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Westerly Automatic Telephone Co. printer's block

Started by Sargeguy, January 12, 2016, 06:56:58 PM

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Sargeguy

I collect items from my local telcos, which for RI means Providence Telephone Co., New England Telephone & Telegraph, Southern Massachusetts Telephone, and Westerly Automatic Telephone Co.  When this came up for auction as a Buy-it-Now for less than $10 it was a no-brainer.  The Westerly Automatic Telephone Co. was originally founded as an independent telco with 50 Strowger phones in 1902.  It  eventually became part of the Bell System.  This 1908 logo block was used on paper goods at least until the 1940s.
Greg Sargeant
Providence, RI
TCI /ATCA #4409

Sargeguy

#1
Here is an example of the logo on an old phone bill:



Note that this design is slightly different from the one on the block.  Can anyone spot the difference?
Greg Sargeant
Providence, RI
TCI /ATCA #4409

Babybearjs

Interesting history.... for a moment, I thought it was a fake.....
John

luns

Quote from: Sargeguy on January 12, 2016, 07:00:04 PM
Note that this design is slightly different from the one on the block.  Can anyone spot the difference?

I see two differences.

Obvious: The block has a dot between the M of BELL SYSTEM and the Y in COMPANY.
Subtle: The thin white line defining the bottom rim of the bell, goes straight across on the bill, but the block has a break in it just under the P.


WEBellSystemChristian

Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

Sargeguy

Found another version, this one is much larger:
Greg Sargeant
Providence, RI
TCI /ATCA #4409