Western Electric AA1 3/28/44

[Doug Rose]

Couple of weeks ago Jan found 3 really filthy 302s, but they did have cloth handset cords so I told her to get them. $25 for three! I picked it up today and thought, man is this light. Empty inside AA1. AA1 for those who do not know were used to replace Candlesticks but still keep the subset or magneto that they were connected.

They has to be someplace like a garage because they were covered with a thick heavy grime. It took me three hours to get one cleaned and underneath the just shines. The bakelite handsets look like they are NOS after you get the sh*T off.

This is a war phone which WE didn't make many, shell is date 3 28 44, the really tight fitting shell like the color sets. Base is date 6 44, receiver is dated 3 10 43 and the transmitter is dated 1 44.

Western Electric handset, not a Bell System. Seems heavier than usual, its the early solid handset.

Coolest thing is all have the same dial card Fire 582 Disp 207.  Must have been used in a Fire Station is my guess. Line cords were cut, but conversation is loud and clear. All three handsets are amazing, you can see the shine through the grime....Doug

[Pourme]

I didn't know these existed, but it makes sense that they would produce such a set. Good find and the excellent condition is a big bonus!...Jan comes through again!

Benny

[Doug Rose]

it gets even better. When I was cleaning it in the Dungeon, I thought I saw a reddish color to it. I stuck it in the phone room and it is maroon. Sitting in full sun, not optimum for a picture but WOW!!! Check out the difference of the dial blank and the handset.


I had one a few years ago, but this seems more maroon or brown...Doug


http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=10277.msg109142#msg109142

[Pourme]

Wow...How cool is that?

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Pretty cool find, Doug! I have an AB1 that was converted to an AA1 by the independent that owned it.

I think this was Western Electric doing experiments with thermoplastic 302s to find the best possible black Thermoplastic. The Maroon and Indigo variants seem to be the more common types found.

[Doug Rose]

If you have it in normal light, it looks black with a little reddish hue. Totally different in sunlight. I will sit on this for a while....thanks...Doug

[Babybearjs]

Mine came with a 317 Subset....

[oldguy]

I'm like Benny, never heard of AA1s either. Great find & thank for explaining what they are.

[Doug Rose]

Gary/Benny.....thanks,,,,Doug

[RB]

Cool find!
So they are just the hand set, and the hook switch inside, right?
with a 3 wire connect cable?

[Doug Rose]

Correct, but the line cord is a 4 wire to connect to the subset. This one I could save the line cord...Doug

Below is the second one....all black  really nice shape dated 5/44 throughout. These are a chore to clean...but really nice under all the grime....Doug

[Doug Rose]

I broke my own rules, never mess with a great phone in perfect condition. I did mess with a great phone. The case is maroon and the plungers match. How many WE 302s have you seen in this color??

It was an AA1 with a black dial blank and a black F1. Great dial card. Unless you have something black on it, the case looks black.

I put on an Ivory 6D and and Ivory F1. Now it looks like a maroon case, but still photographs as back  .  I have not ruined anything and can put it back. I am trying this on for size...to see if it fits   

Comments are welcome....Doug

[Dennis Markham]

Very nice, Doug.

[Greg G.]

Comments are welcome....Doug

So if they were used in a firehouse, why would they need to put their own number on the dial card?  Or do the firehouses call each other if there's a fire in the firehouse?

[oldguy]

Always remember Phones R Fun