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What the heck is this? -> EE-8 WW-II field phone

Started by wrangler64, June 06, 2013, 10:46:43 PM

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wrangler64

Saw this phone listed on a farm sale bill. Only description is says is "battery operated phone" and then this picture. I wondered if it was some type of military field phone. Keep in mind this was listed in Canada. Or perhaps it is Fred Flintstone's cell phone. Is it rare, valuable and what would be a decent price? I know it doesn't show much and is pretty crude.

twocvbloke

Looks like a military field telephone to me, haven't a clue of the value though.... :)


TelePlay

#2
Old military EE-8 WW-II field phone. Seems to have a handset different from original, but, maybe not.

Here are a few eBay listings.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/121084891766

and

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151058354197

and a leather case (not canvas) one like the one you posted that sold recently

http://www.ebay.com/itm/190826710676

Phonesrfun

Yes, it is a field phone.  Probably not a tremendous value, but there are collectors who like these.
-Bill G

wrangler64

That's kind of what I thought it was. I was all excited when I saw the sale bill and it said antique battery operated phone. I thought I may find a nice wooden phone and usually at a farm sale they don't sell too high. I looked the auction up online and it had the picture I posted. I guess if a person was into those kinds of phones it would be exciting but looks like the restoration would be over my head. Thanks guys for identifying the phone.

TelePlay

As an FYI, I was looking for something else and ran across this EE-8 that sold for $125. It has the same handset as the one you first posted.

http://deadwoodantiques.com/store/page17.html

dsk

The US Field telephone EE-8 are probably the telephone who has served for the longest continuous period in the history.

The leather case was used the first years (wwii) and later replaced by canvas. Canvas worked better in tropical climates. The last one had nylon bags.

By this reason they are made in huge numbers, by different maker, and with some variations within complete compatibility of replacements and repair.

I'm impressed of this design, and the only field telephone of comparable quality may be the German FF33.

Both the FF33 and EE-8 has been model for later copies used in other countries, but none of thees beats the original. (by my opinion)

dsk

G-Man

The venerable EE-8 Army field telephone served our nation's military well but it's manufacture was approximately from just before the start of WWII until the Korean Conflict when the TA-312 was introduced.

While the EE-8 continued to see service until it was gradually replaced, the manufacture and deployment of the TA-312 continues but its use will also fade as the military continues to supersede wireline communications with wireless technology.

Even the WWI Model 1917 field telephone had a manufacturing life of around 22-years before it was discontinued.

So while the EE-8 had a manufacturing life of around 14-years, the TA-312 is going on 60-plus.

Of course many of these field telephones were given or sold as surplus to other allied militaries and continued in service for a number of more years.

rdelius

Some EE-8 sets were refurbished in the Viet-Nam years with nylon cases with reinforced boxed in place for the handset.Dont forget the TA-1? sound powered set  1955 until? last ones were plastic