Bell System Metal Sign
Give a wall, office, workshop, or collection space a direct link to telephone history. This Bell System metal sign celebrates the recognizable corporate world of Ma Bell, regional operating companies, long-distance service, Western Electric, and Bell Labs. It suits collectors drawn to utility-brand design and the story of a network that began with the 1877 New Haven exchange before its unified era ended in 1984.
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.
| 7" x 5" (Horizontal) | |
| Width, in | 7.00 |
| Height, in | 5.00 |
| Depth, in | 0.12 |
Product features
- 100% white aluminum composite — strong, rigid, and lightweight
- Matte full-color print on one side for crisp, non-reflective finish
- Eleven sizes available; horizontal, vertical, and square orientations
- Includes one mounting block, metal plate, and double-sided tape; customer assembly required
- Indoor use only — durable for interior displays
Care instructions
- Use non-abrasive, non-ammonium based products for cleaning. Dish soap with warm water is only recommended for spot cleaning.
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
Care instructions: Use non-abrasive, non-ammonium based products for cleaning. Dish soap with warm water is only recommended for spot cleaning.