Name/Title
Eveready Columbia long life gray label telephone cellEntry/Object ID
2023.2.85.240Description
The National Carbon Company, headquartered in Cleveland, Ohio, began making dry cell batteries in 1896. They previously produced wet cell batteries, but the introduction of the Columbia line opened up the consumer battery industry. EM Jewett and George Little created the battery at NCC's Lakewood, Ohio plant.
These bulky batteries, measuring more than 6.25" high and 2.5" around, would be placed in a box either adjacent to or part of the telephone they provided power to. The large wall mounted phones--called box or coffin phones--often seen in classic film and television shows used these batteries for power.
