M-1917 Field Telephone

The M1917 Field Phone was constructed with a wood body with blackened metal corner brackets to protect the field phone from damage, an improvement over the M1913 Field Phone. It was the main phone used by Americans during WWI as the M1917 Field Phone connected the infantry and artillery units through a maze of signal wire. Wireless communication did not see widespread use during the Great War as the technology was still in its infancy. Communication is vital to an army, but the M1917 had vulnerabilities as the exposed strung wires could easily be severed by artillery or snipped by the enemy. 

Function and Operation: The M1917 Field Phone was operated by a small set of dry cell batteries that would send small currents of electricity to the other operators field phone. The operator would turn the side handle to send a small current of electricity down the cable line. When the current arrived to the other users field phone a buzzer would be activated and two small bells would ring letting the user know someone was trying to reach them. In some cases where loud noises or noise and light discipline were used the operator had a small telegraph device they could use Morse code on to deliver a message or orders. The field phone has two metal post next to the telegraph device that a cable line would be strung and screwed down by a nut on to it. One cable for receiving call and another to send calls. The downfall to this was if the line was cut or severed the user could no longer operate his field phone.