Are you interested in collecting vintage telephones as a hobby? Do you feel passionate about anything antique and anything made 20 to 80 years ago? Vintage telephones are some of the most affordable and interesting items to collect because they are made in different styles, during different periods, and by different manufacturers. There are so many types or styles of vintage telephones that you may want to focus on one particular style before moving on to another. You can buy vintage phones almost anywhere where there is an antique shop or an auction with prices that definitely won’t go over your budget. If you’re interested and would like to start collecting vintage telephones, let’s take a look at some of the most popular styles of vintage telephones.
Collectors of vintage telephones would collect based on three major categories: wall phones, candlestick phones, and desk sets. Vintage wall telephones are usually made out of wood and were first sold and used in 1876 during World War II. You will be able to identify it by its rectangular shape, the two bells on top of the dial, and the receiver which hangs on the side of the phone. Some of the most distinguished models of the wooden wall phone include SC McKinley, Central Tandem, and the WE 98 Fiddleback. Although this is a great style, not that many collectors remember this type of vintage telephone so it’s really not as popular as the other two.
The next style of vintage telephone is the candlestick phones. These were being used during the 1890s and were quite popular up to the 1920s. Models that fall under the candlestick phone category include the WE Oilcan, the SC Roman Column, the Century Split Shaft, and the Strowger Dial. You will know it is a candlestick phone by its black or brown color, the handset cord, the line switch, the terminal board, and of course the tube-like receiver. The handset is detached, placed against the ear, and is held by one hand in order to hear what the caller is saying.
Lastly we have the vintage desk sets, which are telephones made from the 1930s up to the present time. The collectible types of desk set phones are the rotary dial models with model names like Ericofon, Princess and Trimline being some of the oldest under this vintage phone style. Among all of the styles of vintage phones, the desk set is a favorite among many collectors.
As was mentioned previously, there are many styles and types of vintage phones to collect and it is up to you which one you would like to focus on. Make sure that the vintage phones you buy are in good condition and still have their complete parts so that it would be worth the money you spent for them.