Surviving Postwar Color WE Telephones

[WEBellSystemChristian]

This topic is to record certain surviving population numbers of various Western Electric color telephones ranging from the immediate postwar period to the latest Tenite 500s/554s of the 1950s. Although I could add more telephone variations, the current rarity of 302, 202/302 Tenite variations, and 500 colors are possibly the most debated, and a saved list of the current surviving numbers will probably most benefit collectors.

This is open to anyone who owns/has owned a telephone that fits within this category. If your phone now belongs to someone else or you are speaking for a former/inactive/another member or someone outside of CRPF, make sure you mention who owns the phone currently, and make sure that person knows you are adding it here.

If you wish to add a telephone to the list, please keep these things in mind:

1) Is it dates-matching? If not, please mention it in your reply to this topic, so I or other forum members can judge whether or not it fits in the list or not. Color 302s are generally not a concern in the area of matching dates, so specific dates may not matter in this instance. You may not use 302s built before 1946, or during the prewar period.

2) Is it Tenite (soft plastic)? This usually only applies to WE 500s and WE 554s. While it's important to have all Thermoplastic on a non-Tenite 302 set, this is mostly important for late 1950s 500/554 sets. If you don't know for sure that the entire phone is made of Tenite (tap method, smell) then it may not apply. However, many colors started upgrading to ABS as early as 1958, so it might be a good idea to leave the date limit to May 1959, unless your set was built later and is indeed all Tenite. If you still believe your set fits, feel free to PM me or voice your opinion in this topic.

3) Is it authentic WE? This rule is mostly directed at the Continental/Imperial sets, but also applies to phones also made by other manufacturers. If your telephone was painted or plated by an outside refurbishing company or by someone individually, it should not be included here. Only telephones (namely 202 Continentals) painted by Western Electric or Bell System in any of the listed colors may be applied. Also, any phone based on a Western Electric design, but built by a different manufacturer (ITT, Kellogg, Stromberg-Carlson, etc) should not be included in this list. Again, PM me or reply to the topic if you have concerns with this rule or a telephone that falls just outside this rule that you believe still fits.

Pictures are always welcome!

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INDEX TO PHONE TYPES

202, Imperial/Continental
302/354 ('49-'54)
302, Tenite ('55)
5302
500
500, Black Dial
500, Two Tone
554

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Western Electric 302s (1949-1954)

Western Electric 302	Ivory (-4)	4
Western Electric 302	Gray-Green (-19)	1
Western Electric 302	Pekin Red (-20)	2
Western Electric 302	Dark Blue (-18)	1
Western Electric 302	Old Rose (-16)	1

Western Electric 354s

Western Electric 354

Ivory (-4)

3

*Different variations and models of the 300 series, including the 400 series, may be accepted here.*

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Western Electric 202 Continentals/Imperials

Western Electric 202 Continental Ivory (-50)	2
Western Electric 202 Continental Moss Green (-51)	2
Western Electric 202 Continental Mediterranean Blue (-57)	0
Western Electric 202 Continental Rose Beige (-55)	0
Western Electric 202 Continental Pekin Red (-20)	1
Western Electric 202 Continental (Cherry, Blood)   Red (-53)	0
Western Electric 202 Continental Gold (painted body+handset)	0
Western Electric 202 Imperial Gold (plated body)	2
Western Electric 202 Imperial Silver (plated body)	1

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Western Electric 'Tenite' 302s (1955)

Western Electric 302 Tenite Ivory (-50A)		0
Western Electric 302 Tenite Moss Green (-51A)		0
Western Electric 302 Tenite Mediterranean Blue (-57A)		0
Western Electric 302 Tenite Pekin Red (-20)		0
Western Electric 302 Tenite Red (-53A)		1

*Set must have non-painted Tenite housing and either a matching-color painted or non-painted Black handset, and a White dial with clear fingerwheel or black dial with painted metal fingerwheel. Any questionable variation may be discussed in this topic*

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Western Electric 500s

Western Electric 500 Ivory (-50)		3
Western Electric 500 Moss Green (-51)		5
Western Electric 500 Oxford Gray (-52)		2
Western Electric 500 Red (-53)		3
Western Electric 500 Mahogany Brown (-54)		2
Western Electric 500 Rose Beige (-55)		2
Western Electric 500 Yellow (-56)		2
Western Electric 500 Mediterranean Blue (-57)		3
Western Electric 500 White (-58)		2
Western Electric 500 Pink (-59)		4
Western Electric 500 Light Beige (-60)		2
Western Electric 500 Light Gray (-61)		3
Western Electric 500 Aqua (-62)		2

*Do not include two-tones or black dial sets in this category, this is for full color sets only. If you list a two-Tone or black dial set in this topic, specify which one it is, and that it's not full color, so that I may put it in the appropriate category. If all major plastic components match in color, the phone fits here. Different variations of the 500 or models that fit within the 500 series (excluding 554s) are accepted here.*

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Western Electric 554s

Western Electric 554 Ivory (-50)		2
Western Electric 554 Moss Green (-51)		1
Western Electric 554 Oxford Gray (-52)		1
Western Electric 554 Red (-53)		2
Western Electric 554 Mahogany Brown (-54)		0
Western Electric 554 Rose Beige (-55)		1
Western Electric 554 Yellow (-56)		2
Western Electric 554 Mediterranean Blue (-57)		1
Western Electric 554 White (-58)		3
Western Electric 554 Pink (-59)		1
Western Electric 554 Light Beige (-60)		2
Western Electric 554 Light Gray (-61)		2

*Different variations and models of the 554 family (excluding 500 series phones and desk sets) are accepted here.*

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Western Electric Two-Tone 500s

Western Electric 500 Ivory (-50A)		2
Western Electric 500 Moss Green (-51A)		0
Western Electric 500 Oxford Gray(-52A)		1
Western Electric 500 Red (-53A)		1
Western Electric 500 Mahogany Brown (-54A)		0
Western Electric 500 Rose Beige (-55A)		0
Western Electric 500 Yellow (-56A)		0
Western Electric 500 Mediterranean Blue (-57A)		0

*Because two-tones were often upgraded Black sets, a date-matching housing does not matter, so long as the housing (and most major components of the phone) were built before 1957 and the phone was found in two tone configuration (black dial, cords and handset) when you acquired it. Do not add to the list if you know it was changed to a two-tone outside of Western Electric or the Bell System*

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Western Electric Black Dial 500s

Western Electric 500 Oxford Gray (-52)		1
Western Electric 500 Red (-53)		1
Western Electric 500 Mediterranean Blue (-57)		1
Western Electric 500 Yellow (-56)		1

*For black-dial 500s only. The telephone must be dates-matching or clearly built at the factory in black dial configuration. Must have a black dial and Gray cords, with all other plastics in matching color, in any of the colors listed. No later than First Quarter 1955, and must not have been converted (to your knowledge) to black-dial configuration outside of Western Electric or the Bell System. If you believe your set was black dial at one point, but is missing major components, feel free to discuss it in this topic.*

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Western Electric 5300 Series

Western Electric 5300 White (-58)		0
Western Electric 5300 Pink (-59)		0
Western Electric 5300 Light Beige (-60)		1
Western Electric 5300 Aqua (-62)		0

*Both 5302s and 5304s are acceptable here. Because 5300s use an older chassis, only the housing, handset, cords, and dial (in some cases) matter for dates-matching purposes. If anyone is aware of a 5300 series color other than the ones posted above, please let me know!*

[WEBellSystemChristian]

It looks like construction is done, so post away everyone, so we can get the counting started!

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Here's my list:

302s (Classic):
-(2) Ivory

354s:
-(1) Ivory

202 Continentals:
-(1) Pekin Red
-(1) Gold Imperial
-(1)Gray-Green

Color 500s:
-(2) Ivory
-(4) Moss Green
-(1) Oxford Gray
-(3) Red
-(2) Rose Beige
-(1) Yellow
-(2) Mediterranean Blue
-(1) White
-(3) Pink
-(1) Light Beige
-(2) Light Gray
-(1) Aqua

Color 554s:
-(1) Oxford Gray
-(1) Red
-(2) White
-(1) Light Beige
-(1) Light Gray
-(1) Yellow

Black Dial 500 sets:
-(1) Yellow

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Huh, no replies yet?

It can't take that long to do a collection count!

[andre_janew]

Color 500s
(1) Sea foam green 1960s Kellogg/ITT
(1) Red WE 1965 base with 1969 plastics and cords

Color 2500s
(1) Green hardwired
(1) Red modular
(1) Faded aqua modular

Color Trimlines
(1) Avocado 1970s rotary

[WEBellSystemChristian]

Well, it's been nearly a year and a half without many contributions. I've seen some of the collections here on CRPF--I think this could be successful. Not too much has happened here lately; just take a look through your collection, take note of what phones you have that fit the list, and post 'em here.

I'll try bumping this thread, hoping for another shot!

[MMikeJBenN27]

Have a Imperial 202 listed on E-Bay, choice of 634A or 685A Subset with an early solid F-1 handset converted by the phone company into an F-4 and painted ivory.