Item: Elektrisk Bureau Kristiania 1895 Wall Telephone
Sold For: $2,025.00
Bids: 27
Date: May 07, 2012
Auction: Ebay
Seller: sd_pro
Description and Image By: sd_pro
EXTREMELY RARE Elektrisk Bureau Kristiania 1893-model wall telephone. With this generator, ONLY made between 1893-1896. Model stopped at 1900. Frame and pulpit are all metal. Museum quality and VERY valuable. Not too many have survived! STUNNINGLY beautiful and decorated all around. This phone is made in Norway at 1895, serial number 13122. It’s a proof of authenticity and tells that this phone is 117 years old! Almost never sold here or ANYWHERE! Also known as: The short EB model. With red inductor magnets, a good handset (slightly newer than the phone) and original screw-on bakelite horn mouthpiece. SELLING WITH LOW STARTING PRICE AND NO RESERVE! Very much wanted collectable phone. This is an original Norwegian version made in Kristiania (known as Oslo after 1924). As I’m selling with no reserve, this is a really good chance for you to own one of the most beautiful phones ever made in the history. L.M. Ericsson (or other manufacturers) have nothing that comes close really. Or that could compete with the beauty of this craftsmanship that is all handmade.
The frame is all cast metal and incredibly detailed and decorated. Frame is NOT broken or cracked anywhere, unusually so. It’s wood-imitation painted all around. The pulpit box has similar painting and is in VERY good condition. Colors only slightly fainted. Upper oval has PERFECT transfers / decals with manufacturers name in gold letters. Phone has not been exposed to sun or water, therefore it’s in such a wonderful shape. Line nuts are nickel plated brass, still shining like new. Lightning arrestor under the bells. Handset is good and complete!
Allaround condition is VERY GOOD considering item’s age: 117 years. NO PARTS MISSING, exept the voice transformer, located at the lower left side of the inductor. It’s not visible outside! Original unrestored condition and original surface finish. Only cleaned gently. Includes ABSOLUTELY NO reproduction parts, exept few small screws that were missing. Also the other magnet of bell mechanism is suspected to be of newer make. I can’t be sure about all of the telephone’s backside connections, so there is no ringer when cranked but the inductor turns around with no problems!
DIMENSIONS: Weight = 6.6kg Height = 48cm Depth = 20cm Width = 20cm (total 28cm)