![](https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/46/406/large_thumbnail_1960_0137__0001_.jpg)
Pair of Bell telephones, 1878
- Made:
- 1878 in United Kingdom
![Pair of Bell telephones, made by S. M](https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/43/992/small_thumbnail_1953_0105__0001_.jpg)
![Pair of Bell telephones, made by S. M](https://coimages.sciencemuseumgroup.org.uk/43/993/small_thumbnail_1953_0105__0002_.jpg)
Pair of Bell telephones, made by S. M. James, British, 1878
Pair of Bell telephones, made by S. M. James, British, 1878.
After Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) demonstrated his first telephone, descriptions and drawings began to appear in the technical press of the time. In 1876, William Preece (1834-1913), later the Engineer-in-Chief at the Post Office, brought over the first pair of telephones to Britain. Many experimenters attempted to make their own copies of Bell's instruments - this pair of Bell telephones was made by Mr S M James, two years after the first Bell instruments were brought to the UK.
Details
- Category:
- Telecommunications
- Object Number:
- 1953-105
- Materials:
- wood (unidentified), metal (unknown) and copper (alloy)
- Measurements:
-
overall: 55 mm x 250 mm x 140 mm, .96 kg
- type:
- telephone
- credit:
- Donated by the Institution of Electrical Engineers