Stainelss steel but what is it?

[dsk]

  I'm not sure if this is the find of the month, but at least it was affordable.  
http://tinyurl.com/oewccax
eBay description: Empire Liberty Telephone Co. Inc. 503C MN

At least something to play with, and it comes locked without a key.

Where did they use phones like this?

How did they work?

dsk

[Haf]

How did they work?

A picture from inside would help But I think maybe you will know by yourself when you get it.
I'm as curious as you I guess.

Haf

[Weco355aman]

My guess is that it is a North Electric payphone.

[twocvbloke]

Looks like something that could have been used in a prison or something...

[G-Man]

My guess is that it is a North Electric payphone.

It's not a North 103A payphone that was manufactured in the 70's, this is a post-divestiture piece of junk that was made when everyone tried to jump onto the bandwagon.

[G-Man]

Looks like something that could have been used in a prison or something...

It would not hold up to the abuse that it would be subjected to in a correctional facility.

Also, I should have captioned the previous photograph that I just posted as a North Electric 103A Payphone.

[G-Man]

October 7, 1984

  MINNEAPOLIS (AP) - The quarters keep jingling in. and what used to be the exclusive turf of Ma Bell is sprouting profits for competitors who have moved into the pay telephone business in Minnesota and other states.

Since June, when Minnesota's Public Service Commission made it the first state to allow competition in the pay phone business, competitive service has been legalized in New Jersey, Arizona, South Dakota and Montana.

"The orders are coming in literally by the thousands. The potential is absolutely  enormous,''  said  Joe  Sophie,  national marketing  director for Tonka  Phones Inc.,  a Minnetonka, Minn.,  company that has distributors in all 50 states.

  Dan Solberg, executive manager of sales and manufacturing for Empire Liberty Telephone Co., based in suburban Minneapolis, was more cautious in his optimism.

"I don't think business is as good as it should be in Minnesota. We're not seeing a tremendous number like we thought we would," Solberg said. However, he said business was beginning to pick up and was profitable.

[poplar1]

Tonka Phones or Tonka Toys?

[Jim Stettler]

My guess is that it is a North Electric payphone.

It's not a North 103A payphone that was manufactured in the 70's, this is a post-divestiture piece of junk that was made when everyone tried to jump onto the bandwagon.

AKA Teletek model 103 paystation introduced in 1964.  {according to  "Payphone History" by Ron Knappen the (new) 476 page edition.} On page 237  their is a flyer about them.
Jim

I was flipping thru the book and the photo caught my eye.

Clarification Note: I am comparing The North 103A to the Teletek model 103. THe Teletek was the Original brand on this "innovative new design"

[G-Man]

Please consult the photo once more.

Absolutely NOT a Teletek (division of Zero Manufacturing) payphone.

The original Teletek product line was taken over by North Electric.

My guess is that it is a North Electric payphone.

It's not a North 103A payphone that was manufactured in the 70's, this is a post-divestiture piece of junk that was made when everyone tried to jump onto the bandwagon.

AKA Teletek model 103 paystation introduced in 1964.  {according to  "Payphone History" by Ron Knappen the (new) 476 page edition.} On page 237  their is a flyer about them.
Jim

I was flipping thru the book and the photo caught my eye.

[G-Man]

[/quote]
AKA Teletek model 103 paystation introduced in 1964.  {according to  "Payphone History" by Ron Knappen the (new) 476 page edition.} On page 237  their is a flyer about them.
Jim

I was flipping thru the book and the photo caught my eye.
[/quote]

Note the only difference shown between the Teletek 103 payphone shown in Ron's book and the one of the North N103 that I posted above are the dials. Once North took over the product line they started using WECo type dials instead of AECo styles.

However, as I have already pointed out, there is a very marked difference between the two of them and the Empire payphone which does not look anything like either the Teletek depicted in Ron's book nor it's North clone that I previously posted.

[dsk]

The phone are at least identified. It is a tailored payphone, mainly built on a NE 554 with a little extra.
I have made a new thread called Empire Liberty Payphone.

Take a look here:
http://tinyurl.com/omoaotv

(http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=10378.msg110261#msg110261)

dsk

[Jim Stettler]

I added a clarification note to my Teletek post.
Jim