Stromberg Carlson phones - when were they made? (1443, 1543)

[mr_a500]

Unlike Western Electric phones, the Stromberg Carlson models don't seem to have any dates stamped anywhere. I've searched the internet, trying to find out at least rough date ranges for the 1443 and 1543, but I only get vague ideas of early 50's and late 50's. I know that sometime in the late 50's, Stromberg stopped making the 1543 and switched to a licensed version of the WE 500.

Does anybody have more accurate information about when models were introduced or discontinued?

[Kenny C]

i have a 1543 from 1962

[mr_a500]

How do you know it's from 1962? I don't see any dates on any of my Stromberg phones.

[Kenny C]

its right on the network in orange ink stamped 10-62 and a 1543 is the wall phone SC right

[Dennis Markham]

Mr_a500 welcome to the forum.  Hopefully someone here will be able to weigh in on your question as to the specific times these phones were made.  

Have you seen the TCI page for Stromberg Carlson telephones?  I don't see specific dates but you can get a lot of information here:

http://www.telephonecollectors.org/library/sberg/sberg.htm

~Dennis

[mr_a500]

its right on the network in orange ink stamped 10-62 and a 1543 is the wall phone SC right

No, the 1543 is a desk phone. The 1553 is the wall phone.

How odd. I've got three 1543 and one 1443 and none of them have dates on the network.

[mr_a500]

Mr_a500 welcome to the forum.  Hopefully someone here will be able to weigh in on your question as to the specific times these phones were made. 

Have you seen the TCI page for Stromberg Carlson telephones?  I don't see specific dates but you can get a lot of information here:

http://www.telephonecollectors.org/library/sberg/sberg.htm

~Dennis

Thanks Dennis and thanks for the link. Unfortunately, it doesn't seem to help with the dates.

[Kenny C]

i will post pictures of the date tonight

[mr_a500]

Here's a photo of the 1443 network. The orange marking looks like it's just a part number. There are no other orange markings - unless it's on the underside. (but I don't think that's likely - and I don't feel like ripping the phone apart to find out )




Here's my 1443. I replaced the plastic dial background with the newer metal 1543 one (it's much nicer). It's strange that the older ones had plastic and they switched to metal. Usually, it's the other way around. (like with the dial rings)



I think that the 1443 was introduced in response to the WE 500, but it still has the 40's handset. I imagine it's somewhere between 1950 and 1954.


Here's my nicest 1543. It has the plastic dial ring, which makes me think it's late 50's (but still 50's because of the Bakelite handset). But that's as far as I can go with my "phone detective work" without more information.

[paul-f]

Unlike Western Electric phones, the Stromberg Carlson models don't seem to have any dates stamped anywhere. I've searched the internet, trying to find out at least rough date ranges for the 1443 and 1543, but I only get vague ideas of early 50's and late 50's. I know that sometime in the late 50's, Stromberg stopped making the 1543 and switched to a licensed version of the WE 500.

Does anybody have more accurate information about when models were introduced or discontinued?

Welcome!

You picked a good initial topic.  I grew up in Rochester Telephone territory.  My parents had a 1243 manual set that was replaced with a 1543 manual set, which was later upgraded to dial operation.  Unfortunately I was young enough in the 1950s that the dates are somewhat fuzzy now.  I do remember that the first phone number I memorized was CHarlotte 2-2046W.  We got a private line when the exchange was converted to dial.

Anyway, SC documentation with dates is also a challenge to find.  Here are a few data points:

• SC Engineers' Notebook, Jan/Feb 1945 describes the 1240-series.  General availability is believed to start in 1946.
• SC Field Handbook pages for the 1543 marked T-1001/25C/356/GLP.  I suspect 356 represents an initial revision date of March, 1956.

Any other documents out there?

[mr_a500]

@paul-f

I love your website! That's the main site I used for learning about the Western Electric 500 and the changes by year. It helped me pick my first 500 - from 7/53 with (mostly) matching dates. Now I'm starting to get obsessed about finding the elusive 1949 and 1950 ones... and it's all your fault! 

[paul-f]

@paul-f

<snip>Now I'm starting to get obsessed about finding the elusive 1949 and 1950 ones...

You'll find a 1950 set eventually.  They turn up from time to time.  The closest most of us will get to finding a 1949 or earlier set is to look at one in a museum or read D/P's thread on the forum...
   http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=2394.0

[Kenny C]

here is my 1553 with a 10-62 date.

[mr_a500]

Thanks for the photo. I suspect that Stromberg started putting dates on their phones after they started producing licensed WE 500 models (and to be like WE, they added dates). I'm still left wondering though.

Why couldn't everybody put dates on everything like Western Electric did?

[Tom B]

I've just bought a 1543 that's dated 6 47 on the base, and receiver and transmitter elements in the handset. I presume these are authentic?