| Name | LPB-86-55 Three Slot |
| Date | 1960 |
| Manufacturer | Automatic Electric |
Development of the LPB-86-55 Three Slot
| The Automatic Electric LPB-86-55 was a classic three-coin-slot pay telephone built by Automatic Electric during the mid-20th century (1950s–1960s era). Unlike later single-slot models, it used three separate coin slots (typically for nickel, dime, quarter) to identify and route coins directly to the coin box without sophisticated internal sorting, reflecting the electromechanical payphone architecture of its time. LPB-86-55 variants were often semi-postpay, meaning coins fell directly into the vault rather than being held in escrow for refund/collection, and were used on regulated telephone networks where coin supervision determined call activation and termination. Structurally, these units were robust, heavy rotary-dial instruments weighing around 35 lb with substantial metal housings, mechanical coin relays, and traditional post-war telephone networks’ components. Internals could be largely removed by phone companies when decommissioned, leaving shells for restoration. Today, three-slot LPB-86-55 phones are vintage collector pieces often restored for display or adapted for modern use with network adapters. |
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