Mercedes Dials

[FABphones]

I don't have any Mercedes dials in my collection. These two available, but unfortunately on a model of phone I already have.

Which of these dials is the more desirable?

And I know values are variable depending on many factors including location, but what price on just a Mercedes dial?

Re the (misaligned) dialcard placement on the example below, am guessing this is intact under the top metal piece and can be moved back to it's correct position?

Thanks for any and all info.

[Jack Ryan]

I don't have any Mercedes dials in my collection. These two available, but unfortunately on a model of phone I already have.

Which of these dials is the more desirable?

I don't have a preference, I buy both. The lettered dial is, in my opinion, more common.

And I know values are variable depending on many factors including location, but what price on just a Mercedes dial?

French Mercedes dial are the cheapest available. US Mercedes dials are over a $100, maybe $150 (unless you are near a friendly collector or show). UK Mercedes dials are probably triple that and French dials are half that.

Of course they change like the weather and there is Global Warming.

Re the (misaligned) dialcard placement on the example below, am guessing this is intact under the top metal piece and can be moved back to it's correct position?
hanks for any and all info.

The centre screw holds the card and the retainer in place - loosen the screw, align everything and re-tighten.

Regards
Jack

[FABphones]

Thanks for the reply.
Good to know the country of manufacture info. Most I come across are French.

Besides the centre card, is there any way to tell country of manufacture from the front?
Fonts etc?

[Jack Ryan]

Besides the centre card, is there any way to tell country of manufacture from the front?
Fonts etc?

Often you can but not always.

British Mercedes dials (Dial No 1) are nearly always black oxide. No one else does that.

French dials with letters have the letters curved around the number.
It is not obvious when there are just numbers (except for the label of course).

There are some US Mercedes dials that look like French numbers only dials.
Some US dials are painted black - they are not French.
Some US dials have the company signature on the number plate - not French
Type 1918 US dials have a wider finger stop - not French.
Some US dials have "Long Distance" around the '0' - not French.

So, there can be confusion between French and US Mercedes numbers only dials but in many cases there is a hint that gives it away.

I have probably forgotten something.

Regards
Jack

[FABphones]

Thanks for the info Jack. I'll add it to my little grey cells for future ref.

I have a box of broken down dial parts, many of which I do not recognise, I can go through them again with the added knowledge.

Appreciated.