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500 - July 1950 base

Started by gpo706, July 17, 2012, 07:20:03 PM

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gpo706

It came from Michigan, has a "property of Michigan Bell" sticker on the base, top right has "CD 500 CONV" however at the front of the base I've just discovered a faint paint impression of "7/50 500".

The rest is refurbed, but is the base a very early 500 chassis?

"now this should take five minutes, where's me screwdriver went now..?"

McHeath

Nice find.  Another early set, seems that many of them were refurbed into another existence over the years.  What sort of dates on the internals?

gpo706

I shall take it apart and get some pics McHeath.
"now this should take five minutes, where's me screwdriver went now..?"

gpo706

#3
Earpiece - "L 6 71"
RX - " 7 10 7 5"
TX - "11 16" and "76 T" stamped.
Base - "7/50 500"
Case - "M23" and "4 G" or "4 C", then "70" or "79" (can't really make it out without a microscope!)
Network - "425B 10/59"
Dial - in red markings "9CA 2 79"
Original dial card "M AREA CODE 313 etc"

Bit of of a Frankenphone then eh?

Anyhow McHeath I'm quite proud at least the base is a very early 500 if nothing else, and gave me the chance to give the body and dial a good dusting!





"now this should take five minutes, where's me screwdriver went now..?"

McHeath

You've got a very rare phone base, not many 1950 model 500s left.  I'd be happy to have an early chassis of that date, my oldest 500 is from 12/50.

The huge date span of the phone is just a sign of how seriously well run the Bell System was, nothing wasted. 

gpo706

The "acoustic dampening" might be 1950 as well!
"now this should take five minutes, where's me screwdriver went now..?"

McHeath


Dennis Markham

Quote from: gpo706 on August 08, 2012, 04:12:47 AM
The "acoustic dampening" might be 1950 as well!

The handset in 1950 would have been a G1.  There was no cotton acoustical barrier in the G1 handsets.  Looks like a  G3 was added sometime later.

McHeath

Oh yeah!  I forgot about that.  :P  So yes it's a later G3.

gpo706

I'm not sure of the difference between a G1 or G3 handset, but thanks for all the replies folks.
"now this should take five minutes, where's me screwdriver went now..?"

poplar1

G-1 is Bakelite; G-3 is hollow plastic. All the color ones are plastic. All the black ones are bakelite from 1949 to about 1964, then they too are G-3 plastic
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.