Gower-Bell telephone, 1881

Made:
1881 in England
Gower-Bell telephone, 1881 Gower-Bell telephone, 1881

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Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Gower-Bell telephone transmitter, Post Office pattern with porcelain mouthpiece, made by Scott and Wollaston, England, 1880.

The Gower-Bell telephone was one of the earliest telephones adopted by the General Post Office, and continued to be that standard for many years, with a few minor modifications. It became known as the universal telephone, as it could operate under any conditions that the Post Office found when installing it. Due to the size of the receiver, it could not be lifted to the ear like previous telephone models. Instead, users listened through speaking tubes.

Details

Category:
Telecommunications
Object Number:
1908-181
Materials:
wood (unidentified), brass (copper, zinc alloy), ivory, textile and porcelain
Measurements:
overall (including hearing tubes): 520 mm x 400 mm x 200 mm, 5.86 kg
type:
telephone
credit:
Purchased from J.C. Stevens Auction House

Parts

Gower-Bell telephone transmitter, 1881

Gower-Bell telephone transmitter, 1881

Gower-Bell telephone transmitter, Post Office pattern with porcelain mouthpiece, made by Scott and Wollaston, England, 1881.

More

The Gower-Bell telephone was one of the earliest telephones adopted by the General Post Office, and continued to be that standard for many years, with a few minor modifications. It became known as the universal telephone, as it could operate under any conditions that the Post Office found when installing it. Due to the size of the receiver, it could not be lifted to the ear like previous telephone models. Instead, users listened through speaking tubes.

Gower-Bell pattern carbon-rod microphone, mounted on thin plywood sheet, 1881

Gower-Bell pattern carbon-rod microphone, mounted on thin plywood sheet, 1881

Gower-Bell pattern carbon-rod microphone, mounted on thin plywood sheet, made by Scott and Wollaston, England, 1881.

More

The Gower-Bell telephone was one of the earliest telephones adopted by the General Post Office, and continued to be that standard for many years, with a few minor modifications. It became known as the universal telephone, as it could operate under any conditions that the Post Office found when installing it. Due to the size of the receiver, it could not be lifted to the ear like previous telephone models. Instead, users listened through speaking tubes.

Measurements:
overall: .11 kg
Materials:
carbon and plywood
Object Number:
1908-181/2
type:
microphone
Image ©
The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum