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| There are a lot of images on
these pages, please be patient when downloading. |
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I invite you to click on the small
picture to see a larger version.
These photographs are not to scale
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Western Electric B1 Old Brass Desk Phone |
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Western Electric B3 - Unusual Transmitter |
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c. 1928 - 8-party line B3. Although there is a Statuary Bronze B3 depicted in the next presentation, I am posting this model as a result of it sporting a transmitter I have never encountered before. Both transmitter and receiver elements are dated 228 (2nd quarter of 1928) therefore could have been used on an A1 or B model. (I have others marked 428 having the standard bullet type transmitter.) The appearance of the handset is the normal early style, other than the transmitter element with an odd face and back. I have no knowledge of the why or how of its existence, so I am hoping someone out there can enlighten me. |
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Western Electric B1 & B3 Statuary Bronze Desk
Phones |
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c. 1929-1930 - Pair of Statuary
Bronze B mount's. The one with a dial blank is a B1 and the
one with the dial is a B3. It is very difficult to get
lighting and photos to show their true colors. The B3 set is
mint. The B"3" designated an 8 party line model. |
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Western Electric B1 Colored Desk Phones |
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c. 1929-1930 -
Left: Original "Oxidized Silver" finish -
Right: Original "gray" finish for use in central
office applications. |
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Western Electric D1 / D6 202 Desk Phones |
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c. 1930-1939 - Left: All
parts dated early 1930-first year of production for this
model. Body made of aluminum. Equipped with an early #4 dial
stamped 4/30, has a #4 porcelain dial face having same
qualities of the 132 face, but notched prior to firing to
accommodate the updated fingerstop mounted inside the dial
rather than on the outside. Interesting enough this dial is
not a converted #2 dial. Considering it is thought the
production of the #4 dials started early 1931, this is
unusual. Right: D6 Party
Line. Body made of zinc alloy. All parts dated last of 1937
including the celluloid 149E dial face. This marks the very
end of production for the celluloid dial face and the first
year of production for the new 302 model desk phone which
will replace the D mount. |
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Left: Rear view of D6 with
markings.
Right: Earlier 6 conductor cord. |
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Western Electric D1 Colored Desk Phones |
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various colored models of the D1 mounts were available in
oxidized silver, statuary bronze, antique gold, etc. Those
colored D1s that have survived are almost always found with
E handsets. Starting in the 1950s, Western reintroduced
colored D1 handset mountings to continue public interest for
these earlier "dated" models. These new colored
"Continentals" sets, all equipped with F handsets, were
available in the same colors as the plastic 302 colored
sets. The
accompanying subsets were usually painted the same color as
the telephone.
Clockwise from the center top: Gray Green, Ivory, Oxidized
Silver, Pekin Red, Gold, Rose Pink(?) |
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Western Electric C1 Hang-Up Handset |
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c. 1930's - The "Hang-Up" handset,
otherwise known as the "Space Saver" or "Bar Set" was
produced as a compact alternative to the 202 desk phone.
This C set utilized the E1 handset. The dial was equipped
with a "52C" adapter to allow for mounting. There were two
later models of this phone.
This model is in outstanding
condition with a 149B celluloid dial face. Both the inside
of the phone body as well as the dial are dated IV 36. All
other parts are dated early 1937. |
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Western Electric E5 208 Key Set |
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c. 1936 - Considered to be the
rarest of the cradle sets. All parts dated last of 1935 and
first of 1936. 149B celluloid dial face. |
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Western Electric Subset or Ringer Box |
| c. 1902-1937+ - Below are samples of Western Electric
subsets or ringer boxes. All telephones prior to the 302
model (which was introduced in 1937) required additional
apparatus is order to function. With the development of the
common battery era came subscriber sets/subsets/ringer boxes
having no magneto. They were attached to the telephone via
cord and mounted under a desk or on the lower wall in close
proximity to the phone. They contained the bells, coil,
condenser, wiring terminal block with terminals and
sometimes a vacuum tube. Displayed here are the 4 most
common style WE subsets from approximately 1902 to 1940's. |
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In order, they are (A-far left) Model 295
made of wood. (B) Model 334 of metal. (C) Model 534 of
metal. (D-far right) Model 684 of bakelite. |
| The 295 would have been used with a model 22
candlestick, and the 684 used with the 202 D1 desk phones.
All models had numerous variations for different types of
service applications. The 3rd type box represents many
different models of the 500 and 600 series produced over
many years, which all used the same exterior case. |
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Western Electric 302 Desk Phone |
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c. 1937 - Second Model, First
Production Model of the 302. All parts dated 1937. Short
ears and buttons, vented, riveted feet. First used in and
made for 302's, this early #5 dial has attributes of earlier
#4 dial. Also has a 149B celluloid dial face.
Note: Both E1 and F1 handset dated 1937. F1 handset has
no casting grooves. |
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Western Electric 302 Desk Phone |
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c. 1941 - All dated December 1941. Has both Bell Systems and
MFP Military markings-rare configuration. I have never seen
both markings on the same phone. Could it have been reissued
for military use after Pearl Harbor due to urgent military
demand? Never was placed into service. Dial blank included,
but I installed a #2 dial factory converted to an early #4
dial and again updated in 5-41. |
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Western Electric 304AC Desk Phone |
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c. 1951 - All Dated 1951 - Has #5H
dial with 150E porcelain party line dial face. Note that steel gongs and
heavy cord indicate phone was produced during WW2 and placed
into service post war. |
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Pair of Western Electric 202 Imperials |
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c. 1952 - All Original -
Left: Silver finish with Ivory painted F1 handset.
Right: Gold Finish with Ivory colored plastic handset. The Silver finished
Imperial (left) was kept in the prop department at Desilu
Studios although never placed into any service. |
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