American Bell 1886 long distance transmitter (Original)

In 1885 the American Bell Telephone Co. launched a new long-distance division, determined to compete with Western Union for long-distance service, and to grow the Bell System beyond the local limits that were restricting expansion. The new company was called American Telephone & Telegraph. In 1886, AT&T introduced their very first long-distance transmitter. This is it. This model used a platinum diaphragm for better long-distance transmission. Alexander Graham Bell and Theodore Vail, President of American Bell Telephone Company, both used a telephone like this after its invention. This telephone is so rare, the Smithsonian does not even have one in their collection. The last picture is a photo of this model from the Bell Labs archives.