Bavarian Wall Telephone by Wetzer
1900
American Electric fluted shaft on heavy cast base
1900

American Electric potbelly desk set

1900
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American ElectricAmerican Electric1894–1931Founded in 1894 by P.C. Burns in Kokomo, Indiana, American Electric Telephone Company was among the wave of independent manufacturers that emerged after the Bell patents expired. The company moved to Chicago in 1897 and produced magneto wall phones, potbelly desk sets, candlestick phones, and switchboards for the independent telephone market. Filed for bankruptcy in 1911 but continued operating into the early 1930s, diversifying into radio equipment in the 1920s. A mid-tier independent, substantial enough to produce catalogs through 1929 but smaller than rivals like Kellogg or Stromberg-Carlson. · Potbellies, Candlesticks, American · Source/via: Pete D'Acosta (website)
American Electric potbelly desk set

About This Phone

Rare American Electric model No. 41 potbelly desk set with marked transmitter, marked again on the neck of the potbelly shaft. Shield cutout in the switch hook. This candlestick is in mint original condition, including the red rubber base plate. Correct early American Electric marked outside terminal receiver. Please see the ad from an original January, 1902 issue of Electrical World and Engineer magazine (bottom left ad) to see this telephone promoted back in 1902. And also a scan from an original 1901 full page ad from American Electric, and one more ad from Telephone Magazine in 1900 promoting this potbelly.
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