Old Telephone–American Bell

Q: My 1910 telephone is in excellent shape. A label on it says, “Property of the American Bell Telephone Co.” What is the phone worth?

A: By 1910, telephones were being manufactured as both wall phones and upright “candlestick” phones—and you don’t tell us what yours looks like. Some antique phones sell for under $100 and some for thousands. American Bell Telephone Co. was formed in 1880 and acquired a controlling interest in Western Electric Co. in 1881. Western Electric then became the manufacturer of American Bell Telephone Co. phones. In 1899 American Bell was acquired by American Telephone & Telegraph Co. (AT&T), which had been an American Bell subsidiary. Telephones the age of yours sell for about $100 to $200, depending on style and condition.