The invention of the telephone, has been controversially attributed to Alexander Graham Bell in the 1870's. Bell demonstrated his early telephone to Queen Victoria in 1877. Initially the telephone was seen as a business tool. It was not until the 1900's that the telephone was even considered as a private possession, and even then it took several decades before they became a common household phenomenon. Only the wealthiest of households would have owned a telephone like this, more likely it would have been seen in offices or business premises.
 
It has a tin plate body and bakelite handpiece with winder to the side. You would wind the phone to call the operator who would then put you through to the person you  were trying to call.
 
The telephone is not in working order and cannot be used to make calls.
 
Dimensions: 21cm wide x 14cm deep x 28cm high