1936-1937 302s

[poplar1]

Early 302s might have E1E or F1A handsets; and either 4H-, 5H-type dials or 82-A apparatus blanks. Small plungers and short "ears" were used on 1936 and most 1937 sets.


This table shows the parts used on unmodified sets as found.

Base      Dial/      Number     Handset      Grooved/    Rec.       Xmtr.       Handset           Mtg          Mpc.         Rec               Ind.
pan       blank      Plate                       Not grooved                                  Cord             Cord                         Cap               Coil


E1E and 4H: (Est. IV 36 -- I 37)

IV 36      4H        149B            E1E             Not        I 36           ?              x                  x                                                   *
             III 36
Feet not original -- Sold for $560 (Ebay 2015-01-25 item number: 251798720172) 
www.ebay.com/itm/251798720172
                                                                                                           H3C              D4S
I 37      82A-3       N/A           E1E            Not           I 37        1/37          '37              I 37            137                                *
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=13433.0
Sold for $437 (Ebay 2015-01-18)
====================================================================

E1E  or F1A (ungrooved) , 4H or 5H:

3-37 4H                              F1A                   Not
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=10046.msg106999#msg106999

5-37    82-A      N/A          E1E               ?                                     
                                      5-37

6-37     4H               F1 6 08 37          Ungrooved
                      (149B II 37; dial date unknown)

6-37    5H         149B         F1A              Not
          II 37                                                                                                                                                               II 37
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=10968.0
Sold for $499.99--new old stock (except hs cord) with box

7-37           5H            149B         F1A                  Not
p2016-04-10
http://www.ebay.com/itm/182078924998 $292

9-37      2>4       132             F1A           Not       8-13-37     9/37     II 37                x                              9 03 37           III 37
                                           9?-?-37     
Sold for $152.50 (Ebay 2015-01-19)
http://www.ebay.com/itm/151549117049
====================================================================================================
Field Trial Sets with Grooved F1A handsets:


7-37      82-A      N/A           F1A             Yes         7-14-37   6/37        H3C                 x                                                  II 37
                                      6-12-37                                                     II 37
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11011.msg117827#msg117827
Bell Labs Trial Set -- Sold for $150 at January, 2014 Maitland show

7-37            4H (III 37)                 F1                  grooved
Field Trial Set #8121

====================================================================================================

Standard: Grooved F1A handset, 5HB dial, large plungers:

11-37      5H                          F1A              Yes
     http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=10046.msg106999#msg106999



--------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Features:                               Set Date (Baseplate)      Specific part date found:     Date range for this part in all applications:
Small plungers                       IV 36 - 11-37
      "H-1" on back                   IV 36 
      "H1-3" on back                  5-37
       "H1" on back                    7-37 - 11-37

Riveted Feet                            I 37 - IV 37
Screwed Feet                        10-37

"Vents"                                 IV 36 - 10-37
Without vents                        10-37

F1A handset
     With ungrooved handle      3 08 37  9?-?-37  -      "11-16-37"
     With grooved handle           6 03 37
E1E handset

4H dial                                  IV 36                            "4H III 36"                                                                1930-1938
5H dial (phenol pulse pawl)     6-37                             "5H  II 37" -                                                           1936-1952

149-type number plate

Note: Ringers manufactured before 4-38 are not dated.
*Note: Induction coils are dated on top of coil starting in II 37 (?)
-------------------------------------------------------------------------------
To be added to above table:
9-37 ('')                                         82A   
          http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=10046.msg106999#msg106999


   

[Kenton K]

Yah got me, I bought the 302.

Are you planning to make a chart on the original variations in1937 302s? If so, I can add a manual 11-37 with 82-a apparatus blank.

Ken

[poplar1]

I'm mainly interested in documenting sets with original matching date handsets and dials. Apparently, the F1-type handsets with no groove are not often found on these sets, but for some reason a set with E1E handset sells for more $.

Of course, usually the sets that turn up have been through the repair shop several times, so they might have neoprene cords from the 50s, replaced ringers, 6A or 40s-50s 5H dials, and replaced handsets. Perhaps I should include these also?

[andre_janew]

Is it possible that some of those early 302s may have been converted to 5302s?  The reason why I am asking is because I have seen a 5302 with an E1 handset in another thread.  I believe the phone belongs to guitar1580.

[poplar1]

Here is the 5302 posted by  guitar1580:  In reply #43, Josh speculated that his E1 handset may have been added in the field.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=3852.msg52704#msg52704

Yes, 1937 302s could have been converted to 5302s; see reply #38 for Dave's 5302 converted from a 12-37 302. Although E1 handsets were still acceptable for short loops on residential installations in 1957, I haven't seen any reference in BSPs to E1s being used on 5302s. Rather, the ones converted in the Western Electric repair shops had F1-, GF-, G1- or F4-type handsets.

[HarrySmith]

At one time I found a chart identifying all the known minor differences in the 1937 302. I found it interesting and informative. I thought I had saved it but I cannot find it in my computer. I did a Google search and could not find it there either. Is anyone familiar with this chart? Does anyone have a copy of it? I would appreciate it if I could get one again.

[unbeldi]

At one time I found a chart identifying all the known minor differences in the 1937 302. I found it interesting and informative. I thought I had saved it but I cannot find it in my computer. I did a Google search and could not find it there either. Is anyone familiar with this chart? Does anyone have a copy of it? I would appreciate it if I could get one again.

http://vintagephone.com/HB302.htm

But, I think Poplar1's list of dated parts has all the same information, perhaps more accurate, more granular by month.  I haven't checked this table since I started one myself.

[HarrySmith]

That's the one. Thanks. I will check out Poplar1's also.

[andre_janew]

I've been watching a 1936 WE302 on eBay.  It started at something like $178 and is up to $449 now.  There are several hours left, so it could go higher.  I have no intention of buying it, but I am curious as to how high it will go.  Here's the link:

www.ebay.com/itm/251798720172

[unbeldi]

I've been watching a 1936 WE302 on eBay.  It started at something like $178 and is up to $449 now.  There are several hours left, so it could go higher.  I have no intention of buying it, but I am curious as to how high it will go.  Here's the link:

www.ebay.com/itm/251798720172

That's a real early version.  It's most likely a field trial set, perhaps from the 4000 or so sets that these trials had used.

[andre_janew]

It is actually advertised as a field trial set.  High karumba!  It is now up to $515.05 with a little more than two hours left as I am writing this!

[unbeldi]

This set is really in bad shape.  Particularly disappointing is that is has leather feet that SCREWED onto the base, whereas they should really be riveted.  The screws are also rather polished looking, clearly a later modification.

Looking at this again now...  I doubt it is a field trial set.  Perhaps too late. Not a single F-number, or whatever they used then.  I vaguely remember seeing a real field trial set that had numbers everywhere.

The manual set we had here last week or so, was only a month younger and in much better shape. This set should sell no higher, but people bidding don't look at details too often.

[andre_janew]

It ended up selling for $560 despite all you said was wrong with.  It is true that it is in rough shape.  It no doubt needs new cords.  If it isn't a test set, how do you explain the IV 36 on the base?

[unbeldi]

It ended up selling for $560 despite all you said was wrong with.  It is true that it is in rough shape.  It no doubt needs new cords.  If it isn't a test set, how do you explain the IV 36 on the base?

Western Electric started manufacturing new telephone models a few month before launch, because telephone companies would order them not one by one.  For the model 500, they took almost a year to get to production volume.  This  is the reason we find the component parts of 1950 sets often dated far apart. Much less info is available for the 300-series.  We already know, for example, that new F1 handsets were in short supply, in fact the handset was late by a about half a year.  That's why the first months of production sets have E1 handset. However, the F1 was apparently tested during field trials, but we don't know whether all field trials were conducted with them. The new HA1 receiver was designed for the 300-series, so it would make not much sense to test the sets without it, because WECo relied on customer feedback for final product adjustments.

The price paid on eBay is often more determined by the hype of the ad and who is bidding, then on the merits of the item.  For some reason, people believe the stuff that sellers write but unfortunately many or most of the time it's clear they (sellers) haven't have their homework, or fall victim to overrepresenting the importance of their belongings.

[HarrySmith]

Every field trial I have seen have an "F" number stamp.