500 'Rural' Dial Bezel??

[Mr. Bones]

     Do any of you have, or have you seen, a numeric (only) type dial bezel, for a 500-series phone?

     I recently saw one on ePay, on an ITT Kellogg 554, and thought it to be interesting, perhaps, somewhat rare(?)

     Maybe, these are quite common, but this is the first example I have seen.

Best regards!

[paul-f]

They are somewhat unusual on Western Electric sets -- used primarily on dials used in data communications applications or part of the teletype network.  For example:

   http://www.paul-f.com/we691.htm

They are somewhat more common on ITT and Stromberg Carlson sets that were sold to smaller independent phone companies.

[Adam]

This is sort-of a sideline for my collection, I own several ITT and Stromberg-Carlson 500 sets in various colors with numerals-only dials.

In their catalogues, ITT officially called these "Regular" dials, and dials with numbers and letters were called "Metropolitan" (or "Metro") dials.

Below is one of my faves, a red Stromberg-Carlson 500.

[Jim Stettler]

Terrance, you could of picked up some 500 type rural dial rings CHEAP at the Abilene KS show (yesterday  and today)I just got home about an hour ago.
I was hoping you would show up and surprise me .  Next year it is April 18-19 2014. You are so close you really should really make a point to  attend next year.
JMO,
Jim

[Mr. Bones]

Adam, thanks for sharing the pic and info!

     Beautiful phone, by the way! Do you have any examples of 500's/554's with the 'regular' bezel, in black? I'd just love to see picture(s)!

I am intrigued by this variant. Now, of course, I'll have to find me some.

Best regards!

[Mr. Bones]

Terrance, you could of picked up some 500 type rural dial rings CHEAP at the Abilene KS show (yesterday  and today)I just got home about an hour ago.
I was hoping you would show up and surprise me .  Next year it is April 18-19 2014. You are so close you really should really make a point to  attend next year.
JMO,
Jim

Jim, sorry I couldn't make it there!

     I had really hoped to be able to, both to meet fellow collectors, and to enjoy the displays, auctions, etc. I truly appreciate your more-than-generous offer of 10 boxes of C.R.A.P., but didn't see it until well past the expiry date that morning. I get up at 0500-0530-ish, but I don't usually get on the computer until after work. (post 1600+)

     With my sincerest apologies,

Terrence

[Jim Stettler]

It's OK. I am going to try to sucker "Nick in Manitou" to haul it away. Otherwise I probably drop it on q younger Nick that I know.


This year was a lot of payphone stuff (which Luckily I don't collect). I did get a green rotary, a  gold panel, a 10 button 3 slot, and a WE 3A field trial in light gray. and some spare pieces/parts for my payphone non collection.
I will post more about the show on a different board
Jim

[Adam]

Do you have any examples of 500's/554's with the 'regular' bezel, in black? I'd just love to see picture(s)!

Why, yes, I do!   

This is a black 500 set with a regular dial made by ITT for the Puerto Rico Telephone Co.  I really love this phone for the look and its history of knowing where it was used.

BTW, I phonied up the number card using Photoshop from a real number card and inserting the proper original area code for Puerto Rico.

[Mr. Bones]

     Adam, thanks for the pictures! Cool phone, with an interesting background. I was once stationed in Puerto Rico, and I can well imagine the types of conversations that might well have been had on it!

    Seeing the black one, as requested, only confirms what I secretly thought to be true... I Gotta Find one! The numeric dial plate really mixes up things. I'll have to hunt/scrounge around, see if'n I can find me some of those dial bezels.

Thanks again, and best regards!

[mienaichizu]

Rural dial bezel ITT and SC 500 and also AE 80 are common here in the Philippines

[rdelius]

The  GTE sets in Hawaii had rural dial bezels

[HarrySmith]

For anyone interested just came across this on eBay:
http://www.ebay.com/itm/200917736614
An AE numbers only dial plate on a multi-line phone!

[mienaichizu]

I also have the same phone in my collection