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Western Electric Ivory 205 or 208 Immaculate Shape

Started by Doug Rose, February 21, 2018, 08:46:58 AM

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Doug Rose

Kidphone

Partyline4

Can you tell the handset is actually solid colored plastic, or painted??

HarrySmith

Looks like the whole thing is painted, including the number card holder & the fingerwheel.

Check out the other "unusual phone" this seller has. Terry might be interested!
Harry Smith
ATCA 4434
TCI

"There is no try,
there is only
do or do not"

AE_Collector

Talk about "listed for failure"! Not putting the words Eiffel Tower or Ericsson Skeletal in the title but putting Cast Iron when I don't think there is any cast iron in it. Good start price for anyone who finds it at least.

Terry

poplar1

The 205 is from an estate in West Orange, NJ. He found it in a box in the attic. There was no 684J subset, no 750A PBX, and no other phones. EBay seller said he almost didn't buy it because he usually doesn't buy phones.
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

Babybearjs

I'm surprised to see it in ivory..... was this factory?, or refurb? almost looks like something from OPW.... powdercoating???
John

WEBellSystemChristian

#6
Wow, that 205 sure is something you don't see every day! :o

It looks like a factory refurb to me. The handset appears to be a brown F1, which would indicate not being a home brew. The painted fingerwheel, however, shows that it isn't original. If it were pre- '41, the fingerwheel would be polished Aluminum. 1941 or post '41, it would be clear plastic. The only exception to that rule would be if the set were painted in any of the metallic colors pre- '41.
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

poplar1

Quote from: WEBellSystemChristian on February 21, 2018, 01:17:42 PM
Wow, that 205 sure is something you don't see every day! :o

It looks like a factory refurb to me. The handset appears to be a brown F1, which would indicate not being a home brew. The painted fingerwheel, however, shows that it isn't original. If it were pre- '41, the fingerwheel would be polished Aluminum. Post '41, it would be clear plastic. The only exception to that rule would be if the set were painted in any of the metallic colors pre- '41.

I think the paint was done at the WE repair shop. It's true that 4J and 5J dials had white cases and stainless steel (unpainted) finger wheels 1937-1940, and that 5Js on plastic 302s had white cases and clear finger wheels starting in 1941. However, I think a 4HB-4 (ivory case and ivory finger wheel) looks better on this phone than a 4J or 5J.
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

AE_Collector

Clear plastic Fingerwheels in 1941? That amazes me! Really?

Terry

poplar1

Quote from: AE_Collector on February 21, 2018, 02:41:56 PM
Clear plastic Fingerwheels in 1941? That amazes me! Really?

Terry

Yes. The color plastic 302s were introduced in 1941 with clear finger wheels.
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

Partyline4

So what is the driving factor for this phone? The fact that it's painted, or it's configuration? Just curious...

WEBellSystemChristian

Quote from: Partyline4 on February 21, 2018, 10:28:07 PM
So what is the driving factor for this phone? The fact that it's painted, or it's configuration? Just curious...
Well, a little bit of both. The model itself is pretty hard to find, and anything ordered from Bell in any color from the '40s or earlier is desirable, regardless of a refurb or not. Color phones weren't popular at all at that time, so the fact that someone ordered a business set in color is pretty remarkable, especially since these early multilines weren't built in color from the factory.
Christian Petterson

"Whether you think you can or think you can't, you're right" -Henry Ford

Babybearjs

now, this phone was designed to just work on a 1A key system, right?
John

poplar1

Quote from: Babybearjs on February 21, 2018, 11:44:27 PM
now, this phone was designed to just work on a 1A key system, right?

Not at all. It is a 205 set to be used with a 750A PBX. There are only 8 conductors in the mounting cord: 4 as a 202 would have for connection to a subset + 4 control leads.
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

Babybearjs

so, it kind of wired like a 211.... with a 6040 key switch attached....
John