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Real Silver Imperial 202 or not?

Started by unbeldi, November 10, 2013, 01:17:32 PM

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unbeldi

Quote from: poplar1 on November 11, 2013, 09:57:44 AM
5 more:
4 seem to be 1955s, 1 is definitely 1952

The one dated 1952 doesn't really fit the description of a Continental:
(1) It is old rose, not the usual green, pekin red or ivory
(2) Underneath the paint, the handset is brown Bakelite, not black---this is typical for painted 302s but not for Continentals
(3) 1952 seems to be about 3 years earlier than the "herd."

Old Rose 202 (R202C-16F):
5J dial 5-52 [painted white rim]
150B number plate with Z [Z=1953 or earlier]
D4U mounting cord '52
H3C handset cord '52
HA1 rec S 1-16-46 R II 52
F1 handset 99 [4/49]
F1 trans 8-47 R [no date after the R]


This sounds like a refurb of an older, specially ordered colored 202, the brown Bakelite handset was used in the 40s for painted finishes, probably on all desk sets, not just the 302s.

poplar1

#16
Quote from: unbeldi on November 11, 2013, 11:19:10 AM
Quote from: poplar1 on November 11, 2013, 10:03:21 AM
Quote from: unbeldi on November 11, 2013, 12:35:50 AM
Quote from: poplar1 on November 10, 2013, 11:57:01 PM
Is the rim painted white on the dial of your ivory set?

The rim is painted ivory, but not very well done, only about half the depth of the dial side is painted, underneath is the original black color. The rest of the phone has excellent paint coverage, no wear in the cradle.

Handset is F4.
The dial face plate is II::55, which I hadn't recorded before...  that blows the 1952 date as well.


I found 3 with rims painted to match the phone:
(1) green rim on 4H dial listed above---bare metal finger wheel
(2) green rim on 3-49 5H--bare metal finger wheel
(3) ivory rim on 5-55 6D--Lucite finger wheel--even though the rim was already white


Interesting, so there is precedence of painting the dial rim in the same housing color.

This appears to be a shortcut. In the 1930s, dial cases and metal finger wheels were painted to match the phone, for example a new gray 202 would have a 4HB-5 dial (-5=gray).  New 302s were issued with 5J or 6D dials, which have white rims. But since three 5-type dials (on your set and mine) are not recoded--they are still "H" dials--they were always black before getting the partial paint job c. 1955.
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

poplar1

Quote from: unbeldi on November 11, 2013, 11:27:31 AM
Quote from: poplar1 on November 11, 2013, 09:57:44 AM
5 more:
4 seem to be 1955s, 1 is definitely 1952

The one dated 1952 doesn't really fit the description of a Continental:
(1) It is old rose, not the usual green, pekin red or ivory
(2) Underneath the paint, the handset is brown Bakelite, not black---this is typical for painted 302s but not for Continentals
(3) 1952 seems to be about 3 years earlier than the "herd."

Old Rose 202 (R202C-16F):
5J dial 5-52 [painted white rim]
150B number plate with Z [Z=1953 or earlier]
D4U mounting cord '52
H3C handset cord '52
HA1 rec S 1-16-46 R II 52
F1 handset 99 [4/49]
F1 trans 8-47 R [no date after the R]


This sounds like a refurb of an older, specially ordered colored 202, the brown Bakelite handset was used in the 40s for painted finishes, probably on all desk sets, not just the 302s.

My guess is that it had been black until 1952, then issued in old rose as a special order, or at least a "non-promoted" color. In any case, it doesn't appear ever to have been installed. The seller had it listed as "mauve."
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

Jim Stettler

Quote from: unbeldi on November 10, 2013, 09:24:49 PM
From my observations the Imperials started to appear in 1955, perhaps 54, and it seems like the idea was over by 1956 or so.  The story that these were produced in commemoration of the anniversary sounds nice, but seems more likely to be a myth.

Please correct me.


As I have heard it. (and a story that makes sense.

They were made to use up "good" D-1 bases, and F style handsets.. The anniversary story was a marketing gimmick to make them "special". As the imperials came back to Bell they went to the Telephone Pioneers and Junior Achievement to be converted into fundraising lamps.
JMO<
Jim
You live, You learn,
You die, you forget it all.