Wilhelm Telephone Mfg. Co. Potbelly Desk Set

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. · Circa: 1896
Categories: potbelly, candlestick, American  ·  Contributor/source: Pete D'Acosta (website)
Wilhelm Telephone Mfg. Co. Potbelly Desk Set

About This Phone

One of the most beautiful telephones ever made. This is a Wilhelm automatic inter-communicating portable potbelly desk set. It is suitable for offices, banks and other places where the surroundings demand an elaborate instrument. The Wilhelm Double Diaphragm transmitter is unique and easy to recognize. Walter Wilhelm commenced the manufacture of telephones in Buffalo, NY in 1895. His entire product was sold and installed in that vicinity. By 1910 his company shipped telephones to all parts of the world and sent construction gangs all over the United States and Canada to install exchanges. This is an original telephone that has been re-nickled so that you can see what it looked like when it came out of the assembly room.