Has anyone ever seen a wood wall phone with the hookswitch on the front and not the side? Looks almost like an Interphone set up. Its missing the shelf, but definetly an interresting phone....Doug
http://tinyurl.com/c6atsqm
This appears to be a factory or WE distributing house modification. I say that because of the length of the wires going to the 143Y hookswitch and the fact that they are laced in with the ringer wires.
The hole on the side (through which the receiver cord runs) sure looks like it was intended for the hook. Perhaps this phone was modified to fit into a tight space where there was insufficient room on the side for the hook and receiver.
Larry