ERICOFON

This amazing telephone device was originally designed in 1941 but due to lack of plastic materials its production did not proceed. During the Second World War, the production and development of new flexible plastic materials began. So Ericsson in the early 1950s returned to improving Ericofon’s design. Now there is the new ABS plastic material and it is now easy to produce this model. In 1954 Ericofon goes into production. In 1956, its export begins, with Australia and several European countries as the first country. In 1961, after tough negotiations with Bell North America, the production line is transferred to the North Electric plant. Bell had a monopoly on telephony in America and feared that it would lose part of the domestic market by the entry of telephone equipment companies outside the United States. So he introduced Ericofon in the form of rental to its subscribers. In America it was produced in eighteen different colors, with eight remaining on the production line as the most popular. All over the world it must exceed thirty shades. Somewhat late in 1978 it was introduced in the UK under the code Ericofon 600 and a little later the Model 700, an improved version with a keyboard placed instead of a selection disc, more square lines. It was the last attempt to keep Ericofon alive. It is no coincidence that it is recognized by the Museum of Modern Art as one of the best industrial designs of the 20th century. In Greece it was presented in several colors but had a limited demand for it and we observe it quite rarely. All over the world it must exceed thirty shades.