You can get these 800 series and brand new reproductions including Wooden replica Ericsson wall phones to buy here at Vintage Phones (click on the phone to see more details):
Figs 1 and 2: Model AB500-505.
Early models had a fishtail base (at
left) but this was replaced in 1903 with the rounded base (right). This phone
has the earlier pulpit transmitter and OST receiver. A glass insert was available
in the writing slope, as shown on the left. 1894 to about 1911, but this phone
is from the earlier part of the time range. By 1902 the glass inserts had been
discontinued. 770mm high. Old No. 320 with 4-magnet generator, No. 321 has a 5-magnet
generator. They were listed in the catalogs as for trunk line use.
Fig 3: Model AB520.
This is an updated and less elaborate version
of the model AB500, reflecting the trend to simplify designs to allow higher production
figures. It has the later simplified crown and base and newer lightning arrestor,
but in most other respects is identical. 1894-1911. 715mm high.
Fig 4: Model AB530-590
This model is called the Commonwealth Ericsson in Australia,
Scroll Top Ericsson in New Zealand. 4 magnet generator; Model AB590
(old number 346) had a 5-magnet generator. British Model N2300. Late 1890s to
1935. Post-World War 1 production was made in oak and appears to have only been
made in Britain. Old No. 345. Variations: Hook under writing slope for
bullring receiver. Some were later fitted with a dial above the writing
slope by the N.Z. Post Office. 715mm high. Internal lightning arrestor after 1927.
Fig 5: Model AB670-675 with round crown and cradle handset. British Model N2350. Old No. 360. It was used by the National Telephone Company of Britain and by the PMG. The terminals are behind the crown. Model AB361 is a three quarter size version with a 3-magnet generator, British Model N2270. Model AB250 had a spearpoint base. 715mm high.
Fig 6: Model AB650 Also a cradle handset style. 4-magnet generator. Old No. 350. 715mm high. Variations: Model AB670 was similar, with a rounded top (it may also be found with a Peel Conner transfer). Model AB655 / 656 has a 5-magnet generator.
Fig 7: Model AB510-515 , fitted with the unusual and scarce two-arm adjustable pulpit transmitter. The transmitter mount and the OST receiver mark this as a very early model. 760mm high. Model AB510/511 had a 4-magnet generator, Model 515 had 5 magnets.
Fig 8: British Post Office Tele No. 11 , a custom-built model. It was fitted with a long transmitter arm on rectangular mount in the Western Electric style, and an Ericsson drum transmitter, on what is otherwise a Model AB510. The Ericsson transmitter was often replaced with the later solid back transmitter.
Fig
9: Model AD200 is set up to handle an extension phone by push button signalling.
Note the extra pair of lightning arrestor terminals and the lever switch at the
top of the writing slope. Other intercoms had similar fittings, and some also
had a small round visual indicator under the crown to indicate that an incoming
call had been received.
Fig 10: Tucked Ericsson. A very ugly Australian Post Office wartime expedient, used to recycle older phones with damaged cabinetwork. The bellset has been put inside the battery cover. PMG Type 127. An even more severely tucked model is known from Western Australia. This model has the battery cover removed as well and only the centre section of the phone is left.
Fig 11: Model AB330 Trunk line phone. This usually meant that the phone was designed to run on full metallic circuits rather than an earth return circuit. 5 magnet generator. Old No. 330. Note the elaborate lightning arrestor. This is because the phone could also handle up to two extension phones.
Fig 12: This picture of an early deluxe Model AB530 shows a typical internal layout. The batteries are the early glass LeClanche-type wet cells, but were replaced by the safer dry cells which may be sometimes found still installed in a phone. The handset is the early model with the coarse flutes. Old No. 345.
Fig 13: Used in a number of Scandinavian countries. It was made by Emil Mollers. They appear quite often in auctions in the US, so it is likely that a number were refurbished and sold off there. Variations: Many have a single bell instead of the bellset shown above. They have been noted with JYDSK and Fyns Kommunal Telefon transfers. Many have been fitted with Ericsson handsets.
Fig 14: This phone was built by Ericssons for the Kristiana telephone company and uses marked LME parts, but does not carry an Ericsson serial number. A number of examples have been found in Australia, suggesting that surplus stock was imported here in times of shortage of other models. Internally they may still have a small paper Kristiana sticker with a date around World War 1.
Fig 15: Old No. Model 443 combined telephone and call box (public telephone). The bulge at the base is the coin holder. Approx 1896 to 1904. It was used in Britain by the National Telephone Company.