White House 1980's WE 2500 set
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Western Telephone Construction Co. Wall Phone

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Western TelephoneWestern Telephone1896–1908The driving force behind Western Telephone was an entrepreneur named James E. Keelyn. He wasn't just trying to sell hardware; he was a fierce anti-monopolist (Bell Telephone) crusader. Keelyn aggressively advertised that Western Telephone would legally indemnify any customer who bought their equipment if Bell sued for patent infringement. In 1897, Keelyn realized that independent companies were too fragmented, so teamed up with trade journalists to call a historic meeting in Chicago. This led to the formation of the National Independent Telephone Association, effectively organizing the resistance against the AT&T/Bell monopoly. Although Keelyn's company was eventually drained of cash by Bell's lawsuits, other innovators like Alfred Stromberg and Androv Carlson (of Stromberg-Carlson) got their start working alongside him in Western Telephone Chicago factory before spinning off on their own. · wood
Western Telephone Construction Co. Wall Phone
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