Help identify clock/lamp/?heater?

[RichardMartin]

I have posted 4 pics at:

http://richardmartin9.home.comcast.net

My brother bought this for $0.80 at Goodwill and I am trying to find out something about it.  
The clock and lamp work as one would expect but the phone receiver has a button that goes to what looks like a heating coil in the phone mouth piece?  I have no idea why it would have a heater?

Thanks for you replys...Richard

[Tim]

We'll I must say that I haven't seen one quite like this before. It appears 1950's to me. That 'heater' you describe might be a cigarette lighter..........
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best............... Tim