Williams Telephone & Supply Co. potbelly desk set
1898
Wilhelm Telephone Mfg. Co. No. 9 portable desk set
1898

Wilhelm Telephone Mfg. Co. pencil shaft on heavy cast base

1898
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Wilhelm Telephone Mfg.Wilhelm Telephone Mfg.1898–1910Founded in November 1898 in Buffalo, New York by Walter Wilhelm, an electrician who had been experimenting with telephone transmitters since 1894. The company's signature innovation was the Double Diaphragm transmitter, which used two separate chambers and diaphragms to improve sound quality, patented in 1896. Wilhelm produced candlestick telephones and potbelly desk sets with ornate nickeled brass fittings. He tried several times to sell his transmitter design to the Bell System but was turned down. The company ceased operations by 1913, one of many small independents unable to survive Bell's market consolidation. · Intercoms, Candlesticks, American · Source/via: Pete D'Acosta (website)
Wilhelm Telephone Mfg. Co. pencil shaft on heavy cast base

About This Phone

This is a beautiful Wilhelm automatic intercommunicating portable desk set with a round cast metal base. It was suitable for offices, banks and other places where the surroundings demanded an elaborate instrument. The Wilhelm double diaphragm transmitter was distinctive and quite unique. 'Solid' outside terminal receiver. Great original celluloid tag on the front of base. The scan is from an original Wilhelm sales brochure showing the fluted shaft version of this cast base telephone. This phone does have the wires and coil in the base, the baseplate is an identical reproduction.
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