My Mom's Christmas Present

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Ever since I started collecting, my Mom has always wanted a Candlestick of some sort, so my dad and I set out to find a good Western Electric candlestick for her to use. We eventually found a WE 151AL on Craigslist for $140, in pretty good condition. We found a subset, refinished it, took the candlestick apart, stripped it, powder coated it, and compounded, polished and waxed the bells and Bakelite parts. Finished and tested the phone today, and it works!

[baldopeacock]

Nice work!   Good looking candlestick and the wood on that subset is awesome.

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Before picture of the stick:

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Nice work!   Good looking candlestick and the wood on that subset is awesome.

Thanks. My dad did most of the work with the powder coating and refinishing of the subset, but I got my Johnson paste wax in there with the handset and mouthpiece.

[HarrySmith]

Very Nice! Looks Awesome
I think it is great your Dad is supporting and encouraging your "hobby"

[WesternElectricBen]

Nice,

like Harry said, your luckey your dad helps support you. My dad just wants me to put them away..

Ben

[Doug Rose]

Christian.....outstanding job !! This looks amazing....Mom will be very proud....Doug

[WEBellSystemChristian]

My dad used to support my hobby, but now I think he's starting to catch the Phoneitis bug

[Jim Stettler]

My dad used to support my hobby, but now I think he's starting to catch the Phoneitis bug

Congratulations,
Now you can go to phone shows.
Jim

[Dan/Panther]

Christian;
You are a natural, great work.
D/P

[HarrySmith]

Didn't I warn you about Phonitis
It is incurable and very contagious

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Didn't I warn you about Phonitis
It is incurable and very contagious

I caught it before I even joined the forum. I first told myself I would collect only collect WE 500s, then maybe a couple 302s, then I guess a 202, now look what I got myself into

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Since we are having a Christmas party soon, my dad and I decided to show my mom her candlestick early. My dad scratch built a shelf for it, and the phone is now displayed (and perfectly working and used at least twice a day) in our dining room.

[WesternElectricBen]

You are defiantly lucky to be able to hang a phone in your house. I can't even get away with one hanging in my bedroom. You might want to rotate your picture.

Looks wonderful on that stand.

Ben

[Sargeguy]

Nice present, a 151 is a great "daily driver".  Nice choice of sub-set, luckily it's not a dud like so many of these are.  I like how the oak shelf matches the oak 295.  Of course for the sake of historical accuracy you probably should paint the sub-set black and add cowbells to it if you're going to use it with a 151-AL