Post 1945, Australian Field telephone, Set K Mk 2, 1962
Telephone Set “K” (1962) is an Australian designed lightweight field or desk telephone that was used by the Australian Army. It featured a metal base with a Bakelite handset and was carried in a shoulder bag.
After Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone all early manufacturing of telephones was done by subsidiaries of the Bell Company, which were generally called Western Electric.
In pre-federation Australia the telephone exchanges in Sydney and Melbourne were sold to private companies before the newly federated country realised the value of these assets and set up the new Post Master General's Department (PMG). The PMG quickly standardised on Western Electric hardware and thus started a long government / industry collaboration.
After WW1 Western Electric diversified its product range to meet the ever-growing demand but shipping costs were an impediment. As many of the raw materials, like copper, were shipped to Britain for manufacturing, Western Electric founded Standard Telephones and Cables (Australasia) (STC) which, in 1926, started manufacturing telecommunications hardware in Chippendale Sydney.
By WW2 STC was established enough satisfy wartime requirements and the compromised supply chains forced the company build fully Australian made product. By the end of the WW2 STC was Australia's biggest manufacturer and remained active in the market through all the changes into the digital world and now operates as Alcatel Lucent.
Details
Details
This field phone is located in the Communications Gallery commissioned by the Australian Army Museum of Western Australia as part of the Centenary commemorations of the Royal Australian Corp of Signals. Communication devices used by the Australian Army also are presented in their operational context throughout the Museum.
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
Other items from Australian Army Museum of Western Australia
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Postmaster-General Wall Phone, 1920s
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World War 1, German Trench Telephone, 1916
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Pre 1914, Field Service Cap, 1900
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World War 1 - Lamp Signaling Daylight (Lucas Lamp)
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Postmaster-General Type 300 Magneto Table Phone, 1940s
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Postmaster-General Telephone - Rotary Dial Model 801, 1960s
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Telstra Touchphone TF200
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Photograph of King's Colour, 16 Battalion (Goldfields Presentation 1920/1926)
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World War 2, Type 2, Japanese Field Telephone
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ANPRC 64A Radio
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World War 2. Mk 1 Adjustable Electric Lamp R120
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Heliograph Hand Mirror
