Century Telephone tapered shaft, "split shaft"
1902
Viaduct Manufacturing Co. No. 14 Potbelly Desk Set
1901
American Electric Straight Shaft Desk Set
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American ElectricAmerican ElectricFounded 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. · Candlesticks, American · Source/via: Pete D'Acosta (website)
About This Phone
Beautiful American Electric straight shaft with signature shield cut-out in the switch hook. The scan is from an original ad in the 1904 issue of The American Telephone Journal magazine showing this American Electric desk set. These are rare and much harder to find than common Western Electric desk sets. All other scans are from original ads in 1903, 1914 and 1920s.
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