What is this?

[airbrushguy]

Found this in the basement ceiling of my son's 100+ year old house. Never saw this before, is it some type of phone or doorbell component? Curious....
Thanks in advance for any help.

 

[Sinatra]

That's the telephone demarcation point. One set of terminals is the incoming phone service. The other set is the house phones. There are fuses or surge protectors inbetween.

 

[joey1320]

I was wrong

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I would imagine that the fuses are made out of wood on that protector.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

When did you have the fire?

Tommy

 

[wrenchguy]

Telltale, silver or kilz white.

 

[Bert_]

It was lightning suppression for the phone.

 

[Shadowdog500]

It was lightning suppression for the phone.

+1!

https://laurelleaffarm.com/item-pages/antiques&architectural/early-lightning-arrester.htm

 

[rburke65]

Telephone connection of some type.

 

[K'ledgeBldr]

Yep- lightning suppressor.

 

[LS6 Tommy]

Telltale, silver or kilz white.

Or everything black from soot. That's why I asked...

Tommy

 

[Bert_]

Or everything black from soot. That's why I asked...

Tommy

I'd say pretty positively that it's silver paint. No idea why but you see it pretty regularly in old basements.