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Hopefully early 500

Started by phonium, November 01, 2020, 06:33:19 PM

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phonium

Marked 500 A/B on the base, and has the equalizer rivet, so hopefully this is a 1950. Should get here Tuesday, will post pictures then.
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Bell-System-Western-Electric-Black-Rotary-Phone-for-parts-or-repair/184511740510
George Amores
ATCA#4857

FABphones

Quote from: phonium on November 01, 2020, 06:33:19 PM
Marked 500 A/B on the base, and has the equalizer rivet...

?

Would you/someone give a bit more info on this for those of us not in the know.
And could you/someone please amend the photo and add an arrow pointing to it.

Thanks.
A collector of  'Monochrome Phones with Sepia Tones'   ...and a Duck!
***********
Vintage Phones - 10% man made, 90% Tribble
*************

phonium

Quote from: FABphones on November 01, 2020, 06:44:37 PM
Would you/someone give a bit more info on this for those of us not in the know.
And could you/someone please amend the photo and add an arrow pointing to it.
The A/B 500 was the earliest revision of the Western Electric 500, and was produced from about 4/49 (earliest known field trial base date) to about 2/51, when the T 500 was created. The key difference of the A/B 500 to the C/D 500 (most common revision) was the change from the 425A network and 311A equalizer to the newer 425B network. The equalizer in the A/B 500 was held down by a rivet on the base near where the handset cord enters the phone. On the C/D 500, since the equalizer was no longer present, the rivet was not there.
George Amores
ATCA#4857

FABphones

#3
Thanks for the info.

The rivet the arrow is pointing to in this photo?
If so, chances are this 500 is also a 1950/51 phone?
(I may have this wrong as stamp says C/D)

ETA: Leather feet.
A collector of  'Monochrome Phones with Sepia Tones'   ...and a Duck!
***********
Vintage Phones - 10% man made, 90% Tribble
*************

phonium

That was likely a 50/51, but because it says CONV on the base it has been refurbished. Yes that is the correct rivet.
George Amores
ATCA#4857

Pourme

~

What about the rubber feet? Would that be original, as opposed to leather?
Benny

Panasonic 308/616 Magicjack service

FABphones

Quote from: phonium on November 01, 2020, 07:20:27 PM
That was likely a 50/51, but because it says CONV on the base it has been refurbished. Yes that is the correct rivet.

Thanks again, fast reply.

One last question...  As it states CONV, and is a C/D, why is the rivet still there?

Quote from: Pourme on November 01, 2020, 07:32:43 PM
What about the rubber feet? Would that be original, as opposed to leather?

I thought leather were original? I recall reading posts about getting them swapped out.


Am looking forward to seeing the inside of this.
:)
A collector of  'Monochrome Phones with Sepia Tones'   ...and a Duck!
***********
Vintage Phones - 10% man made, 90% Tribble
*************

phonium

Yes the leather feet were sometimes replaced by rubber ones.
Sometimes the refurbisher didnt remove the old equalizer, so that is why the rivet is still there.
George Amores
ATCA#4857

phonium

Also a good way to tell how early your 500 set is, is where the model stamp is. If it is near the front edge, like in photo 1, it is from 4/49 to 3/51. If it is about where the handset cord enters the base, like photo 2, it is after 4/51.
George Amores
ATCA#4857

phonium

It arrived!
George Amores
ATCA#4857

Jim Stettler

 Put it in the November 2020 Find of the Month.
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=24489

It is amazing that 2 different forum members found 500 sets from the last quarter of 1950 and posted the find within 4 days of each other.
Today is November 2, 2020

SUnset2 bought a 12/50 500  October 2020. 
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=327.msg242982#msg242982
Posted October 30, 2020.

Can 2020 get any crazier?
Jim
Oh yea, tomorrow is Election day in the US.
You live, You learn,
You die, you forget it all.

Jim Stettler

You live, You learn,
You die, you forget it all.

poplar1

Quote from: phonium on November 01, 2020, 06:55:05 PM
The A/B 500 was the earliest revision of the Western Electric 500, and was produced from about 4/49 (earliest known field trial base date) to about 2/51, when the T 500 was created.

Actually, the earliest 500-type sets were coded "500" whether dial or manual as shown on the 1/50 Indianapolis set in the photo in rep!y #8 above. The 500A (manual) and 500B (dial) came later. See paul-f.com
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

magicbrain

Nice - What original 1950 components survived the refurbs?
Bruce

phonium

The shell is 1951, and the handset and handset cords were later. But all other dated parts were 1950.
George Amores
ATCA#4857