Telephony Collection

Early fire brigade street alarm
Early fire brigade alarm system. Historical artwork of a fireman testing a 19th-century combined telephonic and telegraphic street fire alarm system

Transatlantic communications: telephoning London to New York
How the London telephone subscriber will " get" New York: the wonders of transatlantic telephony, as explained by The Illustrated London News in 1927. Date: 1927

Advert promoting the Post Office Telephone Service. Date: 1932

Early telephone, historical artwork
Early telephone. Historical artwork of three men gathered around an early telephone. The man at right is talking into the speaking tube

Alexander G. Bell, Scottish-US inventor C017 / 7105
Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922), Scottish-US inventor, using a telephone, his most famous invention. Bell followed his father and grandfather into the speech therapy profession

John Ambrose Fleming
JOHN AMBROSE FLEMING English electrical engineer; contributed to development of telephony, electric lighting and wireless telegraphy

Edison telephone in a wall-mounted box. Wood engraving, New York, 1890
530470 Edison telephone in a wall-mounted box. Wood engraving, New York, 1890; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Telephone apparatus available to New York subscribers. This used an Edison transmitter
530468 Telephone apparatus available to New York subscribers. This used an Edison transmitter and a 'pony crown' receiver (lower right of picture)

Edison carbon telephone: sending and receiving apparatus with battery box at base. Solid metal diaphragm
530472 Edison carbon telephone: sending and receiving apparatus with battery box at base. Solid metal diaphragm. Wood engraving, New York 1890; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Edison carbon telephone: Wall-mounted model with 'pony-crown' receiver (right). Wood engraving, New York, 1879
530471 Edison carbon telephone: Wall-mounted model with 'pony-crown' receiver (right). Wood engraving, New York, 1879; Universal History Archive/UIG.

New York telephone subscriber making call through operator at telephone exchange
530469 New York telephone subscriber making call through operator at telephone exchange. Apparatus in picture used an Edison transmitter and a 'pony-crown' receiver

Cross-section of Edison's lamp-black (carbon) button telephone transmitter (microphone). Wood engraving c1891
530467 Cross-section of Edison's lamp-black (carbon) button telephone transmitter (microphone). Wood engraving c1891.; Universal History Archive/UIG.

Edison carbon telephone. Wood engraving, London, 1879
530473 Edison carbon telephone. Wood engraving, London, 1879; Universal History Archive/UIG.

The National Telephone Office, Near the Victoria Embankment, c1900. Creator: A.E. Huitt
The National Telephone Office, Near the Victoria Embankment, London, c1900. Building on the corner of Temple Avenue, designed by Albert Nelson Bromley and built 1898-1902

Atterrissement du premier cable transatlantique en Amerique (engraving)
3655506 Atterrissement du premier cable transatlantique en Amerique (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Home telephone (chromolitho)
974508 Home telephone (chromolitho) by European School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Home telephone. Educational card, late 19th or early 20th century.); © Look and Learn

Philippe Reis Et Son Telephone Musical, A L Institution Garnier, De Friedrichsdorf (engraving)
2817647 Philippe Reis Et Son Telephone Musical, A L Institution Garnier, De Friedrichsdorf (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Global Communications, 1945 (screen print)
2630022 Global Communications, 1945 (screen print) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Telephone, telegraph, and television operators in front of a world map)

Telephone call warning of burglars (colour litho)
3094446 Telephone call warning of burglars (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Telephone call warning of burglars. Postcard, early 20th century)

Woman telephoning a hiring agency (colour litho)
3094445 Woman telephoning a hiring agency (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Woman telephoning a hiring agency. Postcard, early 20th century)

Telephone call announcing guests (colour litho)
3094442 Telephone call announcing guests (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Telephone call announcing guests. Postcard, early 20th century)

Facsimile of the telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922
XIR246434 Facsimile of the telephone invented by Alexander Graham Bell (1847-1922) made by the Western Electric Company by French School, (20th century); CNAM

Bureau Central Telephonique De La Rue Lafayette (engraving)
2817635 Bureau Central Telephonique De La Rue Lafayette (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bureau Central Telephonique De La Rue Lafayette)

L Opera A Domicile (engraving)
2817633 L Opera A Domicile (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: L Opera A Domicile)

Street Telephone Station in Chicago (engraving)
2791451 Street Telephone Station in Chicago (engraving) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Street Telephone Station in Chicago)

Women working in a Paris telephone exchange (colour litho)
2795828 Women working in a Paris telephone exchange (colour litho) by French School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Women working in a Paris telephone exchange)

Woman telephoning for a fire engine (colour litho)
3094447 Woman telephoning for a fire engine (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Woman telephoning for a fire engine)

Woman telephoning a doctor (colour litho)
3094441 Woman telephoning a doctor (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Woman telephoning a doctor. Postcard, early 20th century)

Traveller telephoning home (colour litho)
3094451 Traveller telephoning home (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Traveller telephoning home. Postcard, early 20th century)

Two women on the telephone (colour litho)
3094449 Two women on the telephone (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Two women on the telephone. Postcard, early 20th century)

Woman Dialing a Number on a Telephone, 1931 (screen print)
2630062 Woman Dialing a Number on a Telephone, 1931 (screen print) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; Photo eGraphicaArtis; American, out of copyright

Modern Telephone Equipment (b / w photo)
3624633 Modern Telephone Equipment (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Modern Telephone Equipment)

Telephone de Bell (engraving)
3655500 Telephone de Bell (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Telephone de Bell)

Bureau Central Telephonique De L Avenue De L Opera (engraving)
2817636 Bureau Central Telephonique De L Avenue De L Opera (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Bureau Central Telephonique De L Avenue De L Opera)

Repairing Overhead Wires (b / w photo)
3102075 Repairing Overhead Wires (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Repairing Overhead Wires)

Humorous Illustration of a 1950s Car Phone, 1956 (screen print)
2630051 Humorous Illustration of a 1950s Car Phone, 1956 (screen print) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; Photo eGraphicaArtis; American, out of copyright

Theatrophone, 1890 (colour litho)
874616 TheAtrophone, 1890 (colour litho) by Cheret, Jules (1836-1932); 124.46 x87.63 cm; San Diego Museum of Art, USA; (add.info.: The TheAtrophone service, starting in 1890 in Paris)

Telephone A Pression D Eau Variable, De M Elisha Gray (engraving)
2817643 Telephone A Pression D Eau Variable, De M Elisha Gray (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Telephone A Pression D Eau Variable, De M Elisha Gray)

Le Telegraphe A Ficelle, Ou La Joie Des Enfants, La Tranquillite Des Parents (engraving)
2817641 Le Telegraphe A Ficelle, Ou La Joie Des Enfants, La Tranquillite Des Parents (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Le Telegraphe A Ficelle)

Installation Generale Du Bureau Central Telephonique De L Avenue De L Opera (engraving)
2817638 Installation Generale Du Bureau Central Telephonique De L Avenue De L Opera (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Salle Des Rosaces Du Bureau Central De L Avenue De L Opera (engraving)
2817637 Salle Des Rosaces Du Bureau Central De L Avenue De L Opera (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

Wireless at Harrods (litho)
583465 Wireless at Harrods (litho) by English School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Wireless at Harrods, advert from the Illustratred London News, 17 June 1922)

Guglielmo Marconi (b / w photo)
3091455 Guglielmo Marconi (b/w photo) by English Photographer, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Guglielmo Marconi)

Man in evening dress making a phone call (colour litho)
3094460 Man in evening dress making a phone call (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Man in evening dress making a phone call)

Socialising by telephone call (colour litho)
3094444 Socialising by telephone call (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; (add.info.: Socialising by telephone call. Postcard, early 20th century)

Radio Waves, Picture Signals and Radar Communications, 1948 (colour litho)
2630068 Radio Waves, Picture Signals and Radar Communications, 1948 (colour litho) by American School, (20th century); Private Collection; Photo eGraphicaArtis; American, out of copyright

Salle Des Auditions Telephoniques Au Palais De L Industrie (engraving)
2817634 Salle Des Auditions Telephoniques Au Palais De L Industrie (engraving) by French School, (19th century); Private Collection; (add.info)

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"Revolutionizing Communication: The Evolution of Telephony" From the early fire brigade street alarm to transatlantic communications, it has come a long way. In 1876, Alexander G. Bell, the Scottish-US inventor, introduced the world to the first telephone – a groundbreaking invention that would change society forever. Imagine telephoning from London to New York in seconds. This remarkable feat became possible with advancements in transatlantic communications. It connected people across continents and bridged distances like never before. Historical artwork depicting an early telephone reminds us of how far we've come since then. Alexander Graham Bell's genius and determination paved the way for this incredible device that continues to shape our lives today. Not only did Bell contribute significantly to telephony, but other notable figures also played crucial roles. John Ambrose Fleming made significant contributions by inventing vacuum tubes that improved telephone technology further. As time went on, telephony expanded its reach beyond individual households. An advert promoting the Post Office Telephone Service in 1932 showcased how this innovation was becoming more accessible and widespread. The impact cannot be overstated; it revolutionized communication as we knew it. From engraving capturing the moment when the first transatlantic cable landed in America to chromolitho images of home telephones, these visuals remind us of its profound influence on society. Even during times of crisis like World War I, telephone operators at organizations like YWCA played vital roles in connecting individuals and providing essential services. Today, thanks to pioneers like Alexander Graham Bell and countless others who built upon his work, we enjoy seamless communication through modern telecommunications systems. Telephony has transformed our lives by enabling instant connections across vast distances – a testament to human ingenuity and progress.