Unknown WECo (?) Wall Phone

[cihensley@aol.com]

This is a page from Donner's book Antique to Modern. Anyone ever seen the phone in the upper right, that is supposedly a WECo wall phone introduced around the same time as the A mount? Model number? Note the cutout for the E1 (?) transmitter cap.

Chuck

[Dennis Markham]

Charles, I believe I have seen one of those in person.  It belonged to phone collector Robert Loeser.  I visited his home and he told me I'd probably never see another.  

He posted several photos on the ATCA "picture place" back in 2006.  I believe he sold it on eBay some time ago.  Here are links to a series of photos he posted.  Make note of his comments below each photo.

http://atcaonline.com/pictures/?id=150123205

http://atcaonline.com/pictures/?id=150123235

http://atcaonline.com/pictures/?id=150123275

http://atcaonline.com/pictures/?id=150123348

http://atcaonline.com/pictures/?id=150123388

http://atcaonline.com/pictures/?id=150123520

http://atcaonline.com/pictures/?id=150123595

http://atcaonline.com/pictures/?id=150123649

Thanks to the ATCA for allowing public access to these photos.

[cihensley@aol.com]

Thank you Dennis. At least I now know it truly exists.

Chuck

[Russ Kirk]

When I visited Dan Golden couple years ago,  I saw he had one of these sets.  If I recall correctly, Dan said it was prototype he obtained from the actor Richard Dreyfuss: Richard Dreyfuss got it from his relative Henry Dreyfuss.

[Nick in Manitou]

I think that is a great looking phone!  Too bad there aren't more of them...one would look great on my kitchen wall.

[Jon Kolger]

I have seen several of these wall sets over the years.  Unfortunately, I don't own one.  These phones are the wall version of the earliest WE 302 sets, which were unusually long.  They morphed into the 354, just as the early long 302s morphed into the 302 as we know it today.  Both long version sets are pretty rare.  I believe that they are Field Trial sets, but I'm not sure about that.  Paul F. would know.

[paul-f]

Or not! 

I have seen photos of several of these sets, but none so far have included field trial notes or numbered stickers, as have been found with the desk set D- numbered sets.

We do know that at least several were made, and that they were working phones.

Until we find evidence or articles in internal Bell System publications, the field trial status of these sets remains unknown.

More observations are welcome!

[rdelius]

Here is the design patent. Much later than the A mount though

[paul-f]

The found sets are dated II32.

[paul-f]

Sets marked both F-95136 II32 and F-95137 II32 have been reported.

Findings and patent info were summarized in a Singing Wires article in the December 2016 issue.

We're still looking for references to field trial cities and dates.