Westrex's Phone Collection

[Westrex]

Here's my phone collection. As I acquire more phones, I'll post more photos.

Phones:

- 1957 Automatic Electric Type 80
- Western Electric 500
- Tongya TY-006 pay phone
- Landis & GYR pay phone
- Automatic Electric Type 87
- Western Electric Trimline phone (rotary) from 1965
- Motorola Meteor car phone
- 1973 Northern Electric 2236QA 3-slot pay phone
- Generic desktop pay phone (I don't think there's a brand on it)

[Westrex]

Happy New Year everyone!

I Received a Deco-Tel chestphone for Christmas  . It's marked General Telephone of California and unfortunately, I broke the end of the spade terminal while trying to wire it (the old plug was very beat up and was very loose). I also took the 505A plug from my Trimline phone and put it on my 500 set, so it looks original (and less clunky too).

[Kellogg Kitt]

The Chestphone!  I remember those.  They came in a few different style and colors.

[paul-f]

The Chestphone!  I remember those.  They came in a few different style and colors.

A few were posted on this topic many years ago. Could use some new contributions.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=4419.0

[Westrex]

New purchase, 1962 (mostly) Western Electric 500 telephone. Does anyone know when Western Electric stopped putting straight handset cords on their phones, since this phone has one? The cords may not be original since my other 1954 WE 500 has a much thicker line cord.

[MMikeJBenN27]

I think they stopped in 56.  That is the year spring cords became standard equipment, and the straight cord became the option.

Mike

[Westrex]

I think they stopped in 56.  That is the year spring cords became standard equipment, and the straight cord became the option.

Mike

Hmm, this phone is the only one I've seen made after the 50's with a straight cord. I wonder why someone would've gone for the optional straight cord instead of the standard coiled one.

[MMikeJBenN27]

Maybe to be ornery/contrary.  Some folks are just that way, just like I refuse to buy a Japanese car, no matter how "wonderful" some say they are.

Mike

[david@london]

The handset cord is presumably a later replacement... it doesn't look like the type found on 1950s WE500s. The sleeve/restraint part is not fused to the cord, as is usual.

Cf Daniel Z's timeline (pinned topic in Gen Discussion board)...

1954 Coiled handset cords are now available as a premium option.

1956 Coiled handset cords, which were previously a premium option, are now standard.(?)


The question mark refers to DZ's request for additional info if poss.

[poplar1]

The handset cord is presumably a later replacement... it doesn't look like the type found on 1950s WE500s. The sleeve/restraint part is not fused to the cord, as is usual.

This appears to be a vinyl-jacketed  (PVC)  H4CL cord. By 1959, PVC had replaced Neoprene for cord jackets.

Perhaps Westrex could check the part number and date on the cord restraint inside the 500.

      Cords [for WE Black 500s]
             Handset Cord
                    H4BA            III 50  -- I 51
                    H4BD (semi-retractile)                    (C36.101 issue 13, May, 1955)
                    H4BF            IV-53 - II 56
                    H4BG                                             (C36.101 Issue 12, April, 1953)
                    H4BH (retractile)                             (C36.101 issue 13, May, 1955)

                    H4CJ  (spring)
                    H4CL             [This is a skinny pvc jacketed cord, straight]   
                    H4DU (modular)
                           clear   [4-78]
                           black
                             
See Reply #82 -- page 6 -- www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=11422.msg132909#msg132909

EDIT: This cord may have a different part number  (rather than H4CL), since the PVC jackets on replacement straight cords for F-handsets are skinnier (smaller diameter) by 1960. Westrex's cord appears thicker so maybe 1958-1959 rather than 1960-up.

[Westrex]

Hey everyone,

The cord is an H4CL, so it's original to the phone and not a replacement from RadioShack or something. I guess I own a phone with an option I'd never seen before.