Where in the world can I buy one of these today? There was once a device marketed to housewives of the past that would charge anyone who wanted to ring the doorbell 10 cents! In the advertisement, “busy housewives” were too often bothered by traveling salesman and needed a way to weed them out from other invited “callers.”
So, in order to actually ring the doorbell, the salesman (or anyone, actually) had to deposit a dime in a slot right next to the bell. This would trigger an electric current that would allow the bell to ring. If the guest was a friend whom the housewife deemed worthy of entering, the dime was returned upon entrance. However, if the visitor was a stranger, the money was retained by the device and was given to charity. Now if only someone would invent a similar device to keep the telemarketers from calling!