The coat of arms on the label and the Serbian Cyrillic script used on the diagram and the components point to the Kingdom of Yugoslavia. The instrument was made by French Ericsson: Société Française des Téléphones Ericsson (STE). I did not find any Yugoslavian sources from the time, but Yugoslavia went through some turmoils in 1934, there were probably other things to take care of than field telephone documentation.
This set, featuring the typical yellow color of BT technician devices from the 1980s and using the same case as some “Telephone No. 286” units, is a lineman’s set designed for fiber-optic connections. It uses a 1300 nm transmitter with a power budget of 10 dB; on typical late-1980s single-mode fibers with an attenuation of 0.5 dB/km (@1300 nm), this allowed spans of up to 20 km. It operates bidirectionally over a single fibre. This set would typically have been used between fibre-splicing teams.
This extremely simple and lightweight U.S. Signal Corps switchboard was first introduced as the SB-18/GT in 1945, with the accompanying adapter plug U-4/GT possibly appearing as early as 1944. In 1960, the SB-18/GT and U-4/GT were replaced by the SB-993/GT and U-184/GT due to the use of radioactive luminescent material on the U-4/GT adapter plug. The newer models omitted luminescent labels in order to “aid in removing the radioactive items from the field and from the supply system”. The equipment continued to be mentioned in regulations until the mid-1980s, but no longer appeared in documents from the 1990s.
This Elektrisk Buerau made device was commissioned by the Norwegian Army in 1930, acquired in 1931, and remained in use up to and during WWII. Elektrisk Bureau had already developed and sold a very similar device to the Turkish Army in 1929, and that earlier model served as the basis for the Norwegian version. In 1932, a dial unit and an amplifier attachment were added. In 1934, minor updates were made to the electrical system: the simple primary/secondary coil was replaced with an anti-sidetone coil setup. The earlier units were then designated as the “A model", while the updated versions became the “B model". An oval plate was mounted on top of the sets, marked with either A or B accordingly.
The "Feldfernsprecher 17" was designed towards the end of WWI and was in use up to the mid 30ies. There were two types, the "grosser Feldfernsprecher 17", a complete - and compared to its predecessor the "Feldfernsprecher 16" - lightweight and compact LB field instrument, and the "kleiner Feldfernsprecher 17", an even compacter and lighter option with only buzzer support and no space for the handset which has to be carried separately, a setup similar to the earlier Armeefernsprecher with a "Feldsprechbatterie 16" battery box of identical size to the "kleiner FFsp 17". The general form factor of the "grosser Feldfernsprecher 17" was kept for the "Feldfernsprecher 26" as well as the "Feldfernsprecher 33".
This railway linemen telephone was made by "Ascom" (Fusion of former Swiss Telecom equipment manufacturers Autophon, Hasler and Zellweger) in the early nineties and used for a short time (before being soon replaced by GSM phones) on SBB and probably also other Swiss railway systems. It is very heavy duty, weather protected and I assume has been mainly used in combination with construction work along lines. The same devices seems to have been used also for fix installed telephones along some railway lines.
The "Telefono da Campo, Modello 1916" is the successor to the "Apparato Microtelefonico da Campo, Modello Anzalone " (1909) and the predecessor for the "Telefono da Campo per Grandi Distanze, Modello 1917", all three are of very similar design. The simple and straightforward magneto, ringer, coil setup is mounted into a compact wooden box with space for the monophone type handset. The handset on my set seems to be from the Modello 1917, the Modello 1916 used a Thomson-Houston handset originally.
Presumably the D.Mk.V was developed before, but introduced in 1939 (Release date of Manual; and I have never seen one with an mfg label prior to 1939). It is the successor of the WWI D.Mk.III. It was also used by the Australian and Canadian Army and other Commonwealth armies. After WWII a good number of D.Mk.V. were refurbished into D.Mk.VI. for the Italian "Esercito di Transizione".
At the beginning of WWI the french army in total has only a couple of hundred telephones available, then during the war years up to 1918 more than 200'000 were acquired. Most of these were probably the Téléphone Militaire Modèle 1916 (TM16), though production numbers are not documented, multiple providers contributed to its manufacture.
The hungarian field telephone 39 M. with buzzer only signalling is technically identical to the earlier 30 M., but features a bakelite casing instead of a wooden one. It offers a straightforward design with easily replaceable components, ensuring simple maintenance and operation.
This is a compact and highly portable 10-line switchboard, manufactured by Standard Eléctrica S.A. for the Spanish military in the early 1940s. The device bears no label indicating the manufacturer or production year. It was in use by the Spanish military until the eighties.
The Feldfernsprecher 16/34 consists of an Eiserner Armeefernspecher handset combined with a magneto/ringer set from a Tischfernsprecher OB 05, all housed within a box that also contains two 1.5V field elements. Based on the type of components used and the overall finish, the device appears to have been produced in a workshop-style manufacturing process. However, the included diagram—printed on a metal plaque—suggests that it may not be a one-off construction but rather part of a small production batch.
The "TM" mark ("Télégraphie Militaire") indicates that this portable desk telephone was used by the French army. Based on the components and technology used, the design and manufacturing date is estimated to be between 1915 and 1925. The telephone features a detachable hook switch fork and a dismountable magneto crank lever. Both the hook switch fork and crank lever, along with the permanently connected handset and headset, can be stored inside the main wooden box, which is equipped with a leather handle for easy transport.
This lineman's telephone of type "P. BL2. SMV. A", manufactured by AOIP in 1975 for the French national railway company (SNCF), is designed to support both magneto and buzzer calling. It can also be connected to an external battery. The unit is marked with the letters "SES", which could suggest it was originally used at the Gare de Sens station.
The "Eiserner Armeefernsprecher" is the 1913 successor [5] [6] to the original 1905 "Armeefernsprecher", later referred to as the "Armeefernsprecher alter Art" ("Army Telephone, Old Type"). The electrical setup and functionality remain identical to the 1905 model, but the 1913 version is constructed from painted sheet metal instead of aluminum. Additionally, the talk switch has been modified from a wooden button integrated into the handle to a wooden lever on the side, which can be held in position.
This device appears to be a T65-1, which is the plastic-cased successor to the leather-cased T-65. There are no markings indicating the type, make, or year on the device itself. However, a very similar model found on Chinese auction sites apparently carries the designation "HCX-3". The plastic casing seems to draw some design inspiration from the German FFsp 33, while the overall construction bears similarities to the U.S. EE-8 field telephone.
Based on it's designation as "Mod. 42" this Italian field telephone was likely designed in the early 1940s. It was produced by manufacturers FACE (the Italian ITT subsidiary) and AUTELCO (the Italian Automatic Electric subsidiary) and continued to be used by the Italian military post-WWII, even into the NATO era.
The Danish Fieldtelephone HSGT FTLF M/51L from the early 1950ies is quite remarkable as it is still built for single wire with earth return networks. Single wire lines with earth return were already quite "out of fashion" by the 1950ies as they were prone to interference and interception. It is the "recreation" of the Danish pre-WWI instrument M.1909/14 using "modern" components from Ericsson.
The first German Telegraphentruppe "integrated" (magneto and buzzer in same instrument) field telephone the "Feldfernsprecher" was introduced in 1904. After the introduction of the successor "Eiserner Feldfernsprecher" ("Iron field telephone") in 1913 this instrument was also called "Feldfernsprecher bisheriger Art" ("field telephone of previous type") and "Feldfernsprecher alter Art" ("... of old type").
A portable telephone for CB (central battery) networks. Wood box and metal chassis are constructed similar to a Streckenfernsprecher OB33. These instruments were probably used in some "wide area" industrial environment like a power plant, a steal mill or similar.
This is the predecessor to F. Mk. II. The differences between F. Mk. II and I are: bakelite instead of cast alloy metal case, induction coils (no. 21) replacing the buzzer (T. Mk. I), generator type "C" instead of "B". F. Mk. I seems to have been developed in the mid 1930ies and replaced by F. Mk. II circa 1940 onwards.
Fullerphones are British DC telegraphy instruments named after it's inventor A.C. Fuller. Traditional telegraphy, buzzer telegraphy and voice communication were suspect to interception, especially during WWI trench warfare where lines of the different belligerents were constructed very near to each other. The Fullerphone solved this by using very faint DC currents (<2.5uA) with flattened signal edges to prevent any overhear-able induction. To make the signals readable by the operator these faint DC currents were converted into audible buzzing signals (~550Hz) by use of an adapted buzzer gadget. Fullerphones were still used into WWII.
Electrical Telegraphy was used by the German Army from the mid 1850ies onwards. Initially part of the Pioneer Corps the "Telegraphentruppe" (Signal Corps) was established as independent branch in 1899. A first portable telephone was introduced in 1894, the "Patrouillenapparat". In 1905 an updated version of the "Patrouillenapparat" was introduced, initially called "leichter Feldfernsprecher" ("leicht" = lightweight), later called "Armeefernsprecher" - and even later after the introduction of the newer "eiserner Armeefernsprecher" ("eisen" = iron) it was called "Armeefernsprecher alter Art" ("alte Art" = old type). It is made of aluminium and has a builtin buzzer. Line binding posts are on the additionally required battery box.
The Service Buzzer Model 1914 replaced the earlier field buzzer, the cavalry buzzer and the field artillery telephone. Later it got the electrical engineering equipment group number EE-63, it is still mentioned in the Basic Field Manual of 1931.
This field telephone is a Racal Acoustics product (Product name RA2000 ) developed in the early 90ties, based on the instructions release date it was introduced in the Britisch Army in 1994 as PTC 414. It is most probably the last British army analog field telephone. The product seems to be no longer in the Racal Acoustics product lineup, the handset RA250 still is though.
This trackman phone was made by Gfeller in 1948 (Date on coil). It is not marked and I have no sources for it, but I assume it was used by the Swiss federal railway or some Swiss private railway system. What is noteworthy compared to other Swiss trackman phones is that it has a built in dial and supports also CB/Aut. networks.
It is built into a beautiful hardwood box. The handset is the Swiss PTT standard type 1931 bakelite handset. The microphone is powered by a 4,5V flat pack flashlight type battery, the circuit requires the microphone battery also when connecting to a CB line. The microphone circuit is closed by the hookswitch. The dial is the Standard Swiss PTT Zenith type 5A.
In the early 40ies Telephone TP-6 was the designation for a couple of commercial desktop telephones used by the US Signal Corps. This included standard black bakelite desktop combined sets from all major US suppliers: Western Electric 302, Automatic Electric 40, Kellog 925, Stromberg Carlson 1212 (Later also 1222, 1242), North Electric H4 (later H6). Some of them had assigned an official nomenclature: AE 40 - TA-101/FTC; Kellogg 925 - TA-102/FTC; SC 1222 - TA-113/FTC. On all sets the Signal Corps used a standardised Dial TA-45(*)/GT.
This is the Yugoslav People's Army field telephone developed in the early 60ies as successor to the PTI-49. The instrument's overall design is clearly based on the US TA-43/PT, though the handset is based on the Swiss FTf50 (Based on other products there may have been some cooperation between Swiss Siemens and Iskra) and the lid locks on the Swedish m/37.
This is a British GPO linemen's instrument for use on LB and CB/Aut. networks. It was supplied by britisch Ericsson (Model N1831) to GPO, with GPO designation No.44B. No.44 Mk.I. and No.44A (including a buzzer) were the LB only models.
Repeating coils are 1:1 ratio transformers with typically 2x2 symmetrical windings on a magnetic core. The US signal corps calls these coils "Repeating coils", British royal SC calls them "Superposing units", in Germany they were called "Uebertrager" (~translator/transformer) and in Switzerland "Cailho", for the french engineer M. Cailho who described a usage for simplex circuits already in the 1880ies. These coils had two main uses in field line setups:
Before the availability of carrier frequency systems (portable field telephony carrier systems were first introduced in the 1940ies) the use of repeating coils was the only means to increase the capacity of lines. Even after introduction of carrier frequency technology it's use continued as it was a simple passive option.
A British field switchboard from the 1940ies. U.C. stands for "universal call", as it supports incoming and outgoing buzzer (~350Hz) and magneto (~20Hz) signalling. There was also a slightly smaller but otherwise nearly identical 6 line version.
The "OB Fernsprecher 43 für Ortsfesten Betrieb" (~"Local battery telephone for use at permanent locations") is a stripped down version of the FFsp 33. As the name indicates not for field use, but rather for indoor use (permanent locations). Electrically identical to the FFsp 33 (Same coil, ringer, magneto) but mechanically much cheaper built. The electrical parts are not built into a sturdy metallic frame but only screwed to the bottom of a fibre board. The handset cord is fix mounted, not pluggable, and the line test button and the line plugs have been left out. There is no spelling table nor a diagram attached to the case.
All OB 43 seem to have been made by Mix & Genest in 1944. I did not find any source which indicates how many of these were ever made. There are no serial numbers on the devices.
This trackman railway instrument was made by Hasler in 1943 (Date on capacitor). It can be transported rucksack style. According to the station signals noted in the instrument it was last used on the Zürich-Baden line (which by the way was the first Swiss railway line ever) and the Baden-Oerlikon line. The different stations on the line and the portable instrument were called by signs based on different combinations of short and long rings. The instrument has a railway telephone line type socket and a matching patch-cable packed. The speech circuit uses an anti-sidetone setup. The case and body are made of cast alloy.
The "Armeetelefon Modell 1947" and the "Feldtelefon Modell 1947" are only slightly updated, nearly identical replacements for their predecessors ATf 1932 and FTf 1941. The ATf update was again developed by Albiswerk Zürich (Swiss Siemens subsidiary, also licensed to Autophon, Hasler and Zellweger), and the FTf also again by Autophon A.G. Solothurn.
I don't know more about this instrument than what is taken from the included technical description and user guide [1]. Got it in its original packaging, never used, made in 1993. Made by "TLTI, Toute la téléphonie industrielle" in Paris. I did not find any primary sources on the internet. The set is clearly based on the U.S. TA-312/PT, the handset uses the exact TA-312/PT parts (H-60/PT and TX module TA-117/PT and RX module TY-235/PT), the magneto also seems to be the identical G-42/PT type. What makes it hard to take the instrument seriously is that even if it's general build quality is very sturdy and it has an integrated - by magneto rechargeable - battery making it very suitable for field use ... it is not waterproof! Not even splash proof.
The Swiss Army field telephone "FTf 41: Feldtelefon Modell 1941" was developed by Autophon A.G., Solothurn, in the early 40ies. The goal was to replace the current "Feldtelefon" introduced in 1909 (and the only slightly updated version "Feldtelefon 1925") with technology equivalent to the Armeetelefon Modell 1932. The resulting instrument is a combination of the electrical setup of the ATf 32 with the Form factor and sturdiness of the FTf 09/25.
"Something completely different". It is portable, battery powered and in a wooden case, so checks quite a lot of boxes to be a kind of field telephone, though it cannot be used on an LB or also not a CB/Aut. line. It is an instrument used in British schools in the 1930ies for demonstration of telephone technology.
Developed by Ericsson pre 1935 and introduced by the Swedish army in 1937 as m/37. The Ericsson catalog off 1939 lists 4 device types: DPA1001 (LB only), DPA1102 (LB/CB, line test button), DPA1152 (LB/CB with included dial) and DPA13, LB/CB with included telegraphy buzzer. The Swedish army introduced DPA13 as m/37A and DPA1001 as m/37B. After WWII it was updated with an integrated hook switch (only active in CB mode) and an adapter for standard IEC R20 (D-Cell) type batteries and called m/37-47. Later it got the designation TFNAPP MT (TFNAPP = Telefonapparat = telephony device, MT = ? Militär-Telefon ? ? Mobil-Telefon ? ? Med Tillbehör ?). The model or derivates of it were also used in other countries armies, e.g. in Denmark as FTLF M/51 and in Finland as P-1-7A/VPAR. More than 100k were manufactured up into the seventies, the instrument was/is still in use in the Swedish Army in the 21st century.
Shortly before or in parallel to the U.S. entering WWI (by war declaration to Germany in April 1917) the Signal Corps took a couple of new field telephony devices into service, the Field Telephone Model 1917, the Camp Telephone Model 1917 and Camp Telephone Model A and a standard Western Electric railroad portable Telephone (1375B), all of which replaced the Camp Telephone from 1913. Camp Telephone Model 1917 is an improvement of the Model 1913 design using a bigger magneto (3-Bar instead of 2), the here discussed Model A is a further improvement adding a capacitor to the ringer. All Camp Telephone Model A were made by Western Electric and got the designation EE-4 by 1918. They were in use up to and into WWII but soon replaced by the EE-8.
The Swiss Army Artillerie Telephon was developed by Siemens & Halske in 1913. At that time the Swiss Army had already a Siemens & Halske field telephone in operation, the leather backpack based Feldtelefon (F Tf) 1909, using the same basic setup with a buzzer for signalling and the same handset and headset. From 1915 to 1917 about 1500 pcs. were delivered to the Swiss field artillery forces. At the same time about 500 of the Zerlegbares Telephon (Take-apart Telephone) version were acquired.
The "Centralino telefonico a chiavi a commutazione circolare a 10 linee" (10 line circular key telephone switchboard) is an italian switchboard from 1926 using an interesting setup: circular switches instead of cords. There was also a 6 line version and an updated slightly smaller version (6 and 10 lines) of 1932. This specimen and all others I know off or have seen pictures of are made by Società Nazionale delle Officine di Savigliano (later owned by Fiat, now part of Alstom). This switchboard has also been in use in the Spanish civil war by the Francoists.
Functionality-wise a very plain basic portable telephone for any generic use case, maybe power plants, mining, fire brigades etc. What makes this instrument interesting is the manufacturer- Tefag - and the used parts - Fuld/T & N - most prominently the design handset which is an updated Fuld Model 28 ("Frankfurt") type later used on the T & N "Maingau". Fuld and Tefag had some trade- and perhaps further agreements in the late 20ies and early 30ies. Fuld then underwent a reorganisation and "aryanisation" and became NTT and T & N and Tefag was taken over by ITT.
The Mikrophonkasette M07 was made by different Austro-Hungarian manufacturers like Kapsch, Ericsson/Deckert-Homolka, Telefongyar, Tefag, Vereinigte Glühlampen und Elektrizitäts A.G (Tunsgram), up to or also into WW1, the next generation Austro-Hungarian instrument M16 was introduced in 1916. The here presented instrument was made by Tefag (Telefon Fabrik A.G. vormals J. Berliner, Wien) and seems to have been in use by Bulgarian or Serbian troops as the diagram labels are not in german, based on history I think it may be either, or maybe Bulgarian or Serbian speaking troops pertaining to the Austro-Hungarian army. I do not speak any Bulgarian or Serbian, it is just my best guess (the labels are for sure not Hungarian).
The oak box holds a aluminum handset of similar construction to the german "Feldfernsprecher (1905)" handset, an additional aluminum headset with leather headband and a circuit-break type buzzer (combined with the induction coil). All wiring is mounted to the inside box walls and all contacts are fixed with screws to contact plates (not soldered). The batteries have to be added in an external oak box (Batteriekasten M07) which can be connected by wires or directly hinged to bolts which can be pushed out of the back of the main box. A unique type of batteries which includes 2x 1,5V elements in one cardboard box ("Doppellagerelement") is used. The elements per box are connected in series providing 3V, the oak battery box holds two "Doppellagerelement", a single element could be used or a second could be activated for increased durability.
The Swiss Army Feldmess-Kästchen of the first generation is identical to the German Feldmesskästchen 18 and was sourced initially from Germany (first imports probably in the late ~1920ies). The first generation Feldmess-Kästchen is first mentioned in the 1935 Swiss army signal corps journal. The 2nd generation Feldmess-Kästchen is based on the same electrical setup, but uses a bigger and more precise instrument with parallax-mirror display and is built into a Suconit (a Swiss bakelite type made by Huber and Suhner) box. It was made by Trüb Täuber and is first mentioned in the respective regulations from 1954. The 1st and 2nd generation instrument were quite delicate and not at all suitable for field use. The first generation wood box probably could take a little beating and the instrument was anyway not at all precise and more for rough estimates, but the 2nd generation in it's brittle Suconit box would probably break with the first drop. The 3rd generation instrument with name T-02 was then developed as a really field suitable heavy duty rugged instrument built into a rubber protected box, not completely water-proof but very weather-proof. That instrument was made by Camille Bauer probably from around 1975 onwards (first mentioned in the 1978 Swiss army signal corps journal).
The 10 line single cord switchboard "Klappenschrank 10, OB 52" is a post WWII East German development. An improvement on the "Kleiner Klappenschrank (1933)" and compared to it a little bit smaller still and all connections on the back and user elements on the front (instead of on top), making it more "heavy duty" and stackable. It uses a form factor compatible to the "Feldvermittlung OB52/30" (a 10 line pair system) and can be used to extend their capacity to 40 lines. The "Amtszusatz, OB 52" (dial unit) is also compatible with the OB52/10 and the OB52/30. By the mid 60ies it was replaced by the cordless switchboard "Feldvermittlung OB-62/10"
The French T.M. 1932 was an only minor update to it's predecessor the "Modèle 1927" which was based on the standard components of the PTT model "Marty 1910". It used still the same simple LB only circuit but a more compact magneto, a metal sheet case instead of a wood box and an also metallic military specific handset in case of the PTT standard handset of the "Modèle 1927" and still the same T.M.0 1,5V elements (2x).
No documentation regarding the exact use of this instrument is known. On the lid the instrument is called "Telephon-S. 36" (probably S. for "Station" and 36 for the year 1936), on the diagram it is called "Feldstation K.T.A." which seem to indicate an army connection, "K.T.A." being an abbreviation for "Kriegstechnische Abteilung" (Dept. of war technology, then responsible for definition and acquisition of army material). It is not mentioned in any Swiss army signal corps regulations and also not in any secondary literature, it was for sure not a standard signal corps issue. My assumption is that his instrument has only been used by army assigned PTT specialist working on interconnecting field-telephony and PTT systems. All instruments seem to have been made by Gfeller A.G., capacitor dates from known samples indicate production from 1935 up to 1957. One of my samples is part of a lineman's tool case which may be from army or PTT provenience.
The Feldfernsprecher 26 was the "in between wars" german field telephone. Developed in 1926 as successor to the Feldfernsprecher 17 using the same basic construction (with similar size and weight) but adding a hook switch and capacitors to make it CB lines compatible. It is also compatible to the buzzer module for the FF 17. The FF 26 was developed and manufactured by C. Lorenz AG and by a couple of subcontractors.
The F-27-0 was developed by Siemens Austria in 1981 according to the included diagram initial release date. It was in use by the Austrian armed forces up to at least 2011 according to "Soldat 2011. Leitfaden für den Wehrdienst". The Siemens product name is SFT 800-A. The case, body and handset are made of plastic and sealed. It supports LB and CB operation and also includes a rotary dial unit for direct attachment to automatic lines. The handset is based on the Swiss FTf 50 handset (which was developed by the Swiss Siemens subsidiary), even the used RX and TX capsules are of Swiss make.
The Amtsanschliesser 33 ("telephone office connector") is a very compact and sturdy telephone for military use. Assumed to have been introduced together with the FF33 and as replacement to the dial unit which was available for the FF33 predecessor FF26 (which contrary to the FF33 supported direct connection to CB networks). It seems to have been in use still in the Bundesgrenzschutz and/or early Bundeswehr in the 50ies.
The German Streckenfernsprecher (Lineman's telephone) from ~1907 and it's successor from ~1933 (assumption based on diagram in my device) are compact and lightweight (for it's time) line technicians field telephones. This instruments were used when building and troubleshooting telephone lines. The "1907" models were also used by the German army signal corps during WWI as type "M15". One of my earlier models (capacitor date 1928) is marked R.T.V (Reichstelegraphenverwaltung) and the later model (capacitor date 1938) is marked R.P. (Reichspost) on the top lid.
Made for the Finnish army by Tartu Telefoni Vabrik (Estonia, then local subsidiary of Ericsson) in the 30ies, technology-wise probably even developped in the 20ies. This sample has a capacitor from 1938 made by "Ludwig Baugatz" (LB, Germany, according to a catalog from 1927 LB was a standard capacitor supplier for Tartu). The telephone is a full wood box and body/frame construction. The electrical setup uses an "english" buzzer setup where the buzzer and transmission coils are shared.
Developed in 1953 by Albiswerk Zürich A.G. based on the components from the F.Tf. 5 but for indoor use and with support for CB lines. Initially called Tischtelephon (Table Telephone), T.Tf.53, later called Armeetelephon, A.Tf.53.
Made by Standard Electrica S.A. Madrid (ITT). Feature-wise a standard field telephone, magneto, ringer, battery compartment, pluggable handset with P.T.T. button mounted to a metallic body-frame put into a wooden box. Design, setup and features are similar to a German FF 33. But what makes this device very interesting is it's interior construction. There are no wired connections, all the electrical connections are cast into a top and an additional vertical bakelite panel to where the components are mounted directly. A type of early circuit board implementation unknown to me to have been used in any other field telephone.
The US signal corps field telephones TA-43/PT and TA-312/PT are nearly identical instruments. The only difference being that the TA-312/PT ads a plug which can be used to connect an external head-/chest-set or an external DTMF dialpad. The instruments are of very rugged construction and are splashproof. The instruments include a magneto, a buzzer type ringer and a handset with push to talk button. Operation in local battery (LB) or central battery (CB) mode can be chosen by a screw slit type mode switch. There is also a third mode CBS for mixed operation with local battery talk and common battery signalling.
The Streckenfernsprecher OB33, or OB33 tragbar (portable) was a Siemens development of the early 30ies. Manufactured by differente providers. Main use has been as railroad trackman telephone (Streckenfernsprecher), maybe also used by PTT linemen and army line building. There is also a German local battery desk telephone named OB33 used by German PTT and railroad.
The Pionierzentrale Modell 37 was the first Swiss developed field switchboard. It was the successor of the Pionierzentrale Modell 18 which was the Swiss Army Name for the German Feldklappenschrank neuer Art from 1915. Developed and manufactured by Albiswerk Zürich (The Swiss Siemens & Halske subsidiary). It was acquired in two lots, the first 548 from 1937 to 1942 and a second batch of 125 in 1950/51 (Toal 673). The one used for the Videos and Fotos here is from 1938 with serial #91. (Last "active duty" for this specific one was stored at the Swiss national radio and TV station to be able to integrate into military emergency communications in case of a crisis situation). The Pi Zen 37 was used by the army up to at least the early seventies.
The Czechoslovakian field telephone TP 25 is an improved design inspired by the German FF33. It is also made of bakelite (case and body) and a keep it simple design for LB only use and it is much smaller and lighter than the FF33. In my view the cleanest and most practical and also sturdy design of the FF33 "copies". It was probably developed in the early fifties and seems to have been produced until at least the mid seventies. Its abundance on the surplus market hints to quite high production numbers.
The Austrian field telephone M35 was developed and manufactured by Kapsch & Söhne in Vienna (Kapsch continues to be one of the most important players in todays - 2020 - telecom market in Austria). Only 4800 pcs. were delivered between 1935 and 1938. The instrument has strong similarities to the Norwegian Modell 1930 made by Elektrisk Bureau and the Italian G.A. Mod. 1931. Between the Norwegian and Italian models it is not clear who was first but both were earlier than the M35. Perhaps Kapsch licensed the Design. For sure the Kapsch engineers designing the Instrument had seen either or both of the aforementioned instruments. Feature and build quality-wise the M35 surpasses the Norwegian and the Italian versions.
This linesmen test set has been in production from the early 1900 to at least 1939. It can be found in the Western Electric catalogues with part no. 1017A (Catalog 1908), 1017B (Catalogues 1916 - 1929) 1017C (Catalogues 1916 - 1939) 1017A and B are essentially the same, 1017C uses a more powerful magneto.
The here presented one has the designation 17A. As type A is no longer mentioned in WE catalog from 1916 it is assumed that it was made before 1916 but after 1908.
Each switchboard unit contains the elements of one single cord switchboard line and connection latches which allow to unify several units to a small switchboard. Any field telephone can then be connected to these unification latches to serve as operator telephone.
This small switchboard units were first used by the german army in WWI. The Swiss Army acquired initially the German model from 1915 (Swiss army Modell 18) and then introduced improved versions developed in 1932 and 1938 (VK 32, VK 38). Here we will describe in more detail the versions 18 and 38.
The Swiss Army field phone Central Telephon (C.Tf., Models: 1913, 1918 Siemens&Halske - 1925 Hasler) was first introduced in 1913. This Model is from after 1918. Originally designed and built by Siemens & Halske, Berlin the Central Telephon was later refurbished and modernised in Switzerland by Telefonwerke Albisrieden (The Swiss Siemens subsidiary) and Hasler. Hasler delivered also a locally built Central Telephon Modell 1925. Between the Models 1913, 1918 and 1925 there were about 900 pieces of the C.Tf.
This french linemans instrument is made in 1974 by the Association des ouvriers en instruments de précision, a french workers cooperative which specialised in telecommunications equipment manufacturing (once the world's biggest cooperative outside of USSR, operating from 1896 until 2003). The instrument is a french P.T.T. standard design for linemen portable instruments. This is the successor of the Poste téléphonique pour l'essai des lignes from the 30/40ies. This model seems to have been made in large quantities as it can be seen often on online marketplaces. The earlier models, from the 50ies, use the same model number 292-60 as the above mentioned older instrument. From the 60ies onwards the model number seems to be 400.0060.
The TA-1/PT is the successor of the EE-108 and TP-3 sound powered telephones. It was introduced into service in the mid 50ies and has been used by different NATO forces. The one presented here was in use in Norway.
The device is very lightweight but still sturdy. The instrument can be used on point to point connections with other sound powered or local battery instruments, or also connected to a local battery switchboard. It is specified for connections with up to 10dB attenuation, up to 6km on typical field wire.
The British field telephone set F. Mk. II. is an updated version of F. Mk. I. The main difference i can identify is that Mk. I. used a cast-alloy body whereas the Mk. II. has a bakelite body. I have yet to find historical documentation regarding this instrument. I assume that Mk. I. was developed and introduced in the 30ies (The Mk. I. manual which can be found online is dated 1939) and Mk. II. was introduced in ~1940 (The here presented model has shows a manufacturing date of 1940 on the magneto). This instrument was made by T.M.C. (Telephone Manufacturing Company Ltd. London). Based on the batteries found the device presented here are from 1979 it can be assumed that this models were still in use up to the eighties.
The Swiss Army field phone Feldtelefon (known today as Model 1909, then just called the "Feldtelefon") was introduced in 1909. It was designed and built by Siemens & Halske, Berlin. This was the first Swiss field instrument acquired in significant quantity. Before the Swiss army only had a total of about 100 instruments made by the Swiss companies Hasler and Favarger. Until 1930 about 1800 pieces of the Feldtelefon were acquired (including updated Versions introduced in 1924 and 1925).
This is the german army "Elementprüfer neuer Art" introduced in 1916. This specimen has been made by Siemens & Halske.
The model EE-8 was developed for the US army signal corps in the early 30ies and introduced in service in 1937. It was manufactured by different suppliers, e.g. Connecticut Telephone and Electrical Company, Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Company and Western Electric. This instrument is of type EE-8-B and was originally manufactured in 1944 (most probably by Connecticut Telephone and Electrical Company), got an MFP (Moisture and fungi-proofing for tropical environment) treatment in 1945 and was then refurbished for the french army in 1964 in the E.R.G.M.T. (Etablissement de Réserve Général du Matériel des Transmissions) in Langres.
The Norwegian Army field phone TP-6N was developed by A/S Elektrisk Bureau (EB, Then an Ericsson subsidiary) in the early 70ies. With 1.8kg (4lb) the instrument is very lightweight compared to other Fieldphones. The EB designation was DPAR 00103. The instrument here presented is designated TP-6N-A. In 1973 A/S Elektrisk Bureau were awarded the Norwegian Design Prize for this instrument.
This worn and beaten fieldphone was made by Siemens & Halske in 1929 (based on Capacitor and Generator mfg. date). Maybe it was a PTT lineman's instrument, but more probable it was for industrial type of use, construction, power plant, or also firebrigade or something like that. I did not find yet any sources for details regarding this instrument.
The Swiss Army field phone "ATf 32: Armeetelefon Modell 32" was developed by Telephonwerke Albisrieden A.G., Zürich (The Swiss Siemens subsidiary since 1922, later renamed to Albiswerk Zürich AG, then to Siemens-Albis AG and finally to Siemens Schweiz AG), in the early 30ies. The goal was to replace the current lineup of Swiss army field-phones which were all based on Siemens & Halske designs from the 1910s. Compared with the German Feldfernsprecher 33 developed during the same time by Siemens & Halske the ATf 32 has a very conservative design, nearly double in weight and volume and still using a straight forward simple speech coil setup and not the more advanced anti side-tone setup all-ready used by the FF33 and most civil phone setups of that era.
This instrument is Ericsson designed and probably also manufactured. It corresponds to an Ericsson No. 390 (Catalog 1902) or MB100 (Catalog 1910), and an N.T.C. B38 (Catalog 1903). The handset is marked N.T.Co. Ltd. No. 28. N.T.Co. stands for the British National telephone company, the leading independent company introducing telephony to England in the late 19th century. N.T.Co. was an important Ericsson customer and later helped to start the Ericsson manufacturing in Britain. N.T.Co. was taken over by the governments G.P.O. (General post office) in 1912.
This Italian field phone is a refurbished British D. Mk. V. The post WWII Esercito di Transizione was equipped with mostly British WWII material. This D. Mk. V. was originally manufactured by the Telephone Manufacturing Company ltd (T.M.C.). The coil is made by Elettrotelefonica Milano, maybe the complete refurbishing has been done there.
This french linemans instrument is made in 1941 by the Association des ouvriers en instruments de précision, a french workers cooperative which specialised in telecommunications equipment manufacturing (once the world's biggest cooperative outside of USSR, operating from 1896 until 2003). The instrument is a french P.T.T. standard design for linemen portable instruments. It has been made by different french P.T.T. outfitters. The models type 292-60 is also engraved on the wooden body, along with Propriété de l'état which indicates that it is an instrument officially issued to the french P.T.T.
The Swiss Army field phone Zerlegbares Telephon (Take-apart Telephone, in some literature also named Artillerie-Telephon zerlegbar) was developed by Hasler AG (One of the predecessors to Ascom) in 1915. From 1915 to 1917 about 500 pcs. of the Zerlegbares Telephon were delivered to the Swiss field artillery forces. The instrument can only be used with buzzer signalling either point to point to other instruments (also with signalling whistle) or to switchboard equipment with buzzer compatible call indicators.
This trackman railway instrument was made by Gfeller probably in 1963 (Date on capacitor). It can be transported rucksack style (It is heavy: 12kg!). According to the station signals noted in the instrument it was last used on the Sonceboz - Moutier Railway in the Swiss jura region.
The US EE-108 is a sound powered field instrument developed in the late 30ies and used in WW2 and later. It's basic design is based on the local battery instrument EE-8. The leather case, generator, ringer and capacitor are interchangeable with the EE-8. The instrument can be used on point to point connections with other sound powered or local battery instruments, or also connected to a local battery switchboard.
This field instrument was made by or made for Wyssen Seilbahnen in the early 50ies. That specific one is probably made in 1955 to 56 based on date stamped on the Leclanché made capacitor.
It's use may have been in maintenance or repair situations to call to the base or top station. Or for temporary installations at base and top station. The company still exists, if I find the time I will contact them and ask if details for that instrument are on record.
The German Wehrmacht field phone "FF33: Feldfernsprecher 33" was developed by Siemens & Halske in the early 30ies as replacement for the "Feldfernsprecher 26". Compared to that latter it is a much more bare bones design. Only LB support and no buzzer option is included.
Between 1933 and 1945 1.6 Million pieces were manufactured by more than 20 different providers.
The FF33 pictured here was made by Ferdinand Schuchardt AG in 1937. This model has the original electrical setup (used until 1939) and a light alloy body (later ones were made of steel).
This Fieldphone is not too easy to identify. Based on the parts and type of construction I date it between 1905 and 1915. The “C. Schaefer” company indicated on the label exists since 1889, it might be the manufacturer or dealer for the instrument. The company still exists but has no documentation that far back.
The instrument gives the impression of being of workshop and not industrial manufacturing.
I acquired it in the Grison region, so the burned in letters “EW. C” might indicate that it was owned by “Elektrizitätswerk Churwalden” (Power plant of Churwalden) which operated under that name from 1906 to the 50ies.
The instrument is equiped with a basic two winding induction coil, a 4 bar magneto and a 2x 750Ohm ringer mounted on a main wooden board and inserted into a wooden box. The handset is made of a steel frame with wooden handles, a PTT switch, a fix mounted 200 Ohm receiver with wooden earpiece and a modular transmitter pickup based on the “Lorenz” carbon transmitter format.
The Swiss Army field phone "FTf 50: Feldtelefon Modell 50" was developed by Albiswerk Zürich AG (The Swiss Siemens subsidiary, later renamed to Siemens Schweiz AG) in the late 40ies. It's design was inspired by the US EE-8 field phone. With 2.6kg (5.7lb) the instrument was very lightweight for it's time. The Swiss Army predecessor "FTf 47: Feldtelefon Modell 1947" was weighing in at more than 9kg (20lb).
Albiswerk delivered about 10000 pieces to the Swiss Army between 1950 and 1960. Another about 3000 pieces were delivered by Gfeller in the 60ies (The instrument in the Video was manufactured by Gfeller).
The instrument was also delivered to the dutch army as "Veldtelefoontoestel TA-3001".