This looks promising. The curly operator on the dial plate is awesome.If someone could please help me and post pictures . I will post the auction link. (I know if no pictures are posted the link becomes worthless after a while!)
http://tinyurl.com/abvlhab
This may be the missing link between Dan/Panther's 1948 prototype and some of the 1950's we have on this forum.
Here are a three of the pictures Dan. Looks like a good deal for an early 500! Congratulations!
Terry
Great find Dan!!!
This phone qualifies as a Find of the Month candidate for April! Nice find, Dan. I've been searching for one of those for years----since I missed the last one I saw on eBay with the curved OPERATOR. Congratulations! (Green with envy)! :)
Thanks folks. I have been WAY too busy at work and needed to cruise ebay for a phone fix. I was lucky to be at the right place at the right time. I hope under the hood it is original!
Dan:
We want to see under the hood pictures when it arrives home. Congratulations.
What a find! That beats my 12/50 by nine months. At some point during that period, the lettering on the bezel changed.
Larry
That looks like it may have a back painted dial.
Jim
512?! That phone came from Austin, Texas (or abouts)!
Great find there, Dan you lucky dog. Can't wait to see the pictures from under the shell - want to bet there might be some parts from 1949?
Congratulations, can't wait to see more pictures when it arrives!
Allright Dan!!! Right under everybody's nose. Great find....Doug
I will post photos when I get it. The seller said he would pack it the way I told him to (kindly) to avoid cracks, so the first hurdle has been jumped.
Sweet find! And for 30 bucks!
According to Ebay, it should be here tomorrow(monday)
Very interesting. My 12-1950 was closer with all it's dates, but this one did have a 1949 part. The dial sounds strange-like a little coffee grinder. (I will lube it).
1) Shell dated 11-24-1951. Probably was refurbed 62 years ago
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt253/dvortv/021.jpg) (http://s617.photobucket.com/user/dvortv/media/021.jpg.html)
2) Front of the dial, my first "curly" operator
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt253/dvortv/015.jpg) (http://s617.photobucket.com/user/dvortv/media/015.jpg.html)
3) Back of dial the earliest I have ever had or seen in person March 1950!
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt253/dvortv/014.jpg) (http://s617.photobucket.com/user/dvortv/media/014.jpg.html)
4) Early 2-1950 network
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt253/dvortv/017.jpg) (http://s617.photobucket.com/user/dvortv/media/017.jpg.html)
5L) Handset elements are all 1-1950
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt253/dvortv/020.jpg) (http://s617.photobucket.com/user/dvortv/media/020.jpg.html)
5R ) Look at the date of the G-1 Handset!!! 1949!
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt253/dvortv/019.jpg) (http://s617.photobucket.com/user/dvortv/media/019.jpg.html)
6L) guts shot inside...
(http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt253/dvortv/018.jpg) (http://s617.photobucket.com/user/dvortv/media/018.jpg.html)
Even had a rare original bonus card under the sticker
6R) (http://i617.photobucket.com/albums/tt253/dvortv/022.jpg) (http://s617.photobucket.com/user/dvortv/media/022.jpg.html)
It is dirty and I think a nice straight cord for the handset would make it more authentic! I am very happy with my purchase. :)
PS it works all the way, once I moved the slate wire off ground to L2
Cool, major nice score here. And a 49' handset to boot! Jealous!
What's the date on the handset cord?
Does anyone know when the dial bezel was changed from the curly "operator"?
You really got a great deal.
Handset cord had no date, probably a recent replacement. Based on my knowledge the curly operator started in 1949 after the Dan/P 1947-1948 Z operator prototype and was used till 3-1950 (my phones date). I have a 12-1950 with the small font operator . So the curly operator vanished between 3-50 and 12-50.
It is cool putting actual dates to this history we all know about. Anyone know of a curly operator plate dated after 3-1950?
My 12/50 500 also has the later style "Operator".
Larry
Dan:
Very nice snag. Be careful with the numbers wheel. Someone mentioned long time ago that you shouldn't wash with water because of water soluble coatings on the wheel. Perhaps other forum members can confirm or deny this. Seeing the components that belong to 1949 and 1950 puts your phone in an entire selected category of model 500 (maybe the most original parts?)
Congratulations! We should talk on our old phones one of these days. ;D
Very cool, Dan! I don't know what the dial bezel is made with but do remember someone referring to the early ones as "overlays". I know it's not sandwiched plastic like the later ones, so don't try sanding it. What Jorge says is good advice. Just be careful with it. Very cool that the handset is from '49.
The dial ring appers to be back painted. The yellow tinge is from the clear plastic yellowing.
Great score.
Jim
Congrats, Dan;) Love the '49 handset. Great score, mate.
Quote from: Dan on April 30, 2013, 09:34:58 AM
Based on my knowledge the curly operator started in 1949 after the Dan/P 1947-1948 Z operator prototype and was used till 3-1950 (my phones date). I have a 12-1950 with the small font operator . So the curly operator vanished between 3-50 and 12-50.
It is cool putting actual dates to this history we all know about. Anyone know of a curly operator plate dated after 3-1950?
From previous discussions, I recorded sightings from 10-49 to 6-50.
The back of the 10-49 dial is shown under Dan's dial here:
http://www.paul-f.com/we500_Early.html#Dial (http://www.paul-f.com/we500_Early.html#Dial)
The earliest reported sighting for next style (small letter straight OPERATOR) was 10-50.
That narrows the gap a bit.
There was also "Operator" in the traditional style w/ a slightly larger font. I have one of those plates on a 1958 F# clear 500.
I have also seen the font on early black sets.
Jim
The photo of my 500 is on the thread for the conference call w/ Dan/Panther's phone.
Dan,
Very cool to see. You really did score on that phone I am envious of collection :o
Thanks guys. You are all so kind.
It's funny how these very rare phones will pop up once and awhile on E-bay in the hands of sellers who don't realize what they are. They are the phone world equivalent of the Holy Grail, and would go for serious money if they were well presented.
I guess it's lucky for us the sellers don't do any homework and just think it's an old hunk of junk phone. ;)