Bell System Double-Sided Keychain Charm
$4.99
Sale price
$4.99
Regular price
Carry a small piece of telephone history wherever the day takes you. This Bell System keychain charm recalls the communications enterprise known as Ma Bell, from the first exchange opened in New Haven in 1877 through its nationwide network of operating companies, long-distance service, Western Electric, and Bell Labs. A thoughtful everyday accessory for collectors who remember the wired era and the 1984 Baby Bell breakup.
The Bell System was a North American telecommunications enterprise formed in 1877 around the Bell Telephone Company. That year, the American Bell Telephone Company opened the first telephone exchange in New Haven, Connecticut, and local exchange companies soon appeared in major U.S. cities. Alexander Graham Bell received a U.S. telephone patent on March 7, 1876. In 1899, American Telephone & Telegraph acquired American Bell's assets and became the system's parent company, overseeing a network that included local operating companies, AT&T Long Lines, Western Electric, and Bell Labs. Known colloquially as Ma Bell, the system used the Bell trademark from 1921 to 1969. A 1913 agreement with the federal government shaped its operations, while a 1956 consent decree imposed further limits. A Justice Department suit filed in 1974 ended in a 1982 settlement. On January 1, 1984, AT&T separated its local companies into seven Regional Bell Operating Companies, the Baby Bells, ending the Bell System as a unified enterprise.
Product features
- Acrylic construction with white base and double-sided print
- Compact size ~3.15" x 1.57" (8 x 4 cm); measurements may vary up to 1"
- Includes metal ring and short chain for secure attachment
- Durable, lightweight—made for everyday carry
- Manufactured product sourced from China; intended for adult use
Care instructions
- Clean with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid any chemicals.
EU representative: HONSON VENTURES LIMITED, gpsr@honsonventures.com, 3, Gnaftis House flat 102, Limassol, Mesa Geitonia, 4003, CY
Product information: Generic brand, 2 year warranty in EU and Northern Ireland as per Directive 1999/44/EC
Warnings, Hazard: For adults, Blank product sourced from the China
Care instructions: Clean with a soft, damp cloth. Avoid any chemicals.