My Dad's 40 Years with Illinois Bell and his "Collection"

[Phonesrfun]

These were often used in hotel rooms, and as such have even earned the nickname of a hotel phone.  Also offices and factories as intercoms.  Perhaps a hotel room number, although the large vermillion number does not look very elegant.

[DavePEI]

Hi Maureen:

You have an incredible collection there. We may yet see you becoming a collector with some great pieces!

Dave

[MagicMo]

Hi Maureen:

You have an incredible collection there. We may yet see you becoming a collector with some great pieces!

Dave

Funny you say that. I am beginning to think this stuff is cool. The more I learn about it the more I like it. I'm going to take it slow, I'm only in the "dating" stage right now. Not ready for a commitment just yet! LOL
Maureen

[MagicMo]

Can anyone tell me about this phone? For some reason it has become my favorite. I cannot find anything about 402A?
Thanks, Maureen

[AE_Collector]

Somone might know exactly what a 402A is but basically it is a Western Electric 302 desk phone....AKA the "Lucy Phone". The two buttons on front are an "aftermarket" addition which likely detracts from its value. I think you have more than one like that though. If so find a good one, polish it up and it would be an ideal keepsake to remember your dad by. Not much says Bell System or Western Electric as loudly as a 302 phone (IMHO).

Terry

[Phonesrfun]

It looks from the bottom to have some different looking brass screws.  That and the two push buttons are curious.  Wonder what it looks like inside?

[poplar1]

402 has an exclusion key that is operated by pulling up one of the plungers. When you hang up the phone it automatically restores the excluded extension(s).

[Greg G.]

Can anyone tell me about this phone? For some reason it has become my favorite. I cannot find anything about 402A?
Thanks, Maureen

That's the first time I've seen one of those.  I can only tell you it was made in May 1950 (5-50).

[MagicMo]

Somone might know exactly what a 402A is but basically it is a Western Electric 302 desk phone....AKA the "Lucy Phone". The two buttons on front are an "aftermarket" addition which likely detracts from its value. I think you have more than one like that though. If so find a good one, polish it up and it would be an ideal keepsake to remember your dad by. Not much says Bell System or Western Electric as loudly as a 302 phone (IMHO).

Terry

Now that I took a closer look.. could it be a 40 2A? Whatever that is? There is a space bet the 0 and the 2.

[AE_Collector]

No that must just be a quirk of the stamp that does the numbers. 402 is what it is. As Poplar1 says, 'll bet that each of the cradle plungers look a bit different. One can be grasped and plled up a bit higher as an "Exclusion" feature. This allowed the boss to operate it when on a call and it disconnected the connection to the secretaries phone which the secreatary had to be able to place and answer calls for the boss. By Excluding the secretaries phone, private calls could not be listened in on.

Terry

[GusHerb]

I'd go insane if I ever ran into a goldmine like this! All this stuff is so awesome! I see alot of things in the photo's I've been needing/wanting. I see the OP is in the Chicagoland area too!

[Bill]

The two buttons on front are an "aftermarket" addition which likely detracts from its value.

Agreed. The consumer electronics stores have switches like this for about a buck. For instance, take a look at Radio Shack item number 275-1548. It would be interesting to know how these were wired in to the phone, and figure out their purpose.

Bill

[MagicMo]

Hello Again,
I posted pics of this one before. You cannot see from the picture but it is in beautiful shape, possibly never even used. The small piece that goes on the front dial was never used, I opened the envelope it came in. It is just very dusty. Does the yellow dot and writing on the backside have any meaning?
Thanks,
Maureen

[MagicMo]

My husband said "Lil" on the back was prob the name of the person who inspected it. True?

[Dennis Markham]

I have seen some penciled initials and/or a name on the bottom of the 500's in the past.  I don't recall ever seeing anything in color like Lil wrote.  There is another making on the bottom of yours that may be a refurbish date...it's difficult to read but looks like it was in '55?  Looks like 7R11-55.  I believe the R indicates a repair or refurbish date.  It could be November of 1955 or II (the 2nd quarter of 55).