Black Bakelite Kellogg Rotary Masterphone 1100 - Redbar Telephone
The Kellogg 1100 series (specifically models like the
1100BA and
1100HC1) is
a classic piece of mid-century Americana known to collectors as the "Redbar" Masterphone. Manufactured by the
Kellogg Switchboard & Supply Company between
1947 and 1953, this sleek,
Art Deco style wall telephone features a beautiful molded black Bakelite casing.
Key Historical & Design Features
- The "Redbar" Plunger: The phone gets its famous nickname from the bright crimson hook switch actuator bar located at the top. Pushing down on the red bar operates the internal hook switch mechanism.
- Modular Interior: Inside, Kellogg abandoned traditional tangled nests of wires. Instead, they utilized a revolutionary, one-piece molded interconnecting block. This made it the first Kellogg phone with interchangeable parts between dial and non-dial configurations.
- Bakelite Aesthetics: The thick, heavy black Bakelite housing has smooth contours and a distinctly puffy, rounded appearance that defined late 1940s industrial design.
- Wall Mount Configuration: While the standard 1000 series was built as a desk telephone, the 1100 sub-series designates the wall-mounted variants.
Very Good Condition