Lunchtime score (WE 20-AB and NE subsets)

[NorthernElectric]

I've been trying to make arrangements to see what this guy had for a couple of weeks now.  It finally happened today at lunch.  It was a little over 15 minutes drive from work one way, so I figured I'd have about 25 minutes to look around and see if he had anything I wanted.  I wound up about 15 minutes late getting back and had to make up the time after work.

Here's what I got: a Western Electric 20AB, 2 Northern Electric 684BX subsets, and some possibly new old stock parts; 2 F1 transmitters, an HA1 receiver, and a 3 conductor cloth handset cord.  He quoted me a package deal at $90C for the 20AB and the parts, plus $30 for the pair of subsets.  In my hast, I failed to notice the small chip and crack on the one subset (visible in the photo), and that it felt a bit lighter than the other one because someone has converted it to just a ringer box by removing the 101 coil and swapping out the capacitor for a different one.  But I can easily put that right with parts.

I should have asked for a breakdown on the prices, but I figure assuming the parts were worth $5 apiece, then the phone was $70.  I was a bit worried about the phone, because the perch and receiver assembly were hanging by the wires, but it looks like the only thing missing is 4 screws and the mouthpiece, at least to my inexperienced eye.

There was lots more there so I will be going back soon on a day off when I won't be in such a hurry.   

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Great finds!!

How much did you pay for all of it? I bet the 20AB will look great nickel-plated!!

[NorthernElectric]

How much did you pay for all of it? I bet the 20AB will look great nickel-plated!!

$120 CDN total for all of it.

[HarrySmith]

Nice!

[DNO]

Another nice find, Cliff!

[Sargeguy]

The subsets are worth about $60 USD each, and the 20-AB brassed out but mostly intact would be around $75 or so.  The 20-AG was nickel originally, and came with a number of different styles of hand/headset/transmitter configurations.  These could be found as Railroad apparatus and Interphones apparently.  That is an interesting transmitter, we did not have it on the list until now.

[NorthernElectric]

That is an interesting transmitter, we did not have it on the list until now.

I believe the transmitter may be original to this phone, at least the combination is listed in this catalog.