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Candlestick phones 

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#1 - c1920 Japanese candlestick

All of the component parts are in excellent original condition. Very good Bakelite bell receiver with the very early outside terminals. The transmitter is one of the earliest types for a pedestal phone - a carbon cylinder containing carbon balls

Very clear Japanese characters on the mouthpiece and the manufacturers plate. Nickel plating isn't great but it has a protective lacquer spray coating

 

 

 

 

#3 Automatic Electric (Geelong version)

All of the component parts are in excellent original condition. The pictures below will show this very collectable stepped base telephone to be in exceptional condition - very good "Mercedes" dial, "A" in the switch-hook, earpiece (Bell receiver) is correct in that it has no permanent magnets unlike almost all other manufacturers receivers. All of the internal wiring is original and in good condition.

 

The Strowger Automatic Electric telephone from 1910-20's

In 1912 Australia's first automatic telephone exchange was installed at Geelong. Victoria; approximately 70km South-West of the State Capital, Melbourne The exchange equipment was Strowger Automatic telephone

 

apparatus, manufactured by the Automatic Electric Company, Chicago USA.  

In association with the exchange installation, large quantities of small wall mounted (and candlestick) telephones were also imported. They were known officially as the PMG Type 35, but also known colloquially as the Geelong. 

These phones for the PMG were made from timber and painted black. They were of cheap construction compared to other telephones of the era, and their electrical circuit was very simple. 

 

One of the most easily recognised features is the "Mercedes" dial.

Notice that there is no induction coil in the phone, and the receiver does not contain permanent magnets. The phone circuit is extremely simple, with the transmitter and receiver connected in series. 

Just one "off-normal" spring set on the dial which places a short circuit across both the transmitter and receiver.

 

 

 

 

 

 

c1900 KELLOGG Candlestick Telephone

 
This is a very rare early version of the Kellogg Candlestick telephone.
Made by Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Co Chicago, USA
 
Compare this phone in the first pictures to the phone in the last picture, it is a picture of the more commonly available Kellogg Candlestick, often they are all Black painted finish.
This Candlestick is much earlier with the back of the transmitter housing marked "KELLOGG CHICAGO USA" and "PAT'D NOV 1901" - The manufacture date is not shown but it is well before 1920 based on the Kellogg Co catalogue.
The transmitter front is nicely marked KELLOGG. It has a genuine early mouthpiece horn in good condition.
Thumb-wheel to adjust the transmitter angle (picture 2 shows it best).
All of the Nickel plating is original and in worn but good display condition.
The cords are genuine and intact in very worn condition - the connectors are the very early "pin" type (see pic 6)
The candlestick stem has an original Ebonite sleeve to reduce a risk of electric shock..
All of the components appear original except for a replacement new Brown Felt base cover.

 

 

 

 

   

 

 

 

#3 - Extremely rare Bell-TMC candlestick telephone

A most unique/unusual and very rarely seen pedestal telephone. From the Bell Telephone Manufacturing Company factory at either Antwerp or Woolwich [England] All of the component parts are in excellent original condition. Good Bakelite bell receiver; Good [replaced] fabric covered cords. Mouthpiece and earpiece have all correct and original internal parts.

Unusual Characteristics are 

[a] the secondary receiver, 

[b] a very unusual dial, in the UK it was called the Dial No6. The numbering is set at an unusual angle and you will notice that when the dial finger plate is rotated, the number plate rotates with it. 

[c] timber terminal block which was quite common on early UK telephones

 

 

 

#4 Western Electric Candlestick complete with the correct and genuine bellset.

A very early Western Electric [approx 1920] and it is complete with a rarely available WE bell box. Please see all the pics. The bell box is complete with all the correct internal components; bell motor, induction coil, condenser and designated terminal strip.

The solid back transmitter is in exceptional condition with very little of the common insulation deterioration. Fabric cords are replacements - the originals were too far gone

 

 

#5 c1920 ATT Western Electric dial candlestick

Candlestick telephones are rare with a dial, because by the time the dial was needed, Bakelite had been invented and the well known Bakelite table phones replaced the candlestick.
In working condition, dial works correctly and voice transmission and reception - it has had a newer version of the transmitter insert added, presumably to improve the voice transmission over the old carbon granule/hard back transmitter.
The pedestal is in good (unrestored) condition. The stem of the pedestal has significant wear of the paintwork brought about by decades of handling during phone calls. I could easily repaint it but it might be a shame to do so.
Transmitter and housing are well marked with patent numbers etc.
Genuine receiver also with patent numbers marked around the top. Unfortunately my picture (no 6) doesn't show it well, but it is legible.