Omar Khalid
The evolution of telephone design in the 20th century saw the gradual shift from metal and wooden telephones to plastic ones. The first plastic telephones emerged in the early 20th century, with Bell's model 102 telephone featuring a single moulded plastic handle. In 1914, Western Electric began testing the production of telephone handsets in Bakelite, a type of plastic. By the 1930s, Bakelite telephones became widely distributed worldwide, setting the standard for modern plastic telephones. The use of Bakelite in telephones continued to evolve, with improvements in colour accuracy and the development of new plastic compounds. After World War II, the telephone networks expanded rapidly, leading to the introduction of new plastic families like Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene (ABS) in the 1960s, which offered enhanced scratch resistance and colour stability.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year plastic phones were introduced | 1931 |
| Company that introduced plastic phones | Ericsson |
| Type of plastic used | Bakelite |
| Country of origin | Sweden |
| Previous materials used for phones | Wood and metal |
| Reason for switch to plastic | Bakelite could be moulded into any shape, was comfortable to hold, and was easy to keep clean |
| Drawback of Bakelite | Black was the only possible colour due to technical reasons |
| Year of redesign of Bakelite phone | 1947 |
| Year production of thermoplastic Bakelite phone cases ceased | 1973 |
| Type of plastic introduced in the 1960s | ABS family of plastics (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene) |
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What You'll Learn
Bakelite telephones were introduced in 1931
The Bakelite telephone was introduced in 1931 by Ericsson. This was a Swedish-Norwegian collaboration, developed and designed in Oslo by Elektrisk Bureau A/S, which was bought by Ericsson in 1928. The designer Johan Christian Bjerknes and artist Jean Heiberg were chosen to create the new telephone.
The Bakelite telephone was a revolution in telephone design. It was the first telephone to be completely formed in Bakelite, with the cradle integrated into the casing. This new, soft material was perfect for telephones at the time as it could be moulded into any shape. The process of creating the casing was also much quicker than previous methods, reducing production time from one week to around seven minutes. The material was also comfortable to hold, did not draw moisture, and was easy to keep clean. The only drawback was the colour—black was the only option for technical reasons.
The new Ericsson telephone set the standard for how a modern plastic telephone should look. It was first distributed worldwide in the 1930s and was called the Swedish type of telephone. It replaced the old sheet metal telephones and their built-on metal finger dial. The simple, stylistically pure form was popular with functionalist designers and was a common feature in the homes of the Swedish Welfare State.
In 1947, the Bakelite telephone was redesigned using more plastic and an American design. The metal finger dial was replaced with an impact-resistant thermoplastic version, and the outer ring of the dial was also made of Bakelite. The new model had smoother contours and improved transmission characteristics, with a newly designed microphone and earpiece.
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Cellulose Nitrate was used in mouthpieces and protection plates
Cellulose nitrate, also known as nitrocellulose, is a highly flammable compound formed by exposing cellulose to nitric acid and sulphuric acid. It has a wide variety of applications, including in the production of lacquers and coatings, explosives, celluloid, and medicine. In medicine, it was used for wound dressings and X-ray photography. However, due to its flammability, it has been associated with tragic fires, including one in 1929 at the Cleveland Clinic in Ohio, which resulted in numerous fatalities. As a result, the use of cellulose nitrate in medical settings declined, and it was eventually replaced by safer alternatives for motion-picture films.
Cellulose nitrate was also used in the production of early plastic telephones, specifically in mouthpieces and protection plates. The Ericsson Bakelite telephone, introduced worldwide in the 1930s, was a pioneering example of this. The telephone was a Swedish-Norwegian collaboration, designed by Johan Christian Bjerknes and artist Jean Heiberg. It featured a simple, stylistically pure form that was comfortable to hold and easy to keep clean. The use of Bakelite, a type of plastic, allowed for a streamlined shape and homogeneous colouring. Ericsson's telephone set a new standard for modern plastic telephones, replacing the old sheet metal telephones.
The Bell's model 102 telephone, introduced in the early 20th century, also utilised plastic in its design. It featured a single moulded plastic handle that united a carbon granule transmitter and an electromagnetic receiver. This design differed from earlier telephones, such as the candlestick telephone of the 1890s, which used wood, nickel-plated brass, and various metals for construction.
While cellulose nitrate has been utilised in the production of plastic telephones, its extreme flammability has also posed challenges and safety concerns, particularly in the storage and handling of nitrate film and motion picture film. To ensure safe use, it is crucial to follow fire safety guidelines and precautions when working with cellulose nitrate.
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The British Post Office used plastic in 1938
The British Post Office, known as the General Post Office (GPO), was the state postal system and telecommunications carrier of the United Kingdom until 1969. It was established in England in the 17th century, with King Charles I issuing a proclamation in 1635 for the settling of the Letter-Office of England and Scotland.
In the early 20th century, Bell's model 102 telephone was introduced, featuring a carbon granule transmitter and electromagnetic receiver united in a single moulded plastic handle. However, the widespread use of plastic telephones can be traced back to the 1930s with the introduction of the Bakelite telephone by Ericsson.
In 1931, Ericsson distributed the Bakelite telephone worldwide, setting the standard for the modern plastic telephone. By 1936, the British General Post Office system accepted the Bakelite telephone as its standard, marking a significant step towards the adoption of plastic in telephone design. This decision by the British Post Office to utilise plastic in 1938 was influenced by the advantages that Bakelite offered.
Bakelite, a type of plastic, was praised for its simple and stylistically pure form, making it popular among functionalistic designers. It could be moulded into various shapes, including the soft streamline shapes preferred at the time. Bakelite was also comfortable to hold, moisture-resistant, and easy to clean, making it ideal for telephone receivers.
The success of the Bakelite telephone in the British market contributed to the shift towards plastic in telephone design, moving away from the traditional metal telephones. This evolution in telephone materials and design continued, with improvements and innovations shaping the industry over the following decades.
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After World War II, telephone networks expanded
The use of plastic in telephone design dates back to the early 20th century. The US company Automatic Electric created a Bakelite telephone as early as 1925, where everything but the metal cradle was made of plastic. However, it was the Ericsson Bakelite telephone, first distributed worldwide in the 1930s, that set the standard for modern plastic telephones. This phone was a Swedish-Norwegian collaboration, designed in Oslo by Elektrisk Bureau A/S, a subsidiary of Ericsson. The Ericsson telephone was completely formed in Bakelite, with the cradle integrated into the casing. The material was praised for its simple and stylistically pure form, and it became a favourite among functionalistic designers.
As the war escalated, the demand for communication equipment and improved communication quality and quantity increased exponentially, surpassing the industry's immediate capabilities. This led to a vital need for more manufacturing plants and unprecedented research and development in the communications-electronics field. The early German blitzkrieg, with its tank and armoured formations, highlighted the importance of reliable radio communication.
After World War II, the 30 millionth phone was connected in the United States by 1948, and by the 1960s, there were over 80 million phone hookups in the country. This expansion continued, and by 1980, there were more than 175 million telephone subscriber lines in the US. The telephone had become an indispensable tool in the United States within 50 years of its invention.
The post-World War II era also witnessed advancements in telephone design. In 1947, the Bakelite telephone was redesigned using more plastic and American design. The metal finger dial was replaced with impact-resistant thermoplastic. This redesign influenced the Bell Group's new 300-model, which began replacing the standing candle holder telephones in the US in 1937.
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In the 1960s, the ABS family of plastics was introduced
The use of plastic in telephones was introduced in the early 20th century, with Bell's model 102 telephone featuring a carbon granule transmitter and electromagnetic receiver united in a single moulded plastic handle. In 1925, the US company Automatic Electric produced a telephone made entirely of plastic, barring the metal cradle. However, it was the Bakelite telephone, first distributed worldwide by Ericsson in the 1930s, that set the standard for modern plastic telephones.
ABS was first patented in 1948 and commercially introduced in 1954 by the Borg-Warner Corporation. In the 1950s, the variability of ABS copolymers and their ease of processing led to their popularity, particularly in engineering applications. The introduction of rubber (butadiene) as a third monomer enhanced the toughness of styrene, making ABS ideal for a wide range of applications.
ABS is known for its high-quality surface finish and is widely used in manufacturing due to its ability to be injection-moulded and extruded. It is commonly used in products such as pipes, computer keyboard keycaps, and musical instruments like recorders, oboes, and clarinets. ABS is also used in 3D printing due to its strength, stability, and affordability.
The electrical properties of ABS plastics are fairly constant over a wide range of frequencies and are relatively unaffected by temperature and atmospheric humidity within acceptable operating ranges. However, ABS is susceptible to degradation from sunlight and UV light exposure, which can cause yellowing and brittleness.
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Frequently asked questions
The earliest use of plastic in telephones can be traced back to 1914 when Western Electric started testing the production of telephone handsets in Bakelite. However, the phone bodies were still made of metal. In the 1930s, Ericsson's Bakelite telephone, made entirely of plastic, was distributed worldwide, setting the standard for modern plastic telephones.
The first plastic telephones were made of Bakelite, a type of thermosetting resin.
Bakelite was chosen for its efficiency and low cost. It could be moulded into any desired shape and had properties such as good electrical insulation, comfort to hold, and ease of cleaning.
In the 1960s, the introduction of the ABS family of plastics (Acrylonitrile Butadiene Styrene), also known as Acrylics, offered improved hardness, colour depth, and electrical properties. This type of plastic was scratch-resistant and more resistant to cleaning chemicals.
