The Re-Purposing/Re-Cycling Genius of Western Electric

[Fabius]

The pictures are of a war time re-cycling of a Western Electric 160 series payphone upper housing into a 653AX wall phone. The dial is marked 2AB with the B crossed out. The used as many payphone parts as they could.

[Fabius]

653AX mark on back. The X indicated modified I believe.

[Fabius]

Notice they left the Western Electric 10-G lock in place and  attached a device so the screw in the wood base could screw in. Notice that 302 parts are used. They are dated 1943.

[Fabius]

Inside top of upper housing. There are 4 holes like this housing had a plate and they are plugged. I wonder about that because I don't believe the 160s had a plate behind the coin gauge. The 4 bolts/nuts hold the plate that covers the coin gauge opening. I found a 1937 date from its past life as a paystation on the housing.

[Fabius]

I have this promo photo of the 635AX in use. Found it on eBay. The telephone book on the table is a 1943 Manhattan NY book. The photo is dated 1944 on the back.

[Nick in Manitou]

Tom,

I was not aware of this model phone.  Thanks for posting about it!  Are these common?

Thanks again for the info.

Nick

[Fabius]

I think they're pretty scarce. I've never seen another and only heard of one other being in possession of someone.

[paul-f]

So, you've had this one a while, Tom!  It's shown on page 25 of Dooner (Seven Decades - blue) (c) 1993, and estimated at $50-100 in the price guide.

It looks like you have changed the number card.

I wonder if this model was shown in any of the Bell System employee magazines in the early 1940s.

[Fabius]

So, you've had this one a while, Tom!  It's shown on page 25 of Dooner (Seven Decades - blue) (c) 1993, and estimated at $50-100 in the price guide.

It looks like you have changed the number card.

I wonder if this model was shown in any of the Bell System employee magazines in the early 1940s.

It was my poor photography that made the number card disappear. I was using my iphone camera. The number card is the same as in the book. This photo is a little better. II believe theGUnderson exchange was in Manhattan.

Good thought about Bell employee magazines. As I come across them at shows and such I'll check them out.

[paul-f]

The number card in the Dooner photo reads VErmont 8-2356 and Wait for Dial Tone. 

I have a bunch of New England Telephone Topics magazines from the early 40s and will try to find some time to look quickly through them over the next few weeks.

[Fabius]

The number card in the Dooner photo reads VErmont 8-2356 and Wait for Dial Tone. 

I have a bunch of New England Telephone Topics magazines from the early 40s and will try to find some time to look quickly through them over the next few weeks.

Maybe I changed it to get a Manhattan exchange on it. Don't remember changing it but you know how it is with old people. That would be great if you found something. Thanks.

[Babybearjs]

awesome phone, too bad I don't have one... would look cool next to my AE 21 wall phone!