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Field trial "302" set

Started by rdelius, December 09, 2010, 08:23:36 PM

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rdelius

This set was bought at the Charlotte Metrolina flea market in the mid 1990s
Serial # 720. I-36.The label was damaged from a ringer cut off switich installed in back. Holes were drilled to hold the set down .
I have extra rec capsules

rdelius

part 2

Adam

Adam Forrest
Los Angeles Telephone - A proud part of the global C*Net System
C*Net 1-383-4820

LarryInMichigan

Very interesting.  Are there any date markings?

Larry

rdelius

first quarter 1936.only the ringer,ind coil and tx capsule are similar to production parts.The rec capsule has a later date ,but is different than a ha1
Robby

tjmack99

Funny, I used to frequent the metrolina flea markets MANY moons ago, before I had any serious interest in phones. But I remember the tables full of old phones...oh, what might have been....

Doug Rose

Robby....another great phone from your collection. You don't see these every day. Great F1 handset with two piece transmitter cap. Metal on inside of shell is not painted, this sure is a beauty.....really nice phone....Doug
Kidphone

HarrySmith

WOW :o
Amazing phone!! Can you transcribe the label inside? My old eyes cannot read it all. Thanks.
We have a field trial 302 & 500 in the group! Very Cool ;D
Harry Smith
ATCA 4434
TCI

"There is no try,
there is only
do or do not"

paul-f

Harry: Check out the label on the set on this page...
   http://www.paul-f.com/wep302.html#302Metal
Visit: paul-f.com         WE  500  Design_Line

.

Russ Kirk

Sounds like you have an historical phone on your hands.
Russ...
- Russ Kirk
ATCA & TCI

JorgeAmely

Interesting. The capacitor looks like those inside some AE40 models.
Jorge

Dan/Panther

You have a definite keeper.
D/P

The More People I meet, The More I Love, and MISS My Dog.  Dan Robinson

rp2813

Dan, doesn't your '48 500 prototype also have a long number that starts with the letter D? 

I think the "D" stands for "Definitely a Field Trial" model!
Ralph

GG



That would be one of the rarest ever of the 302 series. 

Reason why: note that there is no side cutout for the handset cord exit; both cords exit from the single rear cutout in the housing.  That design was changed almost immediately to the one with a side entry hole for the handset cord.  The only other field trial 302 I've seen pictures of, had the side handset cord entry (and was the subject of lengthy discussion here).  There are probably very very few in existence today that have only the rear cord entry.

Re. the hole someone drilled in the back for the ringer cutoff switch: you can find black plastic hole plugs at decent hardware stores, and probably find one that fits.  It will still be visible as a bump in the back of the phone, but it's better than leaving the drilled hole visible.

For the improper drilled holes in the base, consider just touching up the bare metal edges of them with a permanent ink black marker.  That will make them less visible. 

Or, depending on the opinions of various experts here, you might consider filling all the improper holes with some kind of epoxy or filler material and then trying to match the paint.  Some might go so far as to say it's OK to repaint the housing, if that can be done without need to remove the Bell Labs sticker inside.   Though, if I had one of those, I'd just stick to the hole plug in the rear (since it's removable without damage) and touching up the improper screw holes in the base.

Anyway, you found a major rarity there.  Congratulations!

MMikeJBenN27