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HEADPHONES

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c. 1940

Overview

Headband joins two earphones which swivel and are supported by semi circular bracket. Terminals to connect wire at lower edge of cylinder are insulated by a bakelite plate.

The round black Bakelite earpiece has seven holes centrally located and unscrews from the base. There is an arrow and the number 125 on both earpieces.

Historical information

These headphones were manufactured by Standard Telephones and Cables Pty, Ltd in 1943 during the Second World War.

At the start of World War Two Australia was unable to manufacture telephones and radio equipment without imported parts from Britain and the United States. At the time the Australian Government’s Department of Defence had large contracts with ST&C to manufacture new communications units and replacement parts for existing units.

ST&Cs start in Australia was originally formed in 1907 as the Australian branch of Western Electric owned by Alexander Graham Bell. To relieve himself of political pressure in the United States and raise capital for manufacture and design Western Electric was sold to International Telephone and Telegraph (IIT). The branches of Western Electric were renamed to either Standard Electric if in Europe or Standard Telephones and Cables in the U.K. The Australian branch was renamed to Standard Telephone and Cables (Australasia) which was nearly immediately regeared to local design and manufacture.

In 1937 the company was renamed to Standard Telephones and Cables Pty Limited. In 1987 was bought by Northern Telecom to be renamed Alactel-STC.

These headphones were made likely wholly in Australia in an ST&C factory in Sydney.

Its use according to the donor form was by the Education Department in Donnybrook, inbetween Bunbury and Busselton in the southwest of Western Australia.

Details

Registration number

cwa-org-33-AK2000.34A

Material

Bakelite

Inscriptions and markings

Text on headphones [C-LR / ST&C SYDNEY / 1942

Year

c. 1940

Statement of significance

The headphones were made during World War 2 in factory in Sydney by Standard Telephones & Cables. Its use at a Donnybrook school would have either been to listen to radio, telegraphs, or instruction on how to use the technology to children.

Last modified

Thursday, 2 July, 2026

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