Finally, a Clear Phone!

[DavePEI]

Really like the clean clear new plastics.

Took a lot of cleaning and buffing to get it to look that good!

Dave

[McHeath]

Ah, so you buffed those.  Impressive results. 

[DavePEI]

Ah, so you buffed those.  Impressive results.  

I wasn't going to, but when I got the phone, there were sticker remnants above the TT pad on the top, and I scratched the plastic slightly removing them, so I decided to try buffing it by hand. I was scared to use the machine on it. Then I noticed how much it brought up the finish, so I decided to do the whole phone.. Glad I did!  Before I did it, the plastic was pretty good, but slightly cloudy.

[Jim Stettler]

Regarding replacement clear housings:
There are a lot of different manf. that kicked out some unmarked  clear housings. The transparency varies between brands.

Most of them  are the ITT/Cortelco with a sticker on the bottom and a Number moulded inside the housing. The ITT/Cortelco came as a standard phone with a clear housing or as a novelty phone with coloed innards and caps.

The clear (marked) 2500's that currently come to mind are:

Western Electric (marked)
ITT (unmarked) Regular
ITT (unmarked) Novelty
Goldstar Regular (1984) (marked)
Goldstar novelty like the ITT (marked)
ITT Only seen 1 (marked)
Northern Telcom Smoke tint housing.(marked)  This is an e-type phone. I was told that after a large order of the phones were compleated, they did a run of the smoky clear phones . 1 for each worker on the line.

There are some clear Acrylic unmarked 2500 housings that are very clear
Some of the Early 2500 unmarked plastics are more of a translucent than transparent plastic. They look clear untill you compare them next to a ITT or acrylic housing


I have only come across 1 clear housing marked ITT. I suspect it was made with sample plastic.

Jim

[poplar1]

Regarding replacement clear housings:
There are a lot of different manf. that kicked out some unmarked  clear housings. The transparency varies between brands.

Most of them  are the ITT/Cortelco with a sticker on the bottom and a Number moulded inside the housing. The ITT/Cortelco came as a standard phone with a clear housing or as a novelty phone with coloed innards and caps.

The clear (marked) 2500's that currently come to mind are:

Western Electric (marked)
ITT (unmarked) Regular
ITT (unmarked) Novelty
Goldstar Regular (1984) (marked)
Goldstar novelty like the ITT (marked)
ITT Only seen 1 (marked)
Northern Telcom Smoke tint housing.(marked)  This is an e-type phone. I was told that after a large order of the phones were compleated, they did a run of the smoky clear phones . 1 for each worker on the line.

There are some clear Acrylic unmarked 2500 housings that are very clear
Some of the Early 2500 unmarked plastics are more of a translucent than transparent plastic. They look clear untill you compare them next to a ITT or acrylic housing


I have only come across 1 clear housing marked ITT. I suspect it was made with sample plastic.

Jim

"Northern Telcom Smoke tint housing.(marked)  This is an e-type phone. I was told that after a large order of the phones were compleated, they did a run of the smoky clear phones . 1 for each worker on the line."

Is this a smoky clear 2500 e PHONE?

[Jim Stettler]

Yes that is the NT smoky clear e phone. The other smoky clear phone model I am aware of is this NT designline type phone. (not mine)
I also have a WE trimline (sq button) housing in a darker smoke tint.

Jim
Good find, I only have seen mine and 1 a long time ago on ebay.

[Jim Stettler]

ISTR There may be the similar model to the above phone in  a standard clear color. (with a short stem for the receiver hook and smooth upper housing.)
I may have the photos on an old computer

Jim