Antique wall-mounted telephone switchboard, 40 cm, 1900, solid wood
Trop tard… cette pièce est vendue.
This Antique wall-mounted telephone switchboard is a solid wood switchboard measuring approximately 40 cm, fitted with a panel of nickel-plated metal sockets arranged in two rows, five call flaps and a central indicator light. The small celluloid plates engraved with ‘Réseau’, ‘Jack d’écoute’ and ‘Levier de garde’ identify each function, whilst the metal plate reading ‘Société des Téléphones, Picart Lebas system, patented by S.G.D.G., Paris, 45 rue Richer’ attests to its origin. It comes with its original Bakelite and metal handset, connected by a braided textile cord.
The switchboard is complete and in impeccable condition, with the wood’s original patina perfectly preserved: the warm-toned mahogany veneer has retained its depth and the nickel-plated parts are intact. The manufacturer’s markings remain legible. Such a complete vintage switchboard, complete with its handset and original identification plates, is a rare find on the market for antique telephones.
This Antique wall-mounted telephone switchboard is ideal for collectors of vintage telephones, enthusiasts of vintage bric-a-brac and French antiques, as well as interior designers seeking an unusual wall piece for an office, a library, a bar or an industrial-style interior. Its clean lines and exposed mechanics make it a true decorative piece.
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160 €
Trop tard… cette pièce est vendue.
Trop tard… cette pièce est vendue.
- FREE DELIVERY in 78, Paris, and 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95.
- Return within 14 days
In the early 20th century, telephony developed rapidly in France, first in government offices, businesses and large hotels, which equipped themselves with switchboards connecting multiple handsets to one another and to the outside network. These manual switching exchanges, where an operator established connections by plugging jacks into sockets, were at the heart of office organisation and small private networks of the time.
Specialist companies such as the Société des Téléphones, which marketed the patented Picart Lebas system, supplied this equipment to professional clients from their Paris workshops on the rue Richer. With the arrival of automatic and private branch exchange systems, these manual switchboards gradually disappeared from businesses — but their aesthetic, combining fine wood, nickel-plated metals and engraved plates, makes them today highly sought-after collector’s pieces among enthusiasts of early telephony.
Antique wall-mounted telephone switchboard, vintage telephone switchboard manufactured in France by the Société des Téléphones, Picart Lebas system, Paris. Complete with period handset, in immaculate condition, with the wood’s original patina.
Origin: FranceMaterials: Wood, metal
Year: 1900–1940
Condition: Original patina
Free collection from the Coignières showroom
FREE DELIVERY IN METROPOLITAN FRANCE
Hauteur: 25 cm / 9.8 in
Largeur: 40 cm / 15.7 in
Profondeur : 15 cm / 5.9 in
Poids: 4 kg / 8.8 lbs
Shipping fees are automatically calculated on the cart page as soon as you enter your delivery address.
We offer free delivery in France for all items — including combined orders, if you are located in Yvelines (78), in Paris, or in the departments 91, 92, 93, 94 and 95.
For all other destinations within mainland France, your order can be delivered securely via Cocolis.
Upon receiving your order, you have 14 calendar days to return your item or report any issue.
Some selected products also benefit from free shipping within mainland France.
For full details, please visit our Shipping & Returns page.
You may also choose free collection from our showroom in Coignières.
