Field Telephone

1962
Subcollections
Overview

1962 bakelite field telephone Set "K" made by Standard Telephones and Cables (Australasia) Pty Ltd

Historical information

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

Registration number
cwa-org-124-2024.157
Item type
Material
Width
8 cm
Height or length
24 cm
Depth
15 cm
Inscriptions and markings

On plaque;
TELEPHONE SET "K" (AUST.) MK1
5805-66-.012-8959
D D
STC 1962 SER. No. CD88

Contextual Information

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.

Keywords
Place made
Sydney
NSW
Australia
Year
Primary significance criteria
Social or spiritual significance
Busselton Historical Society

Busselton Historical Society

Organisation Details
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Field Telephone
1962 Australian made field telephone Set "K"
1962 Australian made field telephone Set "K"
1962 Australian made field telephone Set "K"
1962 Australian made field telephone Set "K"
1962 Australian made field telephone Set "K"

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