Very popular in the United States of America and Britain. This design of telephone remained in common use in the U.K from about 1900 until the 1950's. The first British version, the No.2, had no dial. The example I have (see picture) is a model 150, fitted with a number 8 pattern dial. There would have been a dummy plate fitted in place of the dial for use in manual exchange areas. Post Office instruments, like this one, were all black. The National Telephone Company (pre GPO) had nickle plated versions.