Lot 192: An Early 20th Century W-26 No 1 Candlestick Telephone
Sold for: £16
An early 20th century candlestick-style telephone constructed from metal with a black painted finish. The instrument features a cylindrical pedestal mounted on a flared circular base, supporting a solid-back transmitter with a circular metal surround. A separate handheld receiver, fashioned from a dark brown composite material, rests upon a metal hook switch at the side of the column. The receiver is connected to the base by a brown braided textile-covered cord. The metal housing at the rear of the transmitter is stamped with the inscription W – 26 . NO 1 and the number 4001. A small metal push-button is fitted to the circular base. The underside of the base is painted black and bears the hand-painted characters 37/1 in white. No other maker’s marks, signatures, or labels are visible on the item.
Condition report:
The telephone shows significant signs of age and wear. The black painted finish on the transmitter housing, pedestal, and base exhibits widespread chipping and pitting, revealing the underlying metal (photo 1). The braided textile cord is heavily frayed and is severed at the terminal ends, with the internal wiring exposed (photo 1). The composite receiver shows surface scuffing and minor wear to the earpiece rim. The underside of the base shows extensive paint loss and surface corrosion (photo 3). The unit is untested and sold as a decorative item.
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