Bidspirit auction | An Antique French Modèle 1911

An Antique French Modèle 1911 Magneto Wall Telephone by Société Le Matériel Téléphonique, Paris - A French Modèle 1911 magneto wall telephone manufactured by Société Le Matériel Téléphonique (LMT) in Paris. The unit is housed in a rectangular reddish-brown polished wood cabinet featuring dovetail joint construction. A metal hand crank for the magneto generator is mounted on the right side. The top of the cabinet bears an original brass identification plate stamped with the following text: « PROPRIÉTÉ DE L'ÉTAT », MARCHE DU 6 OCTOBRE 1914, APPLIQUE MURALE POUR COMBINÉ AVEC APPEL MAGNÉTIQUE, MODELE 1911 NO 1489, and STÉ LE MATÉRIEL TÉLÉPHONIQUE CONSTR PARIS. This indicates the telephone was produced under a French state contract dated 6 October 1914. The apparatus includes a combined handset with chrome-finished metal ends and a black textured grip, as well as a separate secondary receiver earpiece suspended from a metal hook on the front face. The components are connected via a combination of braided fabric-covered and rubber-insulated wiring.