I picked this up a couple weeks ago, and it just arrived. Needs a good cleaning, and I'll post more pictures after it's polished up. I had never seen one of these in person before so I was surprised at how large the phone is. From the pictures, I was expecting something along the size of a B1 or a candlestick phone. Overall I'm very please with it - plugged it in and it worked!
These are interesting sets. The handset is about as close to the WE Type-A handset as many of us will get to see in person. The handsets were made in Europe and turn up on several different phone models.
http://www.paul-f.com/weHandsets.html#A (http://www.paul-f.com/weHandsets.html#A)
You're right - they are identical. Mine is stamped Property of L'etat on the inside of the handle, but I would imagine that WE either produced the handset for that company, or granted them the license to produce it themselves. thanks for pointing that out - I would never have put the two and two together.
Quote from: wds on January 05, 2013, 02:19:21 PMMine is stamped Property of L'etat on the inside of the handle
I'm guessing that's "State Property" after loose translation from French, only a guess mind as I was thinking back to hearing "Etats Unis" in school, which is United States... :D
Here's some pictures of the polished phone. I can't get over how nice the paint is. Phone looks like it must have been in storage for most of it's life. Property of the "State"? I'd like to see the "State" try to get the phone back from me!
More pictures. Dial card is printed on both side.
Dave,
Welcome to the PTT24 club. I am jealous now because yours looks better than mine which was repainted by someone and it missing one of the metal tags. This is, without doubt, the oddest looking phone that I own. I posted about mine here: link (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7063.0).
Larry
Ive always dreamed of having one of those...
Wow - did anyone watch this auction? $484 + shipping, newer handset, and I'm not sure what's going on with the dial mount. Suddenly I feel like I got a bargain on mine.
http://tinyurl.com/a4ran72
Quote from: wds on January 13, 2013, 03:33:22 PM
Wow - did anyone watch this auction? $484 + shipping, newer handset, and I'm not sure what's going on with the dial mount. Suddenly I feel like I got a bargain on mine.
http://tinyurl.com/a4ran72
Someone overpaid something awful on that. The dial looks like an AE type. I don't know what type of handset it has. I paid $50+shipping for mine, so I feel good.
Larry
Quote from: wds on January 13, 2013, 03:33:22 PM
Wow - did anyone watch this auction? $484 + shipping, newer handset, and I'm not sure what's going on with the dial mount. Suddenly I feel like I got a bargain on mine.
http://tinyurl.com/a4ran72
Yes, definitely over paid!
They are rather common, at least over here.