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WE 434a subset

Started by mark9564, January 03, 2015, 11:42:36 PM

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poplar1

#15
Dave, it was a 334A to start with, probably pre-1920, with a small paper "334A" label glued on. IV 30 date is a refurb date (notice the R in a circle), but it was probably reissued then from the WE repair shop still as a 334A.

Then sometime after 1930,  they converted it from a 334A (sidetone) to a 434A (anti-sidetone), and obliterated the original 334A wiring diagram on the inside, since it was not applicable to the new anti-sidetone configuration.

I don't think the 1930 and 434A were stamped at the same time, but that's just my opinion. Either that, or you have found the earliest reported anti-sidetone conversion (that is, pre-1931). In any case, we know that it was apparently remanufactured again in 1940.

There were kits available for field conversion of 534As to 634As. The BSP says that this could be done without even removing the subset from the wall. I'll try to locate that BSP to see if a new narrow terminal strip was furnished with the kit. But with the 333A (wall set) and 334A (bell box) conversions to 433A and 434A, WE may have had less reason to retain the original wide wood terminal strip, because it was mounted over the induction coil,  not over the condenser as in the 533A/534A/633A/634A.
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.