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Western Electric?

Started by Sargeguy, April 08, 2013, 01:30:11 PM

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AE_Collector

Crank looks like the one on a Leich 901 magneto set. It has the number card right on the crank since it would normally be right where the dial would be on a dial phone.

Terry

poplar1

"Antique/Vintage Western Electric 3-Slot Pay Phone Rare working with key"
Buy it now $1400!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/130920293216

This is not WE, not 30s, not rare. Automatic Electric (marked on front) did not start making pay phones until they bought out Gray Paystation Co. in 1948. Someone added a repro WE-STYLE transmitter, new brass hook, and repro receiver. The flat part that is stamped AE indicates that this is a LATER AE phone---this model was made until 1972.

Seller has now revised the listing and lowered the price.
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

AE_Collector

Quote from: poplar1 on May 31, 2013, 04:00:58 PM
The flat part that is stamped AE indicates that this is a LATER AE phone---this model was made until 1972.

Was 1972 when they changed from the sloped front to the flat front area above the vault door? I knew the flat ones were the newer style but never knew when the change was.

Terry

poplar1

I think 1972 was when they stopped making 3-slots altogether. I don't know when they changed to the flat front.
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

rdelius

Flat front some time after the move to Northlake from Chicago in the late 1950s

poplar1

"Western Electric black over brass candlestick-type phone 51AL restored"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281121181879
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

poplar1

#51
Auction pictures.
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

TelePlay

#52
Quote from: poplar1 on June 23, 2013, 02:39:08 PM"Western Electric black over brass candlestick-type phone 51AL restored" http://www.ebay.com/itm/281121181879

I guess "restored" in the seller's mind meant "somebody before I took possession of it painted it black, not me."

Sold for $145.50 with 24 bids. Could it be that a few of the 10 bidders wanted an expensive parts phone?  :-\

poplar1

Quote from: TelePlay on June 23, 2013, 03:18:26 PM
Quote from: poplar1 on June 23, 2013, 02:39:08 PM"Western Electric black over brass candlestick-type phone 51AL restored" http://www.ebay.com/itm/281121181879

I guess "restored" in the seller's mind meant "somebody before I took possession of it painted it black, not me."

Sold for $145.50 with 24 bids. Did somebody want an expensive parts phone?  :-\

By parts, you mean the 6A dial worth maybe $10-$15?
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

TelePlay

#54
This is an interesting listing.

While the 211 or G-mount (43A is the model of the dial mounting only) was to be used with a 634/684 subset when the phone is equipped with an F1 handset, the 211 equipped with a more modern G style handset was to be used with a 685 subset.

Now, most of this subset is Western Electric. The seller went off the base markings

    "Western Electric 684c plastic Ringer Box - Beautiful Condition"

and probably doesn't know what's going on with this item. Interesting combination of parts, and a leather? strap to boot.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/251299909883 for at least $39.50 plus $10.50 shipping.

Not a 302/5302 base. Not a 684 subset. A combination of a 684C plate dated III-31 with a 9-28-50 B1A ringer, all put under a plastic cover with an interesting line cord.

So, it's Western Electric, sort of?

poplar1

#55
I think the 684C was a subset without a ringer. You could use these, for example, when one central subset with ringer (634A, 684A) was sufficient. When WE changed from sidetone to anti-sidetone, you could no longer connect multiple hand telephone sets (202) or desk stands (151AL) to one subset unless you had the extra contacts in the set; thus you had to add additional subsets at each location.

The bracket holding the ringer in the ebay listing is the one used when converting an older 584A, 684A or 684BA subset with 78-type ringer to a 684BA with a B1A ringer. It is missing the add-on part that holds the condenser. Also, the terminal block should have K, BK, E and GND. The ringer in the ebay listing is Northern Electric.

Here is a photo of a 684BA  which has the correct condenser bracket, correct terminal block, and WE ringer.

It was posted by Brinybay in the forum:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=9736.0

"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

poplar1

There's another correct 684BA in the post by Gilas:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=9396.0

(I tried to save the picture so I could post it here, but it's coming up blank in my saved photos.)
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

TelePlay

Quote from: poplar1 on July 05, 2013, 10:04:44 AMThere's another correct 684BA in the post by Gilas:

Thanks for the info. Great to learn new things. And, I was able to get the photo (cropped out the other stuff) so here it is for posterity.

Sargeguy

#58
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231081666701

The top box and arm are WE, the backboard and battery box are not.  Look at the extra holes below the battery box.  Lightning arrestor?  Is the backboard upside down?  There are also a few more extra holes here and there.  Frankenphone is my verdict.

This brings up an important point.  Western Electric top boxes and arms are common compared to WE backboards and battery boxes.  It is common to find a WE box or a WE box and a WE arm on a backboard from another manufacturer.  This is because these boxes were re-used and recycled over the years and ended up in various mixed up configurations.  This also occurs when antique dealers or collectors cobbled together phones from spare parts.  Either way they are only as valuable as the sum of their parts. 
Greg Sargeant
Providence, RI
TCI /ATCA #4409

AE_Collector

Interesting "Volume Adjustment on tha tringer.

Terry