Very Interesting WE Transmitter Dated 1/13/33

[Doug Rose]

I have never seen anything like this. ....Doug

https://www.ebay.com/itm/184212681954

[Jim Stettler]

I have been watching that. The only guess I could come up with, is that it may be an educational piece to teach school kids about telephones, and to do telephone related experiments.
Just my guess,
Jim

[Doug Rose]

thanks Jim....a good guess as any. It is sharp looking but I feel with a reserve...it will go high....Doug

[TelePlay]

More images for forum posterity . . .

[rdelius]

That tx capsule looks German-note DRP marking

[paul-f]

Another guess -- Since it would be screwed down, it would provide a solid platform for testing transmitter capsules on a production line.

The hinge and clip would make it easy for a tester to snap in a capsule, give it a quick voice test and remove it to test the next unit.

If the dimensions fit a WE F-type transmitter, the capsule in the auction may not be original.

[Jim Stettler]

Another guess -- Since it would be screwed down, it would provide a solid platform for testing transmitter capsules on a production line.

The hinge and clip would make it easy for a tester to snap in a capsule, give it a quick voice test and remove it to test the next unit.

If the dimensions fit a WE F-type transmitter, the capsule in the auction may not be original.

I think that is a better guess.
Jim

[Doug Rose]

Another guess -- Since it would be screwed down, it would provide a solid platform for testing transmitter capsules on a production line.

The hinge and clip would make it easy for a tester to snap in a capsule, give it a quick voice test and remove it to test the next unit.

If the dimensions fit a WE F-type transmitter, the capsule in the auction may not be original.

Looks like the winner Paul.

I have been seeing more reserve auctions lately, they had almost disappeared. I still like the opening bid to be the reserve, so at least you know where you are....Doug

[countryman]

The capsule is a German Carl Lorenz type with the typical spiral spring.
Carl Lorenz AG made tons of capsules and other stuff, it merged into ITT post-war.

DRP = Deutsches Reichs-Patent: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deutsches_Patent-_und_Markenamt

It makes sense that it is a test stand. But what was it hooked to? An oscilloscope?

[Jack Ryan]

Another guess -- Since it would be screwed down, it would provide a solid platform for testing transmitter capsules on a production line.

The hinge and clip would make it easy for a tester to snap in a capsule, give it a quick voice test and remove it to test the next unit.

If the dimensions fit a WE F-type transmitter, the capsule in the auction may not be original.

I'm not really sure how that would work. The style of the holder suggests "solid back" (position dependent) so it would need to be fastened to a wall making an ergonomically crap working environment. Given the mouthpiece, it is not geometrically matched to a modern element anyway.

The parts don't look like US parts and the element isn't Western Electric.

What sort if test would it be? Certainly not to a standard - more likely continuity. There are a lot of better, simpler and faster tests that can be done to test the basic operation of a transmitter element.

That said, it is a pretty flash piece of equipment for something home made and the quick release does suggest "test gear".

I don't know what it is but it certainly gets the thinking organ working.

Jack

[Jim Stettler]

I notice it is in Arvada , CO.
Another forum member mentioned to me an estate sale at George Ek's  Arvada home today.
George had a lot of cool stuff, This looks like something he would collect.
Jim

[TelePlay]

Sold for $92 plus shipping. The Reserve Price was $60. Went for cheap, it seems.

Winning bidder was 1***1 (420) with a last second snipe placed 5 seconds before end of auction. Beat out 1***8 (1114) who bid $91 with 7 seconds to go.

1***1(420)   $92.00   22 Mar 2020 at 8:46:32PM PDT
1***8(1114)   $91.00   22 Mar 2020 at 8:46:30PM PDT
8***8(5101)   $86.01   22 Mar 2020 at 5:57:31PM PDT
1***8(1114)   $85.00   22 Mar 2020 at 8:46:26PM PDT
4***5(1655)   $70.00   18 Mar 2020 at 10:39:21PM PDT
1***8(577)   $45.00   17 Mar 2020 at 3:58:32PM PDT
4***5(1655)   $41.58   17 Mar 2020 at 1:06:30AM PDT
1***r(954)   $38.51   16 Mar 2020 at 1:01:53PM PDT
i***4(1027)   $20.00   16 Mar 2020 at 11:24:34PM PDT
4***5(1655)   $15.00   15 Mar 2020 at 11:46:10PM PDT
Starting Price   $14.99   15 Mar 2020 at 8:46:37PM PDT