RWT telephone model CB-49/B-A

Grzegorz Makarewicz 'gsmok' (January 8, 2018)
(updated 14/07/2025)

CB-49/B-A telephone manufactured by RWT

The abbreviation RWT stands for Radomska Wytwórnia Telekomunikacyjna (Radom Telecommunication Plant). The company has a long history, having been founded on December 20, 1938. Swedish capital played a significant role in its establishment. It's no surprise that the company's original name was Polska Elektryczna Spółka Akcyjna Erikson. On February 11, 1948, the company was nationalized. Besides, there wasn't much that could be nationalized, as the retreating German army dismantled the machinery and carried away much of the equipment. Some of it was found in various parts of Europe. The factory was reactivated. Below, you can see several photographs of the first, and indeed very successful, post-war telephone made in Poland.

The phone, with various modifications, was produced for twenty years. Interestingly, it originally weighed around 3kg and was reduced by over 1kg in subsequent versions. The phone's casing was made of black Bakelite. A very small number of phones were also produced in green and red. The one shown in the gallery below, as you can see, is black. I couldn't find the phone in any other color, which is a shame.

Additional materials: https://www.mit.krakow.pl/zbior/mim-920-viii-39-2/

Grzegorz Makarewicz "gsmok"