Object Record
Images
Metadata
Object Name |
Telephone |
Object Number |
2023.001.002 |
Description |
Telephone Hand-crank telephone; wall-mounted; consists of wooden ringer box and plastic telephone (handset); ringer box is made of wood and rectangular with two black, round bells, approximately 8 cm in width, located at the top; a black metal and plastic hand-crank is located on the right side of the ringer box; the back of the ringer box is flat with a vertical indent, approximately 1 cm in width, down the center; a plastic telephone is connected to the left side of the ringer box; the telephone is connected by a brown cord, approximately 90 cm in length; a black metal telephone holder/hook is located on the left side of the ringer box, above where the cord connects to the ringer box; the telephone is black with a slightly curved handle, round transmitter, and round receiver; on the innermost part of the handle is the inscription "NORTHERN ELECTRIC/COMPANY LIMITED/PATENTED 1922 1923 RD 1935/MADE IN CANADA." |
Provenance |
Object was manufactured by the Northern Electric Company Limited and obtained by donor during his employment at BC Tel (1971 - 1997). In 1904, following the acquisition of smaller telephone companies in the province, the Vernon & Nelson Telephone Company changed its name to the British Columbia Telephone Company Limited. Eventually, the company would simply be known as BC Tel, until a merger between BC Tel and Alberta-based Telus in 1998. As a result of the merger, they became the second-largest telecommunications company in Canada. In 1895, the Northern Electric and Manufacturing Company was incorporated as the mechanical and manufacturing department of the Bell Telephone Company of Canada (later known as Bell). It merged with another Bell company, Imperial Wire and Cable, in 1914, and was renamed Northern Electric Company Limited. Northern Electric produced hardware for Bell, as well as a wide variety of other products, such as the first gramophones in Canada for the E. Berliner Gramophone Company. During the First World War (1914-1918), Northern Electric manufactured a portable telegraphic switchboard, used by troops in the trenches. Post-war, they began to manufacture various electrical appliances, such as toasters, electric stoves, and washing machines. During the Second World War (1939-1945), Northern Electric manufactured radios, radar, and electrical equipment for the Canadian Military. In the 1950s, the company began to produce television sets. Northern Electric changed names to Northern Telecom in 1976 and, again, in 1995 to Nortel Networks (Nortel), eventually declaring bankruptcy and ceasing operations in 2009. |
Date |
1922-1923 |