'04 Perch on 51AL c/s ?

[Fabius]

I am on the road and stopped in a antique shop that had  a WE c/s. The perch was the earlier '94 type. The original number on the perch was stamped out and it was marked 51AL. It would seem to be a WECO reuse of a perch?

[TelePlay]

Can you make out what it was that was crossed out?

[HarrySmith]

Yes, that was a company refurb. I believe all those model sticks were. Others will know for sure and chime in here, I am not the Candle Stick expert. I only own 1.

[Fabius]

Can you make out what it was that was crossed out?

I tried but no. I'm kicking myself for not getting it. It had a 2AA dial with no notch. A 144 receiver and a WECO metal subset. I didn't get the model number of the subset. It is in an antique shop with a price of $195. I'll offer $150. I would at least expect the customary 10% off. The shop is a hour away and my wife wants to go to a place in the opposite direction. Maybe she wouldn't notice the detour.

[HarrySmith]

I'll take it at that price! 

[poplar1]

Western Electric made  new 51ALs from about 1925-1930; they are shown in Catalog #6, 1925. There were also conversions, which were done in the WE repair shops. 151ALs, on the other hand, were always conversions.

If the subset has enclosed gongs, it is probably a 534A.

[Sargeguy]

Interesting.  I have seen the earlier types made into 151-ALs and 120-ALs, but never a 51-AL.  Are you sure it isn't a 151-AL? I don't think they had many "151-AL" stamps.  I have handled a lot of 151-ALs and usually they used the 51-AL stamp and added a "1" before it.  Sometimes the one matches up pretty well and is aligned, sometimes the 1 can be hard to see, and may just be a scrape.   

[Fabius]

Interesting.  I have seen the earlier types made into 151-ALs and 120-ALs, but never a 51-AL.  Are you sure it isn't a 151-AL? I don't think they had many "151-AL" stamps.  I have handled a lot of 151-ALs and usually they used the 51-AL stamp and added a "1" before it.  Sometimes the one matches up pretty well and is aligned, sometimes the 1 can be hard to see, and may just be a scrape.   

I've decided to buy it and I just checked with the shop to make sure they are open today with it being New Year's Eve. And they are. I'll report back.

[Fabius]

Here's the picture of the stamping on the perch.

[Jack Ryan]

It might have been a 20B perch.

Jack

[Sargeguy]

I agree 20-B repurposed as a 51-AL.  Very interesting!

[Fabius]

More pictures. I was able to buy it for $165. It has a 2AA dial, no notch. The subset is a 534A. The cloth wool? cords are in very good condition. I removed the base and there were no dates. I was wondering if there would have green refurb date stamps but no. Interesting number card which I haven't seen before.

When I opened the subset there was something hard wrapped in newspaper inside. I was thinking wow, this is where they hid their gold coins and they forgot all about them. But no, it was the dry wall screws that must of held the subset in place. The paper was dated 1989.

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Nice buy! I agree, I see 20B...

On a really good day, the dial alone could sell for what you paid for everything.