Western Electric Transmitter-Differences?

[HowardPgh]

What is the difference between a *229* and a *250*transmitter?
Also what does the W suffix mean on some WE parts?
Howard

[rdelius]

W means the part is sold outside the Bell System.I think the 229 transmitter is Common battery and I know the 250 is local battery and used mostly on 317 wall sets
robby

[Sargeguy]

*250* was used on the #10 arm which was on the 317 and other wall phones like later 301As.  #229 can be found on anything but was originally on desk stands.  * means Bell System, "w" usually means non-Bell System, but I think that they can be found on Bell System phones also.  The "*" is more desirable on a Bell System phone.  I have had a couple Bell System phones straight from the manure pile that had "w" suffixes on the transmitters.  There are a large number of different transmitters.  The transmitter depended on the distance from the CO, party lines, common battery vs. local battery, insulated vs uninsulated etc.  Inter-phones also used different transmitters which would not be found on telephones.