Colorado Telephone Company

Colorado - 1910

This Colorado Telephone Company certificate features a Magneto Wall Telephone Set, built by Western Electric in the early 1880's.

Telephone service began in Denver in February, 1879 with the switchboard being located at 1514 Larimer Street and was one of the first handful of such exchanges in the world.   Phone service was organized by a partnership of three Denver businessmen;  F. O. Vaille, E. O. Wolcott, and Henry R. Wolcott.

The Colorado Telephone Company was organized in 1881 and initially capitalized at $200,000.

By 1882 the company had approximately 1200 subscribers in Denver, Boulder, Central City, Georgetown, Golden, Colorado Springs, and Pueblo.    In 1888, the company purchased the Leadville exchange, owned by the Leadville Telephone Company and originally build by H.A.W. Tabor.    After numerous recapitalizations, the company finally increased its capitalization to $10,000,000 in 1904.  On August 1, 1911 the Colorado Telephone Company merged into the Mountain States Telephone and Telegraph Company, along with the Rocky Mountain Bell Telephone Company and Tri-State Telephone & Telegraph Company.

This certificate represents the first recapitalization of the company where stock was issued to American Bell Telephone Company to pay for a new licensing contract.  The contract was obtained in November, 1883 and American Bell Telephone became owner of one-half interest in the property, business and profits of the Colorado Telephone Company.

Certificate issued March 28th, 1910.

Rarity: R2