Walnut, brass, nickel-plated metal
Germany, circa 1900
Telegraphen Bau-Anstalt von Siemens & Halske, established in 1847 in Berlin
Two telephones with local battery operation (OB devices)
One phone marked with ‘Siemens & Halske AG’ on the underside and marked with ‘Dt. Tel. Werke R. St. & Co’ on the earpiece
Dimensions: approximately 47 x 23 x 19 cm
Good condition
Provenance: Technical private collection, Germany
Very decorative early wall telephones from the beginning of the telephony

These two wall phones of the ‘Telegraphen Bau-Anstalt von Siemens & Halske’, the predecessor of Siemens AG, date from the period around 1900. They are fitted with local batteries (OB) for the operation of the microphone. The electricity for the connection to the central office was generated by the inductor (crank). The ‘Lady of the office’ then called the required person and put the connection together with cable cords. The last manual telephone switch operated until 1966.

A) Wall station M1900 OB 04 in the form of a walnut desk with two external bell bowls, hinged console lid, inductor (crank) and hook switch. It has an integral microphone and a (probably earlier) earpiece made of zaponed brass and wood. B) Wall station M1903 OB 05 is constructed nearly identically. It has a movable microphone and a wooden bucket phone with nickel-plated metal segments.

The phones are in good overall condition with wear consistent with age.

The first phone is missing a bell shell, the cuff key, the key and the locking hook on the lid. The crank is loose. All wooden parts are numbered with the serial number 797. The underside shows the number M1900, ?+ und ?x, as well as the imperial crown and further numbers (partly crossed out).

The second phone has some minor losses as well, is marked with ‘Privat, Ausges, EK, SIEMENS & HALSKE AG, 131751, M 1903, crown and 1903 on the underside. On the earpiece, it is signed ‘Dt. Tel. Werke R. St. und Co.’

The dimensions of the phones are approximately 47 x 23 x 19 cm.

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