This early 1900's railroad depot scissors desk telephone was made by Western Electric. There are three patent dates on the phone base: "Patented in U.S.A./ August 16, 1904/ September 13, 1904/ January 26, 1915." It is complete with a headset and desk mount. The wire headset has one earpiece and is attached to the phone via a cloth-coated wire. The desk-mount base has the number "88" on it. The phone is attached to a scissor-type expansion arm for easy mobility around a desk. The phone measures 14.5" (h) x 5" (w) x 18" (d) including the arm when it is expanded. The headphone measures 8" (h) x 7.5" (w) x 2.5" (d).
Collection
Permanent Collection
Made/Created
Date made
1915
Lexicon
Nomenclature 4.0
Nomenclature Secondary Object Term
Telephone, Desk
Nomenclature Primary Object Term
Telephone
Nomenclature Sub-Class
Telecommunication Devices
Nomenclature Class
Telecommunication T&E
Nomenclature Category
Category 06: Tools & Equipment for Communication
Parts
Count
1
Provenance
Notes
Note on registration sheet says the telephone came from Max Adams, the brother of donor Ralph Whitney. The note indicates Adams may have got the phone from a branch depot of the L & N Railroad in or near Fairmount, Georgia.