Who has what very early WE 500 sets here

[tubaman]

5/51 501 here, if you exclude the later handset, - http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=20663

[poplar1]

You have it backwards, the equalizer was needed on short loops to increase resistance to make the volume tolerable. Without it calls would be way too loud on short loops making hearing the phone call uncomfortable. On very long loops where the distance of wire carried enough resistance the equalizer was not needed so the 500T omitted it for cost reasons in the early days. Eventually it was integrated into the network for the 500 C/D and included all the time.

The 302/5302 were for a time favored for short loops as the 500 had better gain so calls on long loops could be heard louder and more clearly on a 500 than on a 300-type set and so were given priority for the new 500 sett. But short loops which didn't need the benefit of the added gain kept getting 300-type sets, for for a time the towns/villages were getting the older phones while people farther out were getting the new phones in reverse of how new things normally roll out

Thanks for the correction. Should have said 302 or 5302. The 500 (later marked 500A/B),  500C, and 500D -- all have equalizers for short loops.

Phone companies didn't always follow the zoning recommendations. We leased a 5302G with G1A handset (T1/U1), which had too much sidetone. Never saw GF handsets here (F1/HA1 units), though there were some 5302G-3F sets (F1 handset.)

Also, at least 1/2 of the Continentals and Imperials have F4 handsets  (T1/U1) and 4-conductor mounting cords (for 684- and 634-type subsets.) Seems unlikely that so many would need an F4 handset