News:

"The phone is a remarkably complex, simple device,
and very rarely ever needs repairs, once you fix them." - Dan/Panther

Main Menu

Flea Market Phone: 1963 Western Electric 500

Started by LM Ericsson, February 06, 2011, 01:52:05 PM

Previous topic - Next topic

LM Ericsson

This weekend I went to the Fredericksburg Big Flea and purchased this phone for 15 dollars. All parts on this phone are from 1963 but different dates. No cracks or breakages which is good. Here are some photos:
Regards,
-Grayson

Dennis Markham

That's a very nice looking set from late 1963. That finger wheel looks like it was hardly used.  Any dates inside from Nov. 22, 1963?

I've kind of been watching for a phone from that historic day.  It was a Friday so I'm sure W.E. was cranking out phones that morning.

LM Ericsson

Regards,
-Grayson

rp2813

That's a very nice looking phone. 

Is the handset cord also 1963?  You'll find the two-digit year of manufacture stamped into the crimped piece that hooks the cord onto the phone's base.  That cord looks like it might be later than 1963.

It may not have perfectly matching dates, but I think it's safe to say that your phone has all of the original innards from the day it was first deployed, and that's a relatively rare find with a phone of that age.
Ralph

JorgeAmely

Jorge

rp2813

On second glance, that handset cord does look like the original.

Nice over-all find with that phone.  Looks like it saw very light use.
Ralph

LM Ericsson

Regards,
-Grayson