Phelps/Western Union Double Crown Telephone

The Phelps Double Crown was a high-end, early telephone receiver developed in the late 1870s by George M. Phelps, a master instrument maker for Western Union. It was designed to compete with Alexander Graham Bell’s telephone by offering a much more sensitive—albeit bulkier—alternative. Unlike the simple bar magnet used in Bell’s receivers, Phelps used a series of permanent magnets bent into circular arcs. These were arranged in a ring, making the internal structure look like a crown. Because it used multiple magnets rather than one, it was incredibly efficient and could produce a much louder sound. This made it a favorite for "long-line" use where signals were weak. During the "Telephone Wars" of 1877–1879, Western Union formed the American Speaking Telephone Company to challenge Bell. They paired Phelps’ superior receivers with Thomas Edison’s carbon transmitter. This combination was technically superior to Bell’s equipment at the time, which is why Bell eventually sued for patent infringement. The Phelps Double Crown’s reign was short, because in 1879, Western Union reached a settlement with the Bell Telephone Company and agreed to leave the telephone business entirely. Bell acquired Western Union's technology, but because Bell’s own receivers were lighter and cheaper to manufacture, the complex "Crown" design was phased out and largely disappeared by the early 1880s.