Pink 554 (Dates Maching)

[b3tamax11]

I was at a flea market a month ago and I saw a very nice pink 1961 Northern Electric 554. I hesitated and ended up leaving it behind. I went back to the same flea market yesterday and it was still there so I scooped it up. Turns out it's all dates matching and in excellent condition. It even has its original number card, too. I'm assuming the card in it was originally in a 302 or a 354 by the way it's cut.

[unbeldi]

I was at a flea market a month ago and I saw a very nice pink 1961 Northern Electric 554. I hesitated and ended up leaving it behind. I went back to the same flea market yesterday and it was still there so I scooped it up. Turns out it's all dates matching and in excellent condition. It even has its original number card, too. I'm assuming the card in it was originally in a 302 or a 354 by the way it's cut.

The card style is too late for a 302 or 354.  The card was issued in the often narrow window of time between DDD service and all-number calling (ANC), probably in the period from 1960 to 1965.  Pink plastics for the 554 were introduced late 1958 or early 1959, so the card may very well be the first card issued for that phone.  The finger wheel seems to have a closed center which didn't come on 554 until ca. 1964. If original, this places the first installation of the phone essentially to 1964 or 5.   I can't make out the area code on the number card.   Is it 703 or 705 ?

703 was an original plan area of 1947, while 705 was created in 1957 in Ontario.  As your profile states you are from Ontario, I assume 705 is correct.

705 AL3-8647  ?

If so:   Since 705 was further split in 1962 to 807, I assume that it was issued actually in the remaining 705 area.   AL  is probably the ALgoma exchange in Sault Ste. Marie. On the Michigan side they had the MElrose 3 exchange.
Today, ALgoma (253) is served by a Northern Telecom DMS 100 switch.
I don't have data handy right now to find out when the area switched to ANC, but I suspect it was later than most places across the border.  I think in some places there it took until the 1970s ?


PS: I just now discovered that you are listing the date as 1961.  Hmm, did Northern Electric use closed center finger wheels this early?  They did exist this early, of course, because they were first installed on Princesses in 1959.

[b3tamax11]

The same flea market had a 302 with an ALgoma 4- card in it, so I am assuming you are correct about the number.

[poplar1]

Is the finger stop missing? Your dial appears to be a 7C, but the finger wheel you have won't fit on a 7C without bending the finger stop or installing a different type (which will not prevent the finger wheel from turning).

What year did Northern Electric start making color 500s and 554s?
What year did they stop making 7D (black) and 7C (color ) dials?

[b3tamax11]

Is the finger stop missing? Your dial appears to be a 7C, but the finger wheel you have won't fit on a 7C without bending the finger stop or installing a different type (which will not prevent the finger wheel from turning).

What year did Northern Electric start making color 500s and 554s?
What year did they stop making 7D (black) and 7C (color ) dials?

Thanks for catching the finger stop, I actually took it off to clean and I forgot to put it back in. I'm not sure when Northern Electric stopped making the black dials, but I have one dated 1959 so at least to that point.

[WEBellSystemChristian]

I sold a NE 500 (Pink) that had an original closed center fingerwheel. I believe it was dates-matching 1961-62. I would guess that NE stopped using open centers when the new fingerwheel arrived with the Princess in 1959.

[McHeath]

Wow, that's a sweet find for a flea market find.  I've never once seen anything like that at a flea market, antique store, or thrift store here in years of looking.  Good catch. 

[19and41]

Nice!

[Pourme]

I don't find pieced like that at our local flea markets...very cool!

[unbeldi]

The same flea market had a 302 with an ALgoma 4- card in it, so I am assuming you are correct about the number.

AL4 (254) is indeed also a valid prefix still in that wire center (311 Queen ST E, Sault Ste. Marie, ON)
705-253 705-254 705-256 705-257
705-541 705-542
705-759
705-782
705-941 705-942 705-945 705-946 705-949