Phunny Phone ?

[mojjax]

Any ideas this phone ? Thanks !

 

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[alpha105]

Looks like a morse code machine to me

 

[Montana Jim]

Looks like a small switch set... like for routing calls...


Update: I found this: A 1937 text states: "The Dictograph is frequently used, particularly in large organizations where a supplementary inter-communicating system which provides direct connection between a relatively small number of individuals, often officers and chief executives, is desired. The receiver and mouthpiece are similar in appearance to the hand telephone. Connection is made by the person calling simply by depressing a small key, which is marked to indicate a particular individual."

http://www.officemuseum.com/communications_equipment.htm

So - an early intercom system. Circa 1930s or 1940s.

 

[alpha105]

Ahhh good idea....was wondering why there were so few switchs to it.

 

[nhbenz]

Mojjax, it mystifies me how many unusual items you come up with.
Very nice item, I've never seen one... there can't be many of those left! $
Good info as always Jim.

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

I think it is an eavesdropping machine.

B

http://www.spybusters.com/History_1912_Dictograph.html

http://images.google.com/imgres?img...116&prev=/images?q=dictograph&um=1&hl=en&sa=N

 

[nhbenz]

Mojjax, unscrew the mouth or ear piece on the handset... there should be date codes on those.
Beth, I think this deviates from the units on your links, in that the handset seems to have have been an original part of the piece, unlike the handsets on the eavesdropping machines. As always - I can be wrong.

 

[mrs.oroblanco]

Here is another link.

http://www.officemuseum.com/1940_Dictograph_Executive_Station.jpg

It's a cool find!!!

B

PS - Should have said link that shows the possibility of it being an office intercom.

 

[trikikiwi]

An antique router
Mike

 

[GL]

Fred Flintstone had an early one called the Dictabird.

 

[bradyboy]

agree- early switch board
for a smal town, very early

 

[MT]

If you watch enough 40's and 50's movies, you will see them all the time on the secretary's desk. Neat piece.
HH,
MT,
Tom

 

[bradyboy]

goog call - have to agree
Due to the limited lines connected

 

[Angelo]

ANOTHER HIT FOR MONTANA JIM!!!

Tony

 

[Monty]

It's a small PBX switchboard. We had one at McCoy AFB in the command post in the 1960s. About Korean War era I think, or at least ours was. We could switch or patch calls from one line or several. It was soon replaced by a digital push button phone before they were available to the general public. When I was stationed on a bombing range in Libya, we still used the old crank up phones. The military always had the oldest obsolete equipment but when they upgraded they went high tech. for the times. Monty