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Interesting Mottled brown intercom by the London Reliance Co.

Started by unbeldi, April 24, 2016, 09:32:47 AM

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unbeldi

Listed from AU was this rather unique looking intercom instrument.
It was made by the Reliance Telephone Company of London.
I have a 1920s office machine compendium with classified listings
in which the company shows up.

It has no age listed, but it could well be from the 1930s, IMHO, but may be later.
It appears to be a Bakelite material, so my first guess is late 1930s.
However, the number card company label looks much much younger in style.
Any better clues?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/182096162964

It sold for US$173 + US$34 s/h.

Doug Rose

I have a very similar one on eBay today. Cheaper too!....Doug


http://www.ebay.com/itm/301939064933   ( link not active until after the listing starts later today )
Kidphone

paul-f

These show up on ebay fairly regularly -- usually marked Chad Valley. There were several color variations.
Visit: paul-f.com         WE  500  Design_Line

.

TelePlay

What's the purpose of the horizontal hole in the middle of the handset?

paul-f

Quote from: TelePlay on April 24, 2016, 10:48:52 AM
What's the purpose of the horizontal hole in the middle of the handset?

It seems to have a bolt that holds the two halves of the handset together.
Visit: paul-f.com         WE  500  Design_Line

.

19and41

I love that grained bakelite.  They used to make ashtrays and bowls with such patterns.  It could make ordinary things look so nice.
"Any sufficiently advanced technology is indistinguishable from magic."
— Arthur C. Clarke

unbeldi

Quote from: paul-f on April 24, 2016, 10:44:46 AM
These show up on ebay fairly regularly -- usually marked Chad Valley. There were several color variations.

The box of the Chad Valley version states that the unit was made FOR the Chad Valley company, so it appears it was made by someone else.

Is Reliant the original manufacturer?

TelePlay

Quote from: paul-f on April 24, 2016, 10:55:38 AM

It seems to have a bolt that holds the two halves of the handset together.

Thanks, Paul.

And now I see another screw type closure on the transmitter end, on the fin, in some of the photos. Was this a two point handset latch or was the fin bolt added after the fact?

paul-f

Quote from: unbeldi on April 24, 2016, 12:14:40 PM
The box of the Chad Valley version states that the unit was made FOR the Chad Valley company, so it appears it was made by someone else.

Is Reliant the original manufacturer?

I believe the box says:

"Made exclusively for the Chad Valley Co. Ltd., Harborne, England by the General Electric Co, Ltd."
Visit: paul-f.com         WE  500  Design_Line

.

Jack Ryan

Reliance was a supplier (not a manufacturer) of PAX and intercom systems. It was part of GEC.

Jack