WOW!

[BDM]

http://tinyurl.com/bpkj4t ( dead link 06-22-21 )

[Bill Cahill]

Wow!! And, complete with a doorbell button, and, an on-off toggle switch!
Who's gonna beat me to this rare gem? 
Bill Cahill

[Steve]

I know nothing about wall phones, but this seems odd to me? looks cool on the outside, but just how much jerry rigging has been done to this? the "conductive" hinges are freaking me out!

[BDM]

Conductive hinges were the norm then. Now, is this original?? Not sure, in fact I haven't a clue except many of the pieces look proper for the vintage. This phone may be no joke. The boys on the TCI list server would sure know.

[Steve]

Any idea what the doorbell button would be used for?

[BDM]

Any idea what the doorbell button would be used for?

Uhm......................................None! You gents may very well be correct on that gadget! Possibly later added as a signaler or something to that effect?

[HobieSport]

I have weirder things under my bed but that is certainly a strange one.

[Bill Cahill]

In my humble opinion, this is a frankenphone.
Home made.
Look at the modern toggle switch.
That gear mechanism housing looks plastic to me.
Nothing is adding up.
Bill Cahill 

[BDM]

Well, hold your pony's. We're going to find out.

[HobieSport]

Drum Roll......

[Sargeguy]

Here are a couple of other examples:

http://home.alltel.net/dt44829/wall.html

http://www.telephonearchive.com/phones/wood/strowger-wall.html

http://www.bobsoldphones.net/Pages/Automatic%20Electric/Automatic%20Electric%20Telephones.htm

[BDM]

Well, according to the TCI gents, it's legit, though it has the wrong receiver. That is a W.E., not an AE piece. Of course that buzzer button is wrong also. But other than that, it appears to be correct.

Ahh, correction. The button is correct according to Roger Conklin. It was used to ring the called phone, since ringing wasn't automatic with the early dial systems. Once you knew the connection was made, you hit the button.

NOTE: Further update. Apparently there was a button on the front, that can be seen in the links Sarge provided. Many broke or went missing, and the usually replacement was the door bell button you now see. Not original, but not unusual either.

[BDM]

Here are a couple of other examples:

http://home.alltel.net/dt44829/wall.html

http://www.telephonearchive.com/phones/wood/strowger-wall.html

http://www.bobsoldphones.net/Pages/Automatic%20Electric/Automatic%20Electric%20Telephones.htm

Great links Sarge, thanks.

[Bill Cahill]

Well, I'll be  ........
Bill Cahill

[BDM]

That's a completely legit set. And whomever bought it, got a fairly good deal according to the gents in the TCI list server. Rock on brothers.................................