Antique dry cell battery. Whitall Tatum Co.

[plcnut]

I have been tasked with selling an antique that I don't know much about.
If anybody on here is interested, or if you know of a way to learn more about this item, then I'd appreciate hearing from you.
It is marked as
"No. 2 KEYSTONE DRY CELL BATTERY"
The actual stamping on the edge of the wooden box reads
"WHITALL TATUM COMPANY No 2 KEYSTONE"
The serial number is 3327
From what little I could learn, Whitall Tatum was a glass manufacturing company that operated from 1806 to 1938.
Their name changed to Whitall Tatum Company in 1901.
I can not find any references to a Dry cell battery though.
Does anybody have any ideas or have an interest in this device?

This is the bottom of the insert:

Misc small parts under the insert:

The mirror looking piece, is a held in with a small clip, and appears to be like a shim or a shield.

 

[I saw a lot]

No clue, but way cool.

 

[FergusonTO35]

I collect glass insulators and have quite a few Whitall Tatum examples, did not know they made batteries. I would check eBay and see if you can find any similar ones.

 

[Wilhelm]

To me that looks like an empty wooden box and whatever was in it (the battery cells) is missing - unless You have other content that goes with that box.

Without the actual cells that is no longer a battery.

Just stating the obvious.

 

[S Sidwell]

You would have figured something should be in there, dry cell battery ain't small.

Steve Sidwell, Samsung On5 using Tapatalk

 

[FergusonTO35]

My guess would be that this battery was used to power a radio, in the days before most homes had electricity.

 

[S Sidwell]

Wonder which kind was in there.

Steve Sidwell, Samsung On5 using Tapatalk

 

[Wilhelm]

I'd guess the round/cylindrical ones since there are two round cutouts in that cases bottom.

 

[Larry B]

Most likely had two lead acid cells. You would take the battery to a shop who would charge it. You took it home to power a radio. When it was discharved you took it back to the shop to get recharged again. The cells only lasted a few years before they ate themselves. Usually the shop that sold the radio did the recharging.

 

[S Sidwell]

But he said DRY CELL, that's a wet cell you're talking about.

Steve Sidwell, Samsung On5 using Tapatalk

 

[Larry B]

But he said DRY CELL, that's a wet cell you're talking about.

Steve Sidwell, Samsung On5 using Tapatalk

Yeah you're right. It must be newer than i thought. I should read better.

 

[S Sidwell]

Yeah you're right. It must be newer than i thought. I should read better.

That's ok, I knew what you meant. Dry cells were around in the late 1800's and are still around.

Steve Sidwell, Samsung On5 using Tapatalk

 

[bigbadbob]

 

[plcnut]

View attachment 192058

This one looks very similar.
I have found other brands of the same style, but this is the first reference to one with the correct manufacturer.
Thanks!

 

[plcnut]

View attachment 192058

How did you ever find this catalog?
I was able to download it, and was surprised to learn that this was a medical device.
An old time sort of shock therapy.

 

[S Sidwell]

I might want to get a few jolts from that.

Steve Sidwell, Samsung On5 using Tapatalk

 

[bigbadbob]

How did you ever find this catalog?
I was able to download it, and was surprised to learn that this was a medical device.
An old time sort of shock therapy.

Im real old and retired fone guy,,,