Two-Tone Colored WECo 500 Telephones

[Doug Rose]

On the two tones, I had a two tone brown 500 set that I sold awhile back. I do not see it on any of these lists. Was it not really a two tone. Went for a good chuck of change....Doug

[poplar1]

... snip ...   I think I've seen one Oxford Gray mentioned here before, possibly. ... snip ...

This one perhaps ...?

If I am reading this right, the gray 500 shown above is not a 2-tone, but rather a "full color" gray 500 manufactured before gray number plates were available; this is why it has a black dial but the housing, handset and cords are gray.

A 2-tone set is all black except for the housing. The handset, cords and dial are all black.

Is this correct?

[paul-f]

Yes.  For more background, including a BSP extract showing the full color sets with black dials, please read the May 2009 issue of Singing Wires.  TCI members can find it in the Members' Area on the club site.

It is also offered as a "free sample" to all at this address.

   http://www.telephonecollectors.org/JournalsSamples/samples.htm

Note that the Issue and Bonus pages (with additional background) are separate downloads.

[Spanish_phones]

I wanted to see the effect of a two-tone 500 at home, and this is the result:

The first, really awesome!
The second, really awful!

As I have achieved, almost everone could have a two-tone 500, you only need to buy a black dial 500 and a color case, it's really cool for me!

[G-Man]

The number card with the 702 area code and Centel logo on the second telephone shows that it was used in an area near Las Vegas.

I have several instruments with Centel number cards that were used at the Atomic Energy Commission's atomic test site in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about 65 miles from Las Vegas.

[Spanish_phones]

The number card with the 702 area code and Centel logo on the second telephone shows that it was used in an area near Las Vegas.

I have several instruments with Centel number cards that were used at the Atomic Energy Commission's atomic test site in southeastern Nye County, Nevada, about 65 miles from Las Vegas.

Thank you for the info! I have no idea about area codes in USA, I only noticed Centel cards were only a few, it's not usual to see Centel dial cards.

[Contempra]

Nice 2 tones for those who like that ...

[TelePlay]

The number card with the 702 area code and Centel logo on the second telephone shows that it was used in an area near Las Vegas.

G-Man, do you know anything about why it's only a three digit phone number (121)?

[Spanish_phones]

Nice 2 tones for those who like that ...

Mines aren't two tone 500s, they're only black one and red the other, and I changed the cases just for the effect and making the photo

[poplar1]

The number card with the 702 area code and Centel logo on the second telephone shows that it was used in an area near Las Vegas.

G-Man, do you know anything about why it's only a three digit phone number (121)?

Most likely it was used on a PBX--in a hotel or a business-- and 121 was its assigned number. You could dial a 3-digit number to reach another extension, 9 for an outside line, or 0 to reach the receptionist/switchboard attendant.

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Ya know what? I kinda like the two-tones, and I think I'll make one. If I have an extra early soft WE black parts phone lying around, and an early WE colored shell, I could make a really beautiful, interesting phone, and I would be using parts from my parts shelf (like WE did to make those phones in the first place).

[andre_janew]

What about black and sea foam green?  How do these phones look to you?

[paul-f]

Blurred.

The colors aren't bad.  They would liven up a display shelf of largely black phones.

[Doug Rose]

Looks like someone made a couple of two tone sets from a green and a black. Dates?.....Doug

[JimH]

IMO, worth much more switched back correctly.  I've seen the green sets go for quite a bit.

Jim