| I have been immersed in the Restoration of a rare, Circa 1895, Brodie Electrical Company, Manchester, New Hampshire Compact 2-Box (Transmitter mounted to Door of Top Box) Magneto wall Telephone. Whats so rare about a Compact 2-Box? Only it’s unique “Patent Avoidance Manual Receiver Hook”. Now, all phones with mechanisms, to avoid Bell’s Automatic Receiver Hook Patent and it’s Royalty costs, are always fascinating to me, this one is particularly so, based on it’s rudimentary simplicity. I am looking for any help in chasing down whether or not there was ever a Patent applied for, or issued for this particular mechanism. The Principal of Brodie Electrical Company was Joseph Brodie Smith, a brilliant Technician and political force in many businesses in Manchester NH. He had at least 3 Patents relative to Telephones (US521274 for a Complex Receiver Switch, US521325 Telephone Transmitter, and US526952 Magneto Call Bell). I have attached 2 Photos: A front View and the other a rear view. Basically a Receiver with a large I-Hook on top hung freely on the Notched mechanism and a Caller would pull the Receiver upward to the left, thereby engaging the Line and Battery so that talking or Signalling could take place. To “hang up” one took the Receiver and inserted it back into the Notch and pulled down and to the Right, thereby disengaging the Line and Battery. Very primitive, but it is what it is. Any help in finding a patent on this Switch would be greatly appreciated.
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