East German W58 Phone

Produced from 1958 to 1963, the W58 (Wählfernsprecher 58) is a standout piece of East German (GDR) industrial design. While West Germany was leaning into the rounded look of the W48, the East went for something much more angular and "modern" for the late 50s. The primary manufacturer was VEB Fernmeldegerätewerk Nordhausen. In the GDR, electronics were produced under the state-run umbrella brand RFT (Rundfunk- und Fernmelde-Technik). The W58 is known for its very wide, flat base and a handset that sits low across the top. It has a much more "architectural" feel than the Siemens phones of the same era.