23

Williams "Coffin" phone
1879
Boston, Massachussets, USA


Credits:
Bell Canada Historical Collection

24

The Williams' "Coffin" phone so named because it resembled a coffin. Initially only one receiver was utilized, the user had to switch back and forth from his mouth to ear. A second receiver was added so one was used for speaking and one for listening. It was also the first phone to have bells and a magneto generator to ring distant instruments.