WE 591

[contraste]

Can anybody shed some light on this model?

As you can see in the photo it is marked A/B 591 and dated 11 -6? (1, 4, ??)
paul-f.com comes up with this:

Desk set supplied to operating company with no ringer -- for installation of a frequency selective ringer for party line use.

The person selling the phone (here in the UK) tells me it works well and rings properly - you can see the bells in the picture.

[Dennis Markham]

The A/B 591 models were made by Western Electric with no Bell System markings for smaller Independent companies.  They usually were supplied with no ringers and the smaller TelCo put their own ringers inside, usually a frequency ringer.  You can see an example of a couple on Paul Fassbender's site.  I have run across a few in my travels.  Once a C4A ringer is installed it operates just like a regular model 500.  They're kind of interesting as the molded logos do not say Bell Systems (as mentioned).   Here the site:

http://www.paul-f.com/we591.htm

[contraste]

Thanks Dennis.

I did look at the paul-f.com site.

That shows a B variant. Were the A type essentially the same thing?

Seems that the one I am looking at has had a standard ringer installed at some stage but has lost its red line cord along the way.

[Dan]

Yes the line looks replaced, as well as the seven hole ear cap (instead of six).

[Dennis Markham]

The photo on Paul's site is titled "B" but the inset photo shows an A/B.  I don't know what the difference is between the A and B designation.

[Dan]

Contraste, it's a 1961, not a 1964. the '64 feet were smaller and rounder, whilst the 61's were like the suede older ones, but harder plastic

[contraste]

Thanks for all your help guys. Trying to decide whether to buy it or not.

[McHeath]

How much do they want for it? 

[contraste]

It was on Ebay UK, from a seller in England.

Starting price was £29.99 = £10.00 shipping ($58 approx. in total)

I let it go. It ended unsold, zero bids.

Should I have bid?

[Dan]

Email him back with a lower offer, you may get a deal