Help ID Make, Model and Introduction Date for Ron Christianson

[AE_Collector]

Ron Christiansen is wanting to identify and date the introduction of the following group of phones in a display. Vern forwarded the email around to get additional input.

This is where CRPF really shines as we can add the pictures and collect ongoing input from everyone.

Ron and Vern are both members here so let's give the our two cents worth!

Terry

Hi Guys,
Ron is looking for the aprox. introduction date of these phone for his
display. I know a few.

Can you help with the ones you know, or have a good guess at ?

Thanks Vern

Ron Christiansen wrote:
Here are the photos of the two future display "wings" with identification
numbers that will attach to the sides of the main backboard with the
pre-1920 telephones. I would like it if you can come up with some dates for
these wall sets. I know a few but am not too sure of anything....(I'm good
at finding them but not so good at dating them) Approximate dates will be
fine. I have to put something on the name tags.

1 - American Electric
2 - Kellogg
3 - Automatic Electric
4 - Connecticut
5 - Dean (Home Telephone)
6 - Pairfone
7 - S H Couch (Yankee Phone)
8 - Stromberg Carlson
9 - Deveau
10 - Automatic Electric
11 - Western Electric
12 - Leich (Beehive)
13 - Leich (Convertible wall)
14 - Western Electric (354)
15 - Stromberg Carlson
16 - Automatic Electric
17 - Automatic Electric
18 - Automatic Electric (Starlite)
19 - Western Electric (Trimline)
20 - Automatic Electric (883A)
21 - Western Electric (554)
22 - Cobra
23 - ITT
24 - Cobra
25 - Panasonic

Thanks,

Ron Christianson 541 592 4123

[AE_Collector]

Jack Ryan made up a nice chart to fill in the blanks. It looked better before I posted it here but you get the idea.

Terry

#   Year   Model   Make
1   c1920   No 166    American Electric
2   C1940   9917    Kellogg
3   1935   AE 35A5    Automatic Electric
4            Connecticut
5            Dean (Home Telephone)
6            Pairfone
7            S H Couch (Yankee Phone)
8   C1910   Combination House Telephone    Stromberg Carlson
9            Deveau
10   Unknown   Conversion Automatic Electric (Not an original telephone)
11            Western Electric
12            Leich (Beehive)
13            Leich (Convertible wall)
14            Western Electric (354)
15            Stromberg Carlson
16   AE 183   C1965    Automatic Electric (SpaceMaker)
17   AE 90   C1954    Automatic Electric
18   AE 192   C1968    Automatic Electric (Starlite)
19            Western Electric (Trimline)
20            Automatic Electric (883A)
21            Western Electric (554)
22            Cobra
23            ITT
24            Cobra
25            Panasonic

[AE_Collector]

My input on #16, 17, 18 & 20:

#16 AE 183 - Introduction was likely 1959 or 1960.

#17 AE 90 - I believe was about 1956 or so. I always heard that the 90 came a couple of years after the AE 80.

#18 AE 192 Starlite Wall - 1968 could be close. The wall set introduction was long after the 182 desk Starlite. I will have to check dates on what I have here.

#20 AE 883 Speakerphone - Stub just got one of these. They would be 1980's I believe. What date was on yours Stub?

Terry

[paul-f]

#12 - Leich No. 86

#15 - SC 1250 ca 1945

[davidbholcomb]

I will weigh in on number 10. The handset looks different than below but could have been changed in later years. The dial appears to be lower than center and there appears to be 3 drilled holes in the case. View the following from the American Automatic Electric Sales Company Catalogue 4055, printed 6/25/1934.
Types 3 and 13 are 5 ½" deep and types 6 and 16 are 4" deep.
Hope it helps.

[teka-bb]

Number 10 has a Dutch HEEMAF handset on it that doesn't belong on this phone.

[4123]

I want to thank everyone who has helped me out on this project so far. 
Here is a photo of the center section that the "wings" will be attached to on either side.
The center section has telephones dating from 1875 to 1920.
Keep in mind that these are the wall phone section.
Next, I'll be working on the desk phone section.  Pictures to follow soon.

[AE_Collector]

Hi Ron:

Is there a specific purpose to the project? Is it going to go on display somewhere or is it going to one of the Telephone Shows?

Terry

[4123]

Hi Terry,

My wife, Olga, and I have had a traveling telephone museum for about 15 years.  It was quite large (65' across) with several hundred telephones, booths, switchboards, signs, tools and other things on display.  It even had interactive displays where kids could call back & forth between two phone-booths using magneto telephones with Gray pay-stations attached to the sides.
It took 6 people 10 hours to set it up and the same to take it down. It required a Diesel truck and a 30' enclosed trailer to cart it around.
A couple of years ago, we decided to downsize the exhibit and make it more comprehensive.  Then Olga & I will be able to handle it ourselves and tow it in a small trailer behind a small motor home.  So, I completely dismantled the exhibit.  Instead of showing 60 candlesticks, it will only have about 6 candlesticks showing all the stages. Potbelly, tapered shaft, non dial straight shaft, Strowger dial, WE dial etc.  The same with just a few cradle sets, wall sets and so on. No two things alike.  It will also have telephones from different countries.
While we were on the road with the large exhibit, we found that showing it at schools was the most rewarding.  Because of that, our primary venues will be elementary schools mostly but with a few middle & high schools thrown in...maybe an occasional  trade show or two and small independent Teleco's annual celebrations.
So, that's what the backboard and wings are being built for.  
The new exhibit will show examples of everything from telegraph items to smart phones yet it will be very compact with wheels on everything for ease of set-up.
Here are some photos of the larger traveling museum.

[AE_Collector]

Wow, Ron...I had never heard that you did this. What a great project!

I can understand the need to downsize a little bit! I guess that you have been out of commission for awhile doing the conversion. Do you have a deadline that you are working towards to have it completed?

Terry

[4123]

Terry,

We hope to have it ready by the middle of Summer.  I'm looking for an enclosed trailer to house and transport it.  Also looking for a small motorhome to pull it.

[4123]

Well...OK then....With all this talk about off center dials, extra holes and improper handsets, I decided to go back to the "warehouse" and found this one.  I'm pretty sure this one will pass the test.  Its a bit rough so I'll have to work on the finish a bit...One question though, what's with that dial?  I looked at the back and its marked 'AE type 24'. Has anyone seen one like this before?

[rdelius]

Those fingerwheels were cut out to make it easier to clean under them

[4123]

I'm not referring to the self cleaning fingerwheel.  Take a closer look at the dial......

[HarrySmith]

The zero is in the wrong place!