This phone was my fathers and hung on the wall of his office for the last 40 years. The only markings I can find on it is on the mouthpiece and it says: "WESTERN TELEPHONE MANUFACTURING COMPANY CHICAGO". I'd really like to know what model and year it might be. If you need more info or pics I'd be happy to oblige. Thanks for your help.
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Nobody can help me learn more about this phone? I'd really like to know what it is and searches haven't come up with much info. I'd appreciate any help anyone might be able to give.
Could you add a couple of clear photos of the earpiece, showing it with the endcap removed and a photo of rear of phone.
Might also be worth contacting the Made In Chicago Museum:
https://www.madeinchicagomuseum.com/single-post/chicago-telephone-supply-co/
If you add photos as an attachment when posting, they will show like the example below, and won't be 'lost' when the link breaks.
:)
Are the letters Xed out H and C? Then the hand generator is probably Holtzer-Cabot.
However, parts could have been purchased by smaller companies which hired cabinet makers and others to assemble them. Also, parts such as transmitters and receivers were sometimes changed out by the trouble man (repairman) or by resellers.
Thank you so much for your expertise!
I tried to take better photos, including the ones you asked for. The lighting was still not ideal but hopefully they show a little more detail. I don't see the letters "H" or "C" in the Xed out pattern. It looks to be just a fancy X pattern. The body of the handset has a stamp that reads "757".
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Quote from: poplar1 on December 10, 2020, 07:00:18 AM
Are the letters Xed out H and C? Then the hand generator is probably Holtzer-Cabot...
Hard to read but looks like a five pole with TIC or TC? which has been x'd out (I adjusted the photo slightly to see if I could get a clearer image). There might even be a W and/or M on there and no x, the font doesn't look even like the same x's might in a row.
Screenshot of HC from another magneto for comparison.
—-
ETA: TiWMC ?
FABphones, thank you very much! They do look very similar. With my naked eye I cannot see the remnants of a letter "H" at all. My best camera is a gopro, which I'm having a hard time getting quality close up pictures with. I will try to get access to a better camera and better light and take closer pics, but here's the best I can do for now.
When I first saw the magneto, I thought Holtzer Cabot. But the Xs that confused me, couldn't see clear enough. But it does look to be one.
Looking at it closer it looks like a "W" "T" "M" "C" transposed over eachother. For Western Telephone Manufacturing Company.
The Ringer is Western Telephone, the magneto is Western Telephone, of course the transmitter is. The transmitter arm looks like a Dean. Very nice wood phone with a few non-Western parts like the receiver and transmitter arm. Definitely a keeper.
Here is the info on this company from the ATCA website showing some phones similar to yours.
Looks like that might have the correct transmitter arm after all. Very nice phone.
Transmitter plate looks like it is beveled. Beveled transmitter plates are early and scarce. Raised letters is also a plus.
Can you take a closeup pic with out the mouth piece screwed in. Very nice indeed....Doug
WDS, Thanks for your help. It's great to know those parts are all WTMC.
magicbrain, Thanks for the fact sheet. It looks almost exactly like the "Western Pioneer" model except my cabinet has a curved top and the one in the picture looks squared.
Doug Rose, That's interesting to hear about the transmitter plate. I got home from work late last night and have to run back in now, so I can't take a picture at the moment. If I get home when there's still light I will take a picture and post it up. If not I'll post one up on Saturday.
Everybody, I really appreciate all the help!
Here are the requested pics. Any idea on the year of manufacture of this phone? Maybe a ballpark value?
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I remember a Western Telephone that was not part of Western Electric. Maybe someone else will remember....Doug
Quote from: magicbrain on December 10, 2020, 10:34:23 AM
Here is the info on this company from the ATCA website showing some phones similar to yours.
Doug,
Western is listed in the ATCA fact sheets. I don't think I have ever come across a Western in person.
Magicbrain posted the page in post #13
Jim
Regarding the fact sheets:
The original ATCA Fact sheets were created decades ago and came in a nice 3 ring binder.
The new fact sheets are upgraded with color pictures and source. original fact sheets didn't list the source of the info.
I derived some additional fact sheets by going thru the binder and creating sheets for the companies that were mentioned , but didn't have their own sheet.
I am glad they updated these with the source of info.
I contacted the Made in Chicago Museum and asked if they might have any more information about the company or the phone. If they respond I'll post their finding. Thanks!
Here is another by Western Electrical....Doug
https://www.ebay.com/itm/293896107542
I never heard back from the museum. I would be interested in selling the phone but now that I know what it is, there doesn't seem to be a lot of info out there on this manufacturer and this phone to compare its value with.
Thanks for all the help everybody, I appreciate it!
Very nice phone! Western Telephone Manufacturing Company started from former employees of Western Telephone Construction after it folded. They weren't around for long. I just recently came across the same transmitter.
As others have stated this is a nice, almost complete Western Telephone Manufacturing Co. fiddleback. It is pretty rare although not necessarily that valuable. The receiver looks like a WE. I'd estimate retail value $250-400.
I don't know if that transmitter arm would have been original to the phone. I have seen other pictures of WTM phones with that Dean style transmitter arm which may have been the case for their single box phones but if you look at the ad for the fiddleback, you can see something printed on the arm base. Its "Western" and "Chicago" such as the attached pictures.