Western Electric A1 with E1 Handset

[LarryInMichigan]

I have been looking for one of these for cheap for a while, and I finally found one for $85 plus $25 shipping.  The shipping charge was unreasonable, but I think that I got a deal on the phone.  The metal has quite a bit of corrosion in places, but the phone otherwise appears to have had little or no use.  The plunger shows very little wear, and the felt on the bottom looks almost new.  The cords are in excellent shape, except for the last 2 feet of so of the mounting cord.

The shaft is stamped "D76869" on the back.  Inside the base is a capacitor.  I do not know what its purpose is.  The E1 handset is in great condition and has a bullet type transmitter.  The receiver has a "229" date stamp.

Larry

[LarryInMichigan]

Here is a picture of the capacitor.

Larry

[mariepr]

At a total of $110 for an A1 delivered you got the bargain of the year.

However, what was it about the way it was packed and shipped that made $25 seem to be too much?  USPS for example charges $18.85 postage for a Large Flat Rate box.  If the seller used a different box to protect the cradle then it's no longer flat rate but based on A-B distance. 

[Alex G. Bell]

Inside the base is a capacitor.  I do not know what its purpose is. 
Larry

Read this current thread for a discussion of the capacitor.  I believe it's connected across the transmitter leads of the handset cord and serves the same purpose:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=18564.new#new

[LarryInMichigan]

The phone was packed in a small cardboard box with brown paper padding.  The seller paid the retail Priority Mail rate of $11.95.

I have to decide whether or not to add a dial.  I think that I have a spare #2 dial somewhere.


Larry

[Doug Rose]

Larry......is is a beauty! I am still looking for one for my collection. I would leave it as is, but that is just me. Is the handset an E1 or does it have a Dxxxxxx instead. Super find!!!.....Doug

[LarryInMichigan]

I would like to try to repaint the phone to make it look good.

The handset is an E-1.  I am posting a picture of the information on it.

Larry

[HarrySmith]

Congrats! Great find! I am jealous!

[Tim Mc]

Ditto!  Congrats!  I'm with Doug and would leave it as-is, but it would still be awesome if restored.

[poplar1]

The handset is an E-1.  I am posting a picture of the information on it.

Is it an E1A or E1B?

The E1A does not have a 129-type capacitor on the back of the transmitter. Some E1As are marked "D80370" on the handle, but they are otherwise equivalent.

The E1B handset has a 129-type capacitor inside.

[LarryInMichigan]

The transmitter has a 129A capacitor on it.

Larry

[Jim Stettler]

Haed to find and cheap. Looks like a find of the month to me.
JMO,
Jim S.

[Vern P]

Congrats on your find !!  Like I say "you have to kiss a lot of frogs, to find that prince".
Vern
PS: I know,  evade I have been kissing them for over 30 years.

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Holy cow...

WHAT A FIND!!!

Great one Larry! My hand would be shaking to push the button after seeing the listing for that price!

[LarryInMichigan]

I painted the base and shaft/cradle and reassembled the phone.  My painting skills are fair at best, but the phone looks much better now.  I also gave the handset a cleaning and polishing.  The phone works, but the sound quality from the bullet transmitter is poor, as is typical.

A collector told me yesterday that he had heard that these phones were only used in the New York area and that the "Dxxx" number indicates that this was an experimental phone.  Is there any truth to these stories?  My phone did come from a seller on Long Island


Larry