Magneto wall telephone – ringing

About the sound

The sound: Using the handle on the right, crank the magneto which produces an electrical current to power the ringer and simultaneously triggers the ringing of other phones along the same line (each telephone has a different ringing sequence and sound). The telephones were used to communicate train arrivals, delays, the passing of trains at stations etc.

F.A.T.M. magneto wall telephone, manufactured by Brevetti Ericsson in Rome in the early 20th century, was probably used at one of the train stations in the vicinity of Trieste (Italy). In 1986 the Trieste Railway Museum donated the telephone to the Railway Museum of Slovenske železnice, the national railway operator.


Sound level: 76,1 dB

Sound recordist: Boštjan Troha
Photographer: Neža Renko
Video recordist: Barbara Grilc