telephone

Object number:

H96.53.2

Object name:

telephone

Date made:

1955-1956

Material / Technique:

metal | plastic | electronic

Dimensions:

H: 3.25 in, W: 4.25 in

Credit line:

Gift of Benedict Ku

Physical description:

Telestat: An automatic dialing machine that remembers up to 30 telephone numbers up to 11 digits. Dial by pushing one button.

Content description:

Made in Japan and imported by the Telefinder Coporation of Concord, CA. 822 B Challenge Drive/ Concord, CA. Telefinder Corporation was founded by Benedict Ku in Concord, California in 1955 and the business lasted until 1956. Benedict was an importer and the Telestat was an automatic phone dialing machine he imported from Japan. He was successful in selling the machine to Merrrill-Lynch and the Sonoma Public Schools but A.T.&T. did not like the competition and told him he could not connect his machine to their telephones. Unable to fight such a large corporation Mr. Ku went out of business. The machine comes with two attached cords, one bunch of extra wiring and in its orginal box. Also included is a copy of the product literature that accompanied the machine.

Cultural affinity:

Asian American

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