302 magneto??

[HarrySmith]

I was just offered this phone, at first I dismissed it as I am not into magneto phones at the moment but then I took a second look and realized it looks like a 302! I figure if a 302 was hooked up to a magneto it must be the suscriber did not have common battery service avaialable yet so it must be an early one. I have requested more pictures.

[Phonesrfun]

Looks like a 302, but it's a 250.  Basically a 302 with no guts other than a hookswitch.  This served as a "modern" replacement for a candlestick on rural magneto-based local battery systems.

[HarrySmith]

Got a couple more pictures. Appears to contain ringer and screw for condensor mount. Does not contain vents

[Phonesrfun]

Usually the subset had the ringer so the desk set did not have one.  In this case, the desk set has the ringer because the subset does not.  I don't know which numerical model this configuration was.

[paul-f]

Ask for the mounting code.

Is the handset a F1W?

It's probably AA1 or AB1.  Either could be modified by the phone company (usually an independent) to add a ringer and capacitor, if needed

  http://www.paul-f.com/we300typ.htm

[HarrySmith]

I am going to look at it tomorrow afternoon. She is asking $85.00 for it. I offered $50.00 and she said she will take $60.00, think that is a fair price?

[Bill]

I am going to look at it tomorrow afternoon. She is asking $85.00 for it. I offered $50.00 and she said she will take $60.00, think that is a fair price?

Without a dial, I'm not sure that it is. I suppose that a magneto is worth something, but a 302 with no induction coil, no capacitor, and no dial is kinda bare bones. I recently bought a dial-less 102, in better shape than the one in the picture and with an E-1 handset, for $22. Probably an extra-good deal, but still ...

I think a 102 is generally valued higher than a 302. But perhaps a 250 (as opposed to a 302) has some additional collector value, since it is less common. Just my thought, though - take it for what it is worth.

Bill

[paul-f]

Based on the interesting discussions on the club lists that this may be a H7 (307) set, check out the Singing Wires archive CD -- Jan 99 and Nov 97.  Even with a little rust, it may be worth saving.

[Wallphone]

Harry, Did you get any pictures under the hood of the 307 yet?

[HarrySmith]

Yes, just did!
Posted here: http://picasaweb.google.com/HarrySmith1957/WesternElectric307MagnetoBoxForSale#
And just put up in for sale section.

.

[Wallphone]

That was good timing, thanks Harry. It looks just like the one I found in my stuff pile. With a little research (thanks Paul F.) it looks like it is a 307-A.

[KeithB]

The magneto appears to be in excellent condition, and the magneto box itself requires little more than cleanup and re-finishing.