Late 1890 WE Wall Magneto Phone

[Doug Rose]

Patent dates on the side. This is really cool. Jan found it this morning....Doug

[Alex G. Bell]

Not exactly a wall phone or it would have transmitter holes on the front.  Rather it is the top box for a 2 or 3 box wall phone.  Looks like it might be a No. 21.

[TelePlay]

Not exactly a wall phone or it would have transmitter holes on the front.  Rather it is the top box for a 2 or 3 box wall phone.  Looks like it might be a No. 21.

Were you guessing right by looking at it components or did you catch the faint "TYPE 21" stamped into the back?

[HarrySmith]

You would have to have eyesight much better than mine to pick that out in your original picture!

[Alex G. Bell]

Were you guessing right by looking at it components or did you catch the faint "TYPE 21" stamped into the back?

Neither.  Remembering with slight uncertainty about the accuracy of the recollection (to be exact)  

I've owned one since the mid-1970s.  Mine is mostly complete and still has good, probably original finish.  I think the only missing parts might be the receiver & hook but perhaps the hook's there. 

I also own a VG early example of the 293 set with patent dates impressed on the side.  That's a single box CB set, about the same size, (slightly smaller and shallower), so called "hotel phone".

[Doug Rose]

thanks Guys....I do appreciate it...Doug

[Sargeguy]

Interesting.  I have a stack of these in the basement, and the TYPE 21 is usually on the side above the patent dates.  Putting such markings on the back was a later innovation, and I can't recall seeing it done on a TYPE 21.  In fact here is a picture of one with the same dates and the TYPE 21 stamp above them. 



I would have thought that the switch had been made after the TYPE 21 was obsolete but I guess not.  The date range based upon the patent dates is 1901-1902 so I'd put this box nearer to 1902.  Those binding posts are the later type.  I think this could be the latest TYPE 21 box I've seen.