Telephone, skeleton telephone

To make a call on a magneto 'skeleton' telephone, the user would turn the crank handle to call the switchboard operator who would then connect them. They would also turn the handle to alert the exchange that the call was finished ('ringing off'). The skeleton telephone combined the transmitter/microphone (mouthpiece) and receiver (earpiece) into one handset. Magneto telephones used magnets to generate electricity for power. These magnets were integrated into the feet of the telephone. The magneto bell is between the metal legs.

Ericsson supplied this model to the customers of the National Telephone Company. This telephone was specially manufactured by Ericsson for the Piccadilly home of the Rothschild banking family. The Rothschilds were major investors in the early telephone industry. This telephone was used for calls to the Rothschilds bank at New Court, St Swithin's Lane in the City of London.