Telephone No. 45

This phone was known as the Phonopore. They were originally built by the New Phonopore Company of Britain, then by the Radio, Phonopore and Electricals Company, and after the First World War by Sterling Telephone and Electrical. They were used across railway morse telegraph lines. The electricals were designed in such a way as to not interfere with the Morse pulses. Bells could not be used for signalling, as they would cause interference, so a Collier-Marr receiver was used as a "howler". Its distinctive shape and outside magnet are typical of the early Phonopores.

The Phonopore was used as a temporary arrangement until the trunk telephone network evolved to take its place. Typically, the Australian Post Office leased space on the Railways telegraph lines to run a Phonopore circuit to the local Post Offices.

Eventually the Phonopore telephone only remained in use on the Railways lines. Finally these, too, were replaced with the more convenient telephone system. The last one was supposedly taken out of service in New South Wales the 1950s. The illustration at left shows an early Type A from the New Phonopore Company. There were minor variations in the case shape after Sterling bought the company. Many were rebuilt in the Railways workshops or had other parts substituted as they wore out, but original Phonopores were fitted with Kellogg transmitter and receivers.

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