Antique Italian Field Telegraph, Circa 1920's

Antique portable telegraph in great condition with all its original component parts and pieces. This telegraph dates a little after World War I and was made in Italy by Officine Pio Pion, a cinema projector factory that produced telegraphic equipment for the Italian army. Mechanically the telegraph works fine, yet the electrical wiring has not been tested. The equipment includes the printer, the winding key and an ink loading, and is both a fascinating a historic piece. The complex mechanism is attached to a solid wooden base, probably mahogany, that can be closed in order to become a compact transportable case. Inside the case shows off a beautiful dark reddish color preserves the original satin finish. The telegraph stands on the base plank: it is a rectangular metal body with two paper reels on top. The mechanism is composed of many delicate metal gears and components, all of them greatly preserving and in working order. The telegraph includes adjustment pliers and an ink container. Attached to the top plank we can see a metal plate with the embossed manufacturing companys name, OFFICINE PIO PION MILANO. The inscription is also engraved in the telegraphs metal body. For its role in one of the great contents of the 20th century, this antique war telegraph deserves to shine in a museum or a complete collection of historic antiques. Measurements: Width: 23.6 in / 60 cm. Height: 15.3 in / 30 cm.Officine Pio Pion History Pio Pion was born in Varese, Italy in 1887. He was an entrepreneur who founded one of the first factories that produced industrial cinema machines and equipment in the country. His father, Pierre Pion, died at a premature age; Pio had to emigrate abroad where he could work and maintain his family. In the early 20th century, Pion comes back to Italy and shows interest for the young cinema industry together with his friend Fumagally he decides to import the first industrial cinema equipment, made by the French Pathé Frères. In 1908 they found Fumagally, Pion & C, a company to manufacture cinema projectors. The company survives until Pion is called up during World War I. When the content ends, Pion founds the Officine Pio Pion by himself to make cinema projectors again. The new company sympathizes with the fascist regime: Pion builds equipment to project propaganda films in Italian villages. With the outbreak of World War II, the Officine Pio Pion starts manufacturing telegraphs and Morse equipment for the army of Mussolini. After the content, the company resumed its former activity. Pion died in 1965 at the age of 78.