A U.S. candlestick telephone in use, circa 1915.

The candlestick telephone is a style of telephone that was common the early 1900s to the 1930s. Named after its appearance, this type of phone is commonly recognizable as the type used in the sheriff's office scenes of the 1960s comedy sitcom The Andy Griffith Show.

[edit] History

Also known as the upright or a stick phone, it came with or without a rotary dial, and often with a ringer box. The first tube shaft candlestick phone was the Western Electric #20B Desk Phone patented in 1904.^[1]

The main producers of these phones were Western Electric (AT&T), Automatic Electric Co. (GTE), and Kellogg. The candlestick phones made by Western Electric were replaced by the Model 102 telephone in 1927.^{[citation needed]}

The Ericofon, or Cobra Phone is a plastic one-piece telephone, in the candlestick/upright style, created by the Ericsson Company and marketed throughout the second half of the 20th century. It was the first commercially marketed telephone design to incorporate the dial and headset into a single unit. Because of its styling, and influence on future telephone design, the Ericofon is considered one of the most significant industrial designs of the 20th century and is in the collection of Museum of Modern Art.^[2]

Several retro versions of the candlestick telephone were made long after the original phones were obsolete. The Crosley Radio company makes a 21st century version with push button operation.^[3] There are other companies including PHONECO inc. that sells original, restored, and reproductions.^[4]

[edit] Accessories

The Hush-A-Phone was like a mini megaphone created in 1920 ^[5] for slipping over the candlestick phone.^[6]

An early 20th century candlestick phone being used for a phone call.

A Western Electric candlestick phone from the 1920s.

A red version of the 1956 Ericofon, was created by Ericsson Company.

[edit] References

[edit] External links

• History and Photos of Antique Phones
• Crosley Radio
• PHONECO Inc.
• Website supporting the Ericofon