[Boatanchors] Ancient Transformers: Telephone? Telegraph?

[David Stinson]

 While cleaning and sorting "The Cave," I found
these in a box full of mixed early "Wireless,"
telephone and telegraph stuff.  They look like
coils, but are in fact transformers on wooden
forms.  I haven't tested them for exact winding
ratio, but they are not 1:1.  The centers of the
cylinders are hollow and are filled with, in one
case, rectangular iron plates and, in the other,
iron rods, which function as the "laminations" of
the transformer core.  Does anyone have an idea
about these?  Photo links below.  Thanks.

https://photos.app.goo.gl/VpCeuFGVflCgClBg2
https://photos.app.goo.gl/df7W2AUjQsJIFFxB3

73 OM DE Dave AB5S