

[FABphones]

Sold for $417.64. 23 bids.

Thanks for the thread Harry.

[HarrySmith]

That sold for a pretty good amount. I guess somebody knows something. I was thinking about placing a low bid just because it was interesting but that would not have worked. I hope something comes up about it, either here or on the lists. I would like to know a little more about it.

[andre_janew]

It sure is different!  Never knew there was anything like that!

[SUnset2]

The seller has more of them.  Once he saw how high it would go, he listed 3 more as a buy-it-now for $499.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Telephone-Pay-Phone-Coin-Box-With-Key/264465783738

[19and41]

That would tend to sink his own market, wouldn't it? 

[Key2871]

It could, but it's dependant on interest.

[FABphones]

Seller has dropped price to $425.

Additional views taken from listing, including inside:

[19and41]

Poor guy saturated his own market.