Original Item: Only One Available. This is an original German WWII Feldfernsprecher 33 field telephone, commonly abbreviated FF 33, manufactured by Lumophon-Werke Brückner und Stark of Nürnberg and dated 1939. Introduced in 1933, the FF 33 became the standard general purpose field telephone used by the German military during WWII, replacing earlier designs such as the Feldfernsprecher 26. It could also be connected to Torn. Fu. D2, Torn. Fu. Bl, and F series radio sets for use as a remote handset.

This early WWII example is marked on the metal handset cradle:

27773
BSN
1939

The triangular BSN maker logo identifies Lumophon-Werke Brückner und Stark of Nürnberg. The handset also bears a Waffenamt inspection marking. The telephone retains its removable generator crank, an important component that is frequently missing from surviving examples.

The set is housed in its original two piece Bakelite case, which is hinged and secured by a spring loaded latch. The case remains free of cracks and chips, although it shows heavy overall wear from age and service. The carrying strap is missing. The handset is in rough condition, with the wire breaking out at the end and areas of fraying to the fabric covering.

The interior retains its principal telephone components and a traditional wartime style handset. A printed electrical circuit schematic is fitted inside the lid for reference during operation and maintenance. Styrofoam has been placed inside the case to help hold some of the internal parts together. We have no way to test the telephone, but based on the condition of the interior, it should be considered nonfunctional.

Two white information panels are located on the top of the case. The left panel was intended for temporary information such as call signs or station numbers, while the right panel displays the German phonetic alphabet. A hinged dust cover on the front protects two common connection jacks used for linking telephones or connecting the unit to an exchange line. The grille on the front allows the internal ringer to be heard, while an access plate on the right side protects the generator crank fitting.

Inside the case are the battery compartment, storage area for the patch cable and handset cord, handset connection, line terminals, generator test button, and headphone connections. The terminals are marked Lb/E and La, with La serving as the line connection and Lb/E as the ground or alternate earth connection. The white Prüftaste button could be used to test the generator and local ringer while operating the crank. The generator produced approximately 84 volts AC as ringing current.

A complete FF 33 originally included the press to talk handset, switchboard patch cable, generator crank, shoulder strap, 1.5 volt battery, and internal telephone framework. Optional accessories included headphones, or Kopfhörer, and a throat microphone, or Kehlkopf, particularly when the telephone was used by switchboard operators. The telephone measures approximately 28 x 21 x 10 cm and weighs approximately 5.84 kg.

The FF 33 was used extensively by the German Army throughout WWII and continued in service in various forms for approximately another 25 years during the Cold War era. With its desirable 1939 date, clearly visible BSN maker marking, Waffenamt inspected handset, original generator crank, and heavily worn service appearance, this is an honest early example of one of the most recognizable German military communications devices of WWII.