Siemens FG Tist 274b metal cased phone

[tubaman]

This has just arrived from eBay. I was interested because it is an all metal case including the cradle and dial ring. It's not a model I am familiar with as it looks like a W48, but I thought they were Bakelite?
It's very heavy at over 3kg and clearly built to last!
For £10 + £10 p&p I think it was ok.
https://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/Black-Metal-Bodied-Siemens-European-Telephone-/254655660964
( dead link 05-20-21 )

Black Metal Bodied Siemens European Telephone. Condition is Used. Dispatched with Other Courier (3 to 5 days).

Dial spins freely. Overall shiny and quite good condition on the body. A few minor scratches and quite a bit of paint wear on the cradle.
Handset and cord is in good condition.
Phone is converted with a BT plug and although it works on our line, please be aware it might not on yours.
Some lovely Siemens logo markings as shown.

UK posting only

[FABphones]

German, quite a few of these come up but not at such a bargain price. Looks to be in good condition too. Find of the month.
Countryman will know all about this one.

[tubaman]

German, quite a few of these come up but not at such a bargain price. Looks to be in good condition too. Find of the month.
Countryman will know all about this one.

I'd not actually seen this metal version before until three appeared on eBay this month. This was the nicest example and for some reason no one else wanted it, so I got it for the maiden bid.
It's in very nice shape, with the only significant paint loss being on the cradle, which is expected.
I forgot to add a photo of the nice logo on the back, so here it is.

[countryman]

Apparently it's a a Belgian Siemens:
http://members.home.nl/famwijnands/index.htm?http://members.home.nl/famwijnands/293%20info.htm
The Antwerp telephone industry, ATEA and BTMC, both used zinc alloy shells for a long time and obviously the Belgian Siemens branch also did. The material is referred to as "Zamak" sometimes and was also produced in Antwerp.
Metal cased Model 36/ W38 / W48 are unheard of in Germany. It's rare. FOTM!?!

[FABphones]

Thanks for that countryman. I will look more closely at these in future.

Translation (via google) from link (dates may differ):

Dit is een Belgische uitvoering van de Duitse W48. De originele W48 werd in Duitsland gebouwd door o.a. Krohne, HagenUk, Heibl en Siemens. De behuizing was gemaakt van bakeliet. Deze Belgische uitvoering is gemaakt door Siemens Bruxelles. De behuizing is gemaakt van gietmetaal, het lijkt op aluminium maar is het niet. Dit materiaal werd veel voor Belgische telefoons gebruikt o.a. door ATEA Antwerpen. Het ontwerp van de buitenzijde is exact gelijk aan de Duitse versie. De binnenzijde werd uiteraard afgestemd op de eisen van Belgacom.
Het type nummer is FG tist. 274b. Fabricagejaar 1955.

'This is a Belgian version of the German W48. The original W48 was built in Germany by, among others, Krohne, HagenUk, Heibl and Siemens. The housing was made of Bakelite. This Belgian version is made by Siemens Bruxelles. The housing is made of cast metal, it looks like aluminum but it is not. This material was widely used for Belgian telephones, among others by ATEA Antwerp. The exterior design is exactly the same as the German version. The inside was of course geared to the requirements of Belgacom.
The number type is FG tist. 274b. Manufacturing year 1955'.

[tubaman]

Apparently it's a a Belgian Siemens:
http://members.home.nl/famwijnands/index.htm?http://members.home.nl/famwijnands/293%20info.htm
The Antwerp telephone industry, ATEA and BTMC, both used zinc alloy shells for a long time and obviously the Belgian Siemens branch also did. The material is referred to as "Zamak" sometimes and was also produced in Antwerp.
Metal cased Model 36/ W38 / W48 are unheard of in Germany. It's rare. FOTM!?!

Thanks countryman - Belgian makes sense as they seem to like their metal cased phones. Looking closer, it does say 'Made in Germany' and 'Importe d'Allemagne' on the bell capacitor, and I doubt a German version would say that.
Thanks FABphones for the translation.