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Alberta Online Encyclopedia
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Alberta's Telephone Heritage
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Desk Phone

Desk TelephoneA new desk telephone model with a cradle for a combined handset appeared in the 1920s. The desk telephone took on many slightly different forms, each one a work of art. When equipped with a dial on the base, this style could be used in an automatic switching system. With or without a dial, the early monophone or cradle phone needed to be wired to a bell box.

Wall telephoneIn the 1930s, the 300 series of desk telephones appeared. Made of Bakelite plastic, they had a rotary dial and the bells were concealed in the base. In the 1950s, they were replaced by the 500 model with newer styling details. Later, these phones were offered in a variety of colours.

In the late 1950s, streamlined designs such as the Princess and the Ericafone were available.

When touchtone dialing arrived, the 500 model phones were adapted by mounting the keypad in place of the rotary dial and introducing electronic circuitry inside.


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