Metal WE 306 H5 in Vermilion on Shell

[Doug Rose]

I picked up a really nice metal WE 306 stamped on bottom, H5 stamped on shell. IV46 on coil, 12/45 on base. This was done by WE with the H5 stamped on the shell. Just what is the difference of a 306 and a 302. Quick glance the parts look the same. Why metal this late in the game, no concave c's on shell. It in really nice shape for paint....thanks....Doug

[unbeldi]

I picked up a really nice metal WE 306 stamped on bottom, H5 stamped on shell. IV46 on coil, 12/45 on base. This was done by WE with the H5 stamped on the shell. Just what is the difference of a 306 and a 302. Quick glance the parts look the same. Why metal this late in the game, no concave c's on shell. It in really nice shape for paint....thanks....Doug

A 306 had a vacuum tube for polarized ringing with a B3A ringer. H5 mounting code is correct. It was used for four-party selective and eight-party semi-selective service. The B3A ringer has only 2000 ohms DC resistance, so is a low-impedance ringer.

[Doug Rose]

Karl...that what surprised me, no tube. Dated 12/45 on ringer and elements are 12/45, NO date on base on inside, 306 C 3 12/45 on bottom outside. H5 clearly marked on shell. I know an H7, 307 has a tube. Why is is marked H5 if it is a 306?? Paint is really really good. Cords were cut....Doug

[unbeldi]

Karl...that what surprised me, no tube. Dated 12/45 on ringer and elements are 12/45, NO date on base on inside, 306 C 3 12/45 on bottom outside. H5 clearly marked on shell. I know an H7, 307 has a tube. Why is is marked H5 if it is a 306?? Paint is really really good. Cords were cut....Doug

A 307 doesn't have a tube, that's a local battery talking common battery signaling set.  It has an extra retardation coil though.  The only other set that had a tube, I think, is the 309 which is the local battery equivalent of the 306.

Someone must have removed the tube and used it as a straight 302.  It's an easy conversion.

[Doug Rose]

I stand corrected with pictures from my own thread....Old age!

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=10281.msg126998#msg126998

[poplar1]

306 (H5) also has a capacitor with only 2 wires since with a tube, no ringing capacitor is needed. Can you check the date on the 4-wire capacitor?

Can you also check the handset? Is it solid core or hollow? Is there a date code (such as 125) on the lip of the receiver cavity? I'm looking for any info on F-type handsets made between 7/45 and 4/46.

[unbeldi]

The 306 also had a different condenser, the 195C,  looks to me the condenser in your set has been changed as well.

[Doug Rose]

David 86 hollow

[unbeldi]

looks like the standard handset of the time (Aug 46), what I call a type 10, weighs ~225g.

[Doug Rose]

What's with the date on the bottom outside, more like a 500 set than a 302. Definitely a cool phone for a cool price of $20.51 and $12.75 shipping,,,,Doug

http://www.ebay.com/itm/131249258096

[unbeldi]

My take on the stamps is that these (on the outside) were always applied at the refurbishing or distribution center work shops.  For example, every original metallic color set I have seen, had a stamp on the bottom, because they were not made at the factory.

So, accordingly, I would say, this one became a 306 there also. The set has matching dates almost everywhere, except for the handset handle, which is a little later.  What is the date on the dial?

For circuit reference, I just uploaded my diagrams for the 306 here.

[poplar1]

The 400- series sets were always stamped (model and date) when originally manufactured. But the 306 markings on this set are a mystery.