Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Collector's Corner => Topic started by: Dan/Panther on April 18, 2013, 11:55:50 PM

Title: FINALLY !!!
Post by: Dan/Panther on April 18, 2013, 11:55:50 PM
After several years looking, Thanks to fellow member Jeremy, I finally obtained a hardwired 702B  BLACK Princess.
I purchased one on eBay about 3 years ago, turned out to be painted brown phone.

This one is NOT painted.
D/P
Title: Re: FINALLY !!!
Post by: Mr. Bones on April 19, 2013, 12:02:50 AM
Yay, D/P!

     It looks like you have quite the set, there! Is that all the colors, now, for that series? I also admire, and can relate with the patience, and focus this quest took! I hope that you enjoy your Princess collection

Best regards!

Terrence
Title: Re: FINALLY !!!
Post by: poplar1 on April 19, 2013, 03:39:11 PM
Quote from: Mr. Bones on April 19, 2013, 12:02:50 AM
Yay, D/P!

     It looks like you have quite the set, there! Is that all the colors, now, for that series? I also admire, and can relate with the patience, and focus this quest took! I hope that you enjoy your Princess collection

Best regards!

Terrence

The original five colors are white (-58), pink (-59), light beige (-60), aqua blue (-62) and turquoise (-64). Black (-3), light gray (-61) and transparent (-29) are the hardest to find.

Color phones cost extra (202s, 302s, 500s, 554s) but for Princess, Trimline, and all Touch-Tone sets, there was no extra charge for color. (That may be why there are so few black Princess sets and black Trimlines.) However, there was an extra initial charge for Princess (around $7) and Trimline (around $5) + a monthly premium in addition to the monthly rental for PRN, TML and all Touch-Tone sets. The premiums, at the time extensions were about $1.50 a month, were about 70 cents a month for Princess, $1.50 a month for a Trimline, and $2.00 for Touch-Tone. The Touch-Tone charge was the same regardless of how many extensions you had.
Title: Re: FINALLY !!!
Post by: Dan/Panther on April 19, 2013, 03:41:07 PM
Terrance;
I have to correct my original post, I bought what I thought was a Rare Brown Princess, turned out to be Brown painted Red. This is my first Black Princess.
If I recall, and Paul can correct me, I think the original colors for the 701 series were Beige, Turquoise, White, Aqua, and Pink.

I was not aware that Black was offered, in the 701 series. Thanks Poplar1, now I have to start looking again, for a 701, Black, Light Gray, and clear. Does this insanity ever stop.

For some reason, I really like the Princess phones. I guess it's getting in touch with my feminine side.
Actually, My Mom had an Aqua Princess, and I spent almost an entire night, talking to my future wife on it, I think that is why I am partial to them. Even though we are no longer married.

D/P
Title: Re: FINALLY !!!
Post by: WesternElectricBen on April 19, 2013, 04:45:41 PM
For your collection of princesses... I'll trade a 1955 WE Moss Green 500. Yes, I know not a chance.

Though very nice, I am very envious!!

Ben
Title: Re: FINALLY !!!
Post by: Dan/Panther on April 19, 2013, 07:33:54 PM
Ben;
We almost had a deal going until....................


My Moss green WE500

D/P
Title: Re: FINALLY !!!
Post by: AE40FAN on April 19, 2013, 07:57:30 PM
Dan, 

Awesome Princess phone collection...black is a color I'm keeping my eyes peeled for as well.  However, I refuse to pay as much as they seem to go for on eBay! 
Title: Re: FINALLY !!!
Post by: WesternElectricBen on April 19, 2013, 09:55:55 PM
Quote from: Dan/Panther on April 19, 2013, 07:33:54 PM
Ben;
We almost had a deal going until....................


My Moss green WE500

D/P

Oh...
Title: Re: FINALLY !!!
Post by: paul-f on April 19, 2013, 10:12:44 PM
Quote from: Dan/Panther on April 19, 2013, 03:41:07 PM

If I recall, and Paul can correct me, I think the original colors for the 701 series were Beige, Turquoise, White, Aqua, and Pink.

I was not aware that Black was offered, in the 701 series.


Richard Mountjoy reported that 1963 701s had the added colors of black, moss green, yellow and light gray.  I believe he found that in research at the AT&T archives many years ago.  I have not found his source yet.

I have, however, found 702s dated as early as January 1963.

702s were announced internally in employee publications beginning in 11/62, so it's possible 701 production was continued briefly into 1963.

I  have not yet found any 701s dated 1963.  Does anyone have one in their collection in any color or a catalog or BSP showing 1963 colors for 701s?  They could be quite scarce in any color.

Please post any info here:
   http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=9268.0

Title: Re: FINALLY !!!
Post by: poplar1 on April 21, 2013, 01:23:16 AM
Quote from: paul-f on April 19, 2013, 10:12:44 PM
Quote from: Dan/Panther on April 19, 2013, 03:41:07 PM

If I recall, and Paul can correct me, I think the original colors for the 701 series were Beige, Turquoise, White, Aqua, and Pink.

I was not aware that Black was offered, in the 701 series.


Richard Mountjoy reported that 1963 701s had the added colors of black, moss green, yellow and light gray.  I believe he found that in research at the AT&T archives many years ago.  I have not found his source yet.

I have, however, found 702s dated as early as January 1963.

702s were announced internally in employee publications beginning in 11/62, so it's possible 701 production was continued briefly into 1963.

I  have not yet found any 701s dated 1963.  Does anyone have one in their collection in any color or a catalog or BSP showing 1963 colors for 701s?  They could be quite scarce in any color.

Please post any info here:
  http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=9268.0




[/quote]

Paul, I did find one moss green 701B in Sonny's warehouse. I'll have to try to find it again. At the time, I thought it was refurbished in that color but had been white, pink, beige, blue or turquoise when first manufactured. Most of the 701Bs I remember finding as "left-ins" in apartments back in the 70s were white.

As for 1963 701Bs, I'll have to go check the dates on the phones again, but I don't think there are any later than 1962 in the warehouse.

When we originally bought all these Princess sets from ACI, I picked up a disproportionate share of 701Bs and non-modular 702Bs, regardless of condition. Most of the 701Bs that are left are either white or beige. He may have sold most of the pink, blue and turquoise, or the white and beige may have been more popular colors; I just don't know for sure.

I'll ask Bill if he recalls when they stopped rebuilding 701Bs for Southern Bell to install. He started working for WE in 1964. The labor costs were much lower in those days, so the extra time needed to install an E1 ringer on the baseboard may not have mattered so much that they would start installing only new 702Bs (with the ringer inside the phone).

The 702Bs have housings without "mouseholes" for the cords (701B) or notched openings for the modular jacks (702BM). Some of the 702 housings have indentations on the inside where the holes would have been on 701s.
Title: Re: FINALLY !!!
Post by: poplar1 on April 21, 2013, 01:32:17 AM
Quote from: Dan/Panther on April 19, 2013, 03:41:07 PM
Terrance;
I have to correct my original post, I bought what I thought was a Rare Brown Princess, turned out to be Brown painted Red. This is my first Black Princess.
If I recall, and Paul can correct me, I think the original colors for the 701 series were Beige, Turquoise, White, Aqua, and Pink.

I was not aware that Black was offered, in the 701 series. Thanks Poplar1, now I have to start looking again, for a 701, Black, Light Gray, and clear. Does this insanity ever stop.

For some reason, I really like the Princess phones. I guess it's getting in touch with my feminine side.
Actually, My Mom had an Aqua Princess, and I spent almost an entire night, talking to my future wife on it, I think that is why I am partial to them. Even though we are no longer married.

D/P

Actually, I did mean to say that the original (701) colors in 1959 were white, pink, lt. beige, aqua blue and turquoise. However, the reference to black, clear and lt. gray should not have implied that I was talking about 701Bs in those 3 colors. I was thinking of 702Bs for those 3 colors, not 701Bs.