Hands on Tauranga offers students stimulating and original learning opportunities with real museum objects that support the New Zealand curriculum at primary and secondary school level.
Ericsson Wooden Telephone with crank and receiver.
In the 1870s, Alexander Graham Bell's invention of the telephone began to gain attention worldwide. The technology soon reached New Zealand, and the first telephone exchange in the country was established in Wellington in 1878. Initially, these early telephones were mostly wall-mounted units made of wood. They featured a hand-cranked magneto generator for powering the call and a wooden box for the receiver and transmitter components.
Wooden telephones were commonly used in New Zealand until the mid-20th century when newer materials like Bakelite and plastic became prevalent.
To make a call on an early Ericsson wooden telephone, you would lift the receiver, use a crank to generate a signal to the switchboard, and then speak into the mouthpiece. The operator would connect you to the desired number, and you could then speak with the other party.
date: probably 1930's
max dimension: 210mm
subject area: Social Science, Technology, The Arts
specific themes: Communications, History,
handling collection number: HC3
Why not get your hands on:
Magneto telephone HC132 > https://www.handsontauranga.co.nz/hot-items/putaiao-science/magneto-telephone-hc132/
Black dial telephone HC46 > https://www.handsontauranga.co.nz/hot-items/hangarau-technology/black-dial-telephone-hc46/
Desk telephone HC131 > https://www.handsontauranga.co.nz/hot-items/te-ao-tangata-social-sciences/desk-telephone-hc131/
Set of mobile phones HC185 > https://www.handsontauranga.co.nz/hot-items/putaiao-science/mobile-phones-hc1851-4/
