Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Collector's Corner => My Telephone Collection => Topic started by: Haf on February 24, 2013, 01:36:56 PM

Title: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on February 24, 2013, 01:36:56 PM
Here are some pictures of what I collected so far. I'm not specifically a telephone collector  but want to set up my new home in 1930's style with all time related equipment (the only thing I don't want to miss is a computer and internet, but will hide that) and telephones are an important part of it.
As I learned from this forum if I want to do it right I have to choose between AE and WE as it wasn't possible to have a mix of both in private homes those days. By chance it was AE.

So, I have two AE 21 Wall, one booster circuit, missing the transmitter, dial and the receiver cap and diaphragm. The other one is a 21 too, but serial circuit and dated May 1928 on transmitter and condenser. The voice quality of the transmitter needs getting used too but it works fine. Both are original condition and original paint,I only cleaned, polished and waxed them. Originally they had a matt finish but as I know people liked to polish them those days too as the more glossy look was popular to many. Something maybe from interest, the one on the right has a different lock mechanism which I've never seen anywhere in AE catalogs before. And it has a little hook underneath what I suppose to be a phone directory hanger.

My AE 21 candlestick, I got it connected to a American Electric magneto ringer box but disconnected it for later use with a more modern subset. Original condition and paint only missing the clear plastic from the dial card retainer. It came with luminous plastic but that mostly covered the old "long distance" card so I have to get myself another old clear plastic.

Now some nice phones I couldn't resist to buy but don't fit into my idea I already explained.

An AE LPA pay phone from around the 1960's. Was rebuild by Telephone Repair & Supply Company Chicago 1973 and is missing the coin mechanism and wired for home use. As shipping to Germany was $105 and most sellers on ebay don't even ship abroad I had to take what was best under that circumstances :)
The instruction card I got as scan from DavePEI, thanks again. And sorry for all of you from Alaska and Hawaii missing "their" star on the flag ;)



Haf


Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on February 24, 2013, 01:40:52 PM
A functioning Kellogg 817 wall phone in as stored around 50 years ago condition. Didn't even cleaned it in any ways. It has a WE 2AB ? (not marked) dial which was changed obviously very long ago. When I opened the dial center there was even was the original dial card underneath, the "new" one just sticks on the plastic.

And the last one remained from old German phones I used to have, a Siemens & Halske wall phone hanging at my fathers home and is in daily use. I presented it to him as both are from the same year, 1937.

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: AE_Collector on February 24, 2013, 01:59:54 PM
An LPA version 3 slot Payphone with the "open bucket" coin return is a nice one to have. If 30's and 40's is your timeframe nothing would look better than an AE 40 desk and 50 wall phone!

We will have you saying that you ARE a phone collector soon :)

Terry
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on February 24, 2013, 04:03:09 PM
Quote from: AE_Collector on February 24, 2013, 01:59:54 PM
If 30's and 40's is your timeframe nothing would look better than an AE 40 desk and 50 wall phone!

I was thinking of an AE 34, fit's to my Ronson touch tip lighter with clock and both on Sam Spades office desk at the Maltese Falcon movie :)

My plan was to have a 21 wall in the kitchen, the 21 candlestick on my desk (for the, like in the Bogart movies, manly kind of calls, short and precise, no chattering) and a 34 for the living room, as it's not that comfortible making longer calls with a candlestick with your arms become tired. And maybe maybe, not sure about, a spacesaver next to the bed.

Ah, and I forgot one phone, a WE 202 Dated 1931 but seems to be rebuild at 1943 (on the dial and receiver) with subset, the only one I had got painted new (subset only) and the dial card is printed from the Internet.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on May 13, 2013, 12:18:08 PM
After being not very productive here because of personal reasons now an update of my collection.

As AE_Collector supposed, I now got an AE 41 :)

My AE 21 wall phone serial circuit, dated 1928 with matching phone directory, of cause in working condition and hooked up, all original and only polished and cleaned.

A WE 50AL dated 1930, all original, only polished/cleaned. I think, according to this forum, it's a factory refurbished during depression era one, as it's painted and the Patent dates refere to an older transmitter cup, latest date is Nov I-92. When I got it, it was, like most of what I buy untouched and unmolested.

And the last one I got today, an AE 21 desk stand with a serial circuit, sadly not dated on the transmitter but with original undamaged 13 feet cord original AE. This one is only cleaned up a little bit put not polished yet. Wonder how old it is, I suppose before 1930.


And sorry for the poor quality of the pics.

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on May 13, 2013, 12:23:26 PM
And a picture of my desk with the AE 21 anti-sidetone candlestick and matching American Electric anti-sidetone subset, both dated 1930, in daily use
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on August 12, 2013, 01:36:22 PM
Update:

Some more phones arrived during the weeks. Here are two payphones I recently got:

An AE 120B second generation with rectangular buttons with diagonal letters, out of service condition. Just hat to connect it to line and set all money jumpers to off. Works fine without any money. The instruction card indicates that it once was located in area code 309-527 El Paso Illinois.
Wikipedia quote: In August 1975, the city became the last locality in the contiguous United States to convert its telephone service from manual switching; prior to that time, telephones in the city could not be dialed directly from any outside location, the assistance of an operator being necessary to place the call, and local telephone numbers consisted of four digits.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on August 12, 2013, 01:53:36 PM
..and my first 233G, build VI 62. This was an ebay shot without knowing what was inside as upper section was locked and no keys. Vault door was missing so I replaced it with an AE door from my spare parts box, unscrewed the lower section and opened it this way. Gladly everything was where it belongs including the coin relay and even all dates match. One thing I completely had forgotten... WE payphones needs subsets :) And a 5 wire cord, both I don't have so far. So testing it with Stan's controller will have to wait a while. What I really like, it's quite good documentated history. I've got an scan from the 1964 Dwight Illinois dictionary with this phone number belonging to a brake service (on the dial center it looks like a 6 at the beginning, but it is indeed a 5). This I believe is the reason why the outside of the phone is quite rough and lot's of wear. But it's like it was when in service, so it's ok with me.
Will have to complete it with a 685 subset + cord and an original coin door. If you have one for sale, please pm me :)
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: dsk on August 12, 2013, 02:45:02 PM
I'm impressed! could never be that consequent my-selves.  :D

As you know, my interest is to figure out how to get things working, and do it.

I will indeed say its difficult to get an OK payphone here to. I have been looking for one used in Norway, but I will probably end up with none, or an American 3 slot. (I'm probably not willing to pay enough  >:(  )

I think you got a nice one here, and it should have some signs of wear.

I'm not sure if the subset used to be located visible from the phone, if not you could hide anything where you want until you get the right subset.

dsk
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on August 12, 2013, 03:45:49 PM
Thanks for the compliments, dsk  *blush*

Quote from: dsk on August 12, 2013, 02:45:02 PM
... or an American 3 slot. (I'm probably not willing to pay enough  >:(  )

You will have the same problem as I have, the phone itself is mostly not the expensive, for example, just bought 3 WE single slots, $75 each, that's ok, but shipping only is a total of $478.80 !!!
And about a Norwegian payphone, I keep my eyes open, there was a Danish one not that long ago..but no Norwegian. If ever find one, I will think of you :)
And the subset from the 233G, well it's visible and should be a 685 A one. I know I can maybe test with anything else like a WE 500...but getting a phone to here is as expensive than a subset, so I will wait until get the right thing first time.

Haf

p.s. if you want something to play with and figure out a solution to get it to work, I can send you a 3-slot semi postpay relay for free, have one I don't have any use for (as I don't see any chance to get it to work, needs a changing polarity during operation, see my post about converting that phone into a prepay payphone). Just let me know :)
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: poplar1 on August 12, 2013, 06:18:12 PM
Quote from: Haf on February 24, 2013, 01:40:52 PM
A functioning Kellogg 817 wall phone in as stored around 50 years ago condition. Didn't even cleaned it in any ways. It has a WE 2AB ? (not marked) dial which was changed obviously very long ago. When I opened the dial center there was even was the original dial card underneath, the "new" one just sticks on the plastic.

And the last one remained from old German phones I used to have, a Siemens & Halske wall phone hanging at my fathers home and is in daily use. I presented it to him as both are from the same year, 1937.

Haf

On the Kellogg wall phone, is there a number stamped on the back of the dial? Possibly the letter D- followed by a number?
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on August 13, 2013, 03:51:16 AM
Just opened it and there is a number in red ink beginning with D and then 759 and another figure I can't read unless taking the dial out of the phone. Do you know the meaning of that number?

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: poplar1 on August 13, 2013, 11:12:09 AM
Quote from: Haf on August 13, 2013, 03:51:16 AM
Just opened it and there is a number in red ink beginning with D and then 759 and another figure I can't read unless taking the dial out of the phone. Do you know the meaning of that number?

Haf

D- for Drawing Number. It was used by WE before a part number was assigned to a particular item, but sometimes also for things that were made in small quantities.

Your dial was not stamped on the finger stop because it was not a 2Ax, even though the mechanism was the same. The difference apparently was that the original number plate did not have the word "operator."

The reason I asked is that I had purchased an identical Kellogg wall phone with a WE D-759xx dial. It would be interesting to check an old Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Co. catalog to see what dials are shown on this model telephone. I believe that Kellogg made their own dials but stopped making them until the K1000 ("Red bar") set in the 1940s. I have a 1927 "Grabaphone" that has a small North dial.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on August 13, 2013, 12:16:37 PM
Here's the catalogue and you seem to be right, everything dial related is there with a part number..except the dial itself. And if you see the dial, no operator at the 0. So the dial seems to be with that phone right from the beginning and not replaced someday later. very nice. Added a picture of the back of my dial.

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: poplar1 on August 13, 2013, 05:45:25 PM
Haf, the dials shown here are apparently Automatic Electric. There are also Kellogg dials that look the same, but the black number card shown is definitely AE. The Kellogg number card has a griffin on it.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: poplar1 on August 13, 2013, 11:23:03 PM
The 1932 Kellogg catalog #9 shows a similar dial-type wall phone coded F803 on page 40. The dial was not furnished by Kellogg. Rather, the F803 "is provided with a standard dial adapter which will mount any standard dial."

The 1923 catalog number 6 doesn't show any dial phones. The 1926 catalog #7 shows sets with Kellogg's own dials.

http://www.strombergcarlsontelephone.com/kellogg/kellogg_main.htm



Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: jfrutschy on August 14, 2013, 10:12:50 AM
Love the type 21's.  Nice collection.  I will have a extra transmitter after my project is completed.  Once it has arrived I can photograph it and send you pix.  I just purchased one from oldphoneworks.  The cup was $39, the mount was $35, they charged me$10 for the connecting rod.  I had two ae transmitter face plates. 

You seen mine got three more.  Had to send it to Steve Hilz, it works beautifully.  The next is a stock restore.  Almost complete. 
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: jfrutschy on August 14, 2013, 10:24:51 AM
Hey Haf,

I have had a very hard time finding the hook for these models.  Wouldn't happen to have a extra one for sale.  My first was lost by the powder coating company.  Been scrambling ever since.

After looking closer at your pix, you only need the face plate for the transmitter? 
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on August 14, 2013, 02:40:05 PM
poplar1: Take a look at 1941 Cat 10, part 2, there you have the  817 phone (mine is clearly marked 817 BAS, see pic). As far as I looked nothing especially about used dials in this catalogue.

jfrutschy: I'm sorry, no spare hook :( And I'm in need of a transmitter faceplate (without cone, already bought one) or bulldog transmitter and receiver cap and diaphragm. I recently bought one on ebay, but it's the wrong one, it's American Automatic Telephone Co, Urbana Ohio (don't actually not much about that company), not Automatic Electric. If anybody wants to swop, I would be pleased.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on September 19, 2013, 06:28:55 PM
some more phones :)

Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: dsk on September 20, 2013, 12:36:33 AM
Great!
dsk
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on September 20, 2013, 05:46:38 AM
Thx dsk :)

and another one, my first COCOT, with an Ernest ETX board, arrived yesterday.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on October 10, 2013, 10:14:00 AM
And two more- a nice AE 120b and my first WE 1C1 rotary single slot :)
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: ESalter on October 10, 2013, 01:09:52 PM
Very nice looking 1C1! 
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: AE_Collector on October 12, 2013, 12:55:58 AM
Is that the 120B with the Protel board Haf? Can you show pictures of the inside?

Terry
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: dsk on October 12, 2013, 02:54:03 AM
I like it, but I still dont have a clue about payphones.
The design are much cleaner than a 3 slot.

dsk
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on October 12, 2013, 06:50:08 AM
dsk; About design, many people all over the world think American design is just big swanker and  fussy, true many times, indeed. But they often forget about designers like Raymond Loewy, Henry Dreyfuss or Norman Bel Geddes, just to list a few.
To me the early single slot payphone is a good example for classic stright-line well arranged industrial design. Proportional distribution of height and width and likely symmetric with the handset right in the center.  Louis Sullivan's Form follows function peak of perfection but with right enough chrome to make them look typically USA :) Compared to US single slots German Payphones are highly sophisticated ungainly gray boxes :)

AE_Collector; Yes, that's the one with with the Protel XK 7000C chassis. I made some pictures to compare original AE 120B (Second generation, rectangular buttons with diagonal letters) dumb board out of service from El Paso IL, original late version AE 120B converted to the Protel chassis and a typical AE/WE style COCOT phone.

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: AE_Collector on October 12, 2013, 12:52:35 PM
Good Pictures Haf!

The one on the left is "All AE" as I remember them at least.

The middle one looks completely AE120B on the outside but not inside. The Switch-Hook/Dial Assembly has been replaced with a Protel Version as has the "Chassis" (Main PCB). Everything else is inside looks AE. Being that it is marked Verizon I guess it was an upgraded AE120B used in the previously GTE area once GTE and Bell Atlantic had Merged to form Verizon.

On the Right, I don't know much about Earnest Telecom Payphones but am surprised that it too has the normal looking AE type COin Acceptor, trigger Switch, Coin Relay/Hopper Assembly and Coin Return Chute.

All three of these Payphones appear to have the same Coin Handling Equipment which operates as follows:

The "Coin Acceptor" is the Beige plastic thing where your coins first are deposited into. It determines if they are real coins of 5, 10 or 25 cent value and is able to test for several types of "slugs" as well as having a knife edge that cuts threads attached to small holes drilled into coins in order to pull them back out after being accepted. There is nothing electical in the Coin Acceptor.

The Trigger Switch is quite small and sits immediately below where the coins fall through the acceptor IF they have been accepted. They fal through in individual slots depending if they are a 5, 10 or 25 cent coin and the trigger switch simply tells the main chassin board what coin value it saw via a contact closure. It has a 4 conductor plug, a common and one each for 5, 10 and 25 cent value.

The Coin Relay/Hopper Assembly is right below the trigger switch. The hopper is mechanical with the electro-mechanical COin Relay mounted on the front surface of the hopper. The coins are held in the hopper and or directed to the coin return or coin box from there by operation of the Coin Relay. The COin Relay has a 3 conductor lead/plug. The relay in the Earnest looks as though thore may be only two conductors in the 3 conductor plug. Some later versions of these phones had relays that did not operate from CO Collect/Refund voltage but were very low voltage operated from the Payphone Chassis. This could be one of them.

And finally the clear plastic coin chute for coins rejected by the COin Acceptor sits between the forward lower edge of the COin Acceptor and the COin Return of the Payphone. It firects coins leaving the "coin acceptor" directly into the coin return.

Terry
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on November 13, 2013, 07:08:23 AM
After a while being very busy here's something new from me and my phones :)
The first thing, I started some research and examined all layers of paint from this house to recover the very first one from 1908 when the house was build. So after repainting the wall in the original color pattern the transformation started back to first half of the last century, I'm really pleased how the result turned out. Changed all light switches to the old type Bakelite turn-switches too. Of course I had to change the phone in the hall of the first floor as a single slot then looked like a mystery thing from somewhere in the future :)
As I don't have and cannot afford an original two piece pay station from the 1930's at the moment so I had to find something coming close and bought my first 1952 AE 66 C with the rare metal dial shroud. Got it on ebay from John Andrews and was very pleased with the phone and the transaction itself. Oh, please excuse the "wrong" 178A backboard - will change that as soon as possible.
On the third floor, the former servant floor I did some change back to original state too but there I put a single slot phone. The special thing to this phone is- it is virtually located in the 914 area code with VoIP and the sign above the phone is true, you can call everywhere continental USA $1 for three minutes :)


Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: dsk on November 13, 2013, 07:43:53 AM
 :D We could really be a good team.
I like to fettle, and get the old phones working, and you make them shiny, and finds so right spots to display them.

I have given up to to make my wife willing to display phones all over :( 

On the other hand, she has many good sides, I just always want a little more  8)

dsk
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on November 13, 2013, 08:30:51 AM
" Dear Mrs. K,

on special request from (name) in (country), would you please allow your husband displaying all his nice phones."

We all could print that out and send it to your wife :) I belive would be overwhelming to her getting mail from all over the world :)
And I finally managed to pack and ship some more "playing toys" for you today ;) The AE 66C is semi postpay and waiting for your solutions.

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: dsk on November 13, 2013, 01:13:35 PM
 ;D ;D ;D
I got a good laughter, I don't think my wife would  :D

dsk
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on April 10, 2016, 12:22:29 PM
It' been a looong time since my last visit here, the reason is- just one day before my birthday in July 2014 I had a spinal cord injury with a resulting paraplegia- I can't move or feel anything from bellybutton downwards and I am wheelchair bound since then. Life was quite a struggle, spend about one year in several hospitals and rehab, got broke and homeless due my home was everything but wheelchair accessible and had to sell most of my stuff. Luckily I was able to keep few things including a Walla Walla directory promised to Bill :) I really missed you guys!
After rehab I moved to Berlin having my own home now since May 2015 and literally started from zero again. But didn't gave up, found new skills what is possible with wheelchair and skipped what is not, started collecting again for my new home, learned to restore things even with my handicap and now, after one year I am happy how everything came out and I feel like joining you again.
It feels good to be here again, I really really missed you all!

More to come soon, Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: dsk on April 10, 2016, 12:31:23 PM
Nice to hear you are better, and still with positive look at the life. 
More than one has missed you here.

dsk
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: AE_Collector on April 10, 2016, 05:47:02 PM
Yes it is great to see you back here Haf! So sorry for all you have been through and I am glad you are getting on with life. Looking forward to hearing more from you now that you are back.

Terry
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: HarrySmith on April 10, 2016, 06:24:54 PM
Welcome Back Haf!
That is terrible to hear what happened to you bit I sure am glad you made it through OK and with a positive attitude! Also quite a reality check, I was whining today about how busy I was at work and on a Sunday too! Your post made me realize how lucky I really am and grateful I am to be able to do my job. Amazing recovery!
Thanks, Harry
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Phonesrfun on April 10, 2016, 08:53:38 PM
Haf!


Great to hear from you, but not so great the things that have happened.  Welcome back.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Mr. Bones on April 11, 2016, 09:49:07 PM
Welcome back, Haf!

I missed you, and am so very glad to hear from you.

I am in deepest admiration of your courage and persistence, and my hat is off to you, Good Sir!

Best regards!
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on September 16, 2017, 02:07:58 PM
I promised to write again soon in my last post, but took me again another year. But now :)
As I wrote, I had to part with many of my phones and now decided to search what I really  always wanted to have and luckily, I got a good one for a restart collecting. My first Gray/Western 150G. Bought it from Mark Johnston. This is the payphone I always wanted to have. And it looks great on the wall with backboard and subset :)
I even found some time period correct Buffalo Nickels. Only thing, haven't manage to get it working. Will write another post in the payphone forum as soon as I took some more pictures of my wiring.

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: HarrySmith on September 16, 2017, 03:00:41 PM
Very nice phone! Congrats!
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Pourme on September 16, 2017, 04:19:02 PM
Nice touch with the period correct buffalo head nickles!

Nice pay phone!
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Stan S on September 16, 2017, 05:00:41 PM
Haf
Glad you're back.
Stan S.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Pourme on September 16, 2017, 06:23:00 PM
Quote from: Pourme on September 16, 2017, 04:19:02 PM
Nice touch with the period correct buffalo head nickles!

Nice pay phone!

BTW...I'm Benny, I joined since you were here last. Glad to meet you. I like your positive attitude, that's what it takes to navigate what life has to deal you! Welcome back to the forum!

Benny
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: oldguy on September 16, 2017, 10:52:31 PM
Very nice phone, glad your back & I hope you are doing well.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Payphone installer on September 17, 2017, 09:44:18 AM
On the single slot 1C you have a coin first (CF) intro card in a dial tone first phone (DTF) phone. Coin first always says deposit coin,listen for dial tone,then dial. Dial tone first card always says listen for dial tone,deposit coin, dial number. Porcelain plate on Coin first is gray,dial tone first is orange. Of course how it is wired matters also,but not much if it is not hooked up. Most folks no longer understand the difference in the intro cards. Of course there are also the W/E post pay cards and plates but that's another conversation. The older CF cards are hard to find and are also only in the older models, most CF cards are pre 1980.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on September 17, 2017, 02:11:44 PM
Thank you very much to y'all.

Payphone installer: I guess you are referring to my post  #23, October 10, 2013. You are absolutly correct, I knew that with a 10 Cent CF card there should be a gray or silver CF plate. Simply, I don't have the correct plate. If you got one to part with I would be pleased.

Benny: Nice to meet you. A negative attitude wouldn't help much either so I decided to stay farther positive  :) And I was running lazy anyway ;)

oldguy, Stan and Harry, yes, feels good to be back again and taking care of phones again
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on March 06, 2018, 05:20:35 PM
Time for an short update of some more phones.

a 1940 metal housing 302, original paint, just polished a bit. Nice dial center card, not made of printed cardboard but water slide decal on another acetate disc beneth the outer one.
My "new" kitchen phone, a WE 211 Space saver, 1937, no original dial center card yet.
As long as I'm still rewiring my home the 150G is temporarily out of sercice. But otherwise it works just fine. Stan send me an adjusted two coil coin relay to work with his controller.
And another impression of my AE 21, original paint too, just polished.

Not to mention, all phones are on line of course :)

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on March 06, 2018, 05:21:52 PM
more pics...
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: HarrySmith on March 06, 2018, 05:56:02 PM
What a great collection! All US Western Electric phone, must have been difficult to source! That paint on the 302 is absolutely amazing!
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on April 02, 2018, 05:11:56 PM
Finally I let the modern times invade my home- a bit ;)

Recently bought a 1963 aqua blue WE 500, ok it was turquise when I got it but bleached back to blue again. Funny thing, I researched the phone number on the dial center card, the original owner died in 2010 but I managed to find her daughter now living in Canada. Quote from a mail she send to me:
"I couldn't have been more surprised to get your email about my mother's phone! I remember it -- it was turquoise. My mom passed away in 2010 at the age of 76 and many of her things were given to her neighbour, including this phone. She lived in her house for 40 years and refused to get rid of her dial phones, even when touchtone phones became popular. I can assure you she loved that phone and spent many hours talking to her friends on it. She was a bit of a recluse in her later years and her phone was her lifeline to friends and family. She kept this turquoise one in her bedroom.....Her house was filled with all kinds of memorabilia and possessions she had kept for decades. I'd love to know how you happened to buy the phone and what it's worth today. I'm very glad it's in the hands of someone who cares as much as you do."

So nice to know some of my phones history. First three pictures are from the ebay auction, last three made today.

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: HarrySmith on April 02, 2018, 05:29:05 PM
Nice! Looks great, nice restoration.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: AE_Collector on April 02, 2018, 05:32:33 PM
That looks quite familiar had though not the exact same phone.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=19626.msg200295#msg200295

Terry
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on April 02, 2018, 05:56:01 PM
Harry, thank you :)

And Terry, I was surprised how easy bleaching was and how perfect it worked, all even blue again (except the inside, it was discolored even there, this is why I guess it is less the sunlight but heavy smoking causing this discoloration- will tell you in some years) and it was as much discolored as yours. It took few hours in the sunlight and bleach to get this result. Easy and effective. Ah, and no sanding, just polishing.

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Doug Rose on April 02, 2018, 05:57:27 PM
Very Nice Haf.....they look beautiful throughout your home....outstanding!....Doug
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: AE_Collector on April 02, 2018, 06:02:38 PM
That looks quite familiar though not the exact same phone.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=19626.msg200295#msg200295

Terry
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on April 02, 2018, 06:05:31 PM
Terry, twice the same post?

Doug, thank you, it is my bedside phone now too. A bit more easy to answer a call in the dark than with a candlestick ;)

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: HarrySmith on April 02, 2018, 06:11:29 PM
Is that your bed next to the candlestick? Looks like a sofa to me.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on April 02, 2018, 06:22:34 PM
Harry...maybe it is not my only candlestick next to that Corbusier LC2 chair ;)

This one is btw the one ringing when you call the San Francisco 1-415-449-4743 number.

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: HarrySmith on April 02, 2018, 06:40:02 PM
Ahhh. OK, I will accept that. You must be one of a very few European collectors with such a great collection of US Western Electric phones. Congrats on building a very nice collection!
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: AE_Collector on April 02, 2018, 06:48:31 PM
Quote from: Haf on April 02, 2018, 06:05:31 PM
Terry, twice the same post?
Haf

Oops sorry. That's what happens when trying to write and post with one hand while out walking and talking! Looked as though I forgot to hit send...so I did.
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on April 02, 2018, 06:50:20 PM
Thanks again for your compliments. But it's not only Western Electric, the candlestick next to the chair is a 1930 Automatic Electric 21. And in my defense, I have at least two German phones too :)

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on May 06, 2018, 03:17:24 PM
Attached to the 389 A jack and 273 A plug I wanted to buy was this 1950 matching dates 302. Everything works fine and no damage, only light scratches. Just gave it a quick 10 minute polish with Wenol (was lazy tonight).

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: HarrySmith on May 06, 2018, 04:06:54 PM
Nice!
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: compubit on May 06, 2018, 08:17:57 PM
Very nice! That will fit perfectly in your apartment.

Jim
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Haf on July 14, 2018, 05:03:16 PM
Not that long ago I received a gift from Jim/compubit by mail - a long wanted pink WE 500, 1959 with open center fingerwheel. It was just slightly dicolorized, bleaching was not very satisfying so I made my first attempt with sanding. Turned out piggy pink again, I'm very pleased. OK, it is not yet polished to the final luster but nobody around here except me (and probably all of you) will notice. And the transmitter cap is not yet sanded and still discolorized. This will be my new bedside telephone, thanks to the generous gift from Jim, thank you a lot. More pictures to follow.

Haf
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: Pourme on July 14, 2018, 09:25:30 PM
Very nice...Looking forward to the finished pics!
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: dsk on February 23, 2019, 03:51:52 PM
We (my wife and I) had a few days off, and went to Berlin where Haf met us at the airport, and showed us lots of the City. I also visited him at home, and he is a perfectionist making the entire room looking in from the same period of time as the phones. I will let him selves publish pictures of his phones, but I am really impressed. We talked a lot about phones too, and about how to get the right old American dial tone, and payphone signals for his American phones.
Te picture shows Haf in his wheelchair, his assistant and me.

Haf:
Thank you for your great hospitality!
dsk
Title: Re: Haf's telephone collection
Post by: compubit on February 23, 2019, 11:18:11 PM
Glad to hear y'all had a great time! I know I did on my trip to Berlin - saw parts of the city not visited by foreign tourists, and had a great time.

Jim