USGI EE8 Field Phone

US Army EE-8 Telephone

The EE-8 is the US Army field telephone that linked command posts, gun positions and observation posts over a pair of wires strung across the ground. This example is genuine issue in its olive drab canvas carry case, with the black handset, internal terminal block and side-mounted ringing crank all in place. Collectors of US signals equipment, WWII and Korean War reenactors, and anyone building out a period command post display will recognize it on sight.

Features

• Genuine US Army Issue — This is original government signals equipment, not a later commercial copy.
• Stenciled Case Markings — The front of the case carries "A.B.L." and "TELEPHONE EE-8-B" stenciling in black.
• Canvas Carry Case — Heavy olive drab woven canvas with stitched seams and a top flap closed by a turn-button fastener.
• Adjustable Shoulder Strap — A cotton web strap with a metal slide buckle lets the set ride across the body on the move.
• Black Handset — A one-piece handset with earpiece and mouthpiece connects to the set by a coiled black cord.
• Magneto Ringing Crank — The hand crank on the side of the case drives a small generator, sending a ring signal down the line to the phone at the other end.
• Labeled Line Terminals — Screw binding posts marked "T & BAT+", "C" and "REC." are where the field wire and internal leads are clamped down.
• Battery Talk Circuit — The voice circuit runs on internal dry cells, and the panel is printed "Remove Batteries When Not In Use" as issued.

Original Signal Corps Kit

The EE-8 was built as a self-contained unit: the handset, ringing generator and talk circuit all live inside the one canvas case, so a soldier could sling it, run wire to the next phone and be on the line. The black terminal panel sits just under the flap for quick wire hookups, and the crank is reached through a cutout in the side of the case. Owning an issued set gives you the correct markings, materials and layout that a period display or reenactment kit depends on.