Author Topic: Rare Shape Western Electric Telephone (Read 1788 times)

wds · « **on:** March 13, 2013, 06:53:02 AM »

I'm sure some of you were watching this auction. I even threw a couple bids out there myself. Anyone know what kind of phone this is? If Western Electric, maybe a Belgium version? It doesn't really look that old, but still an interesting phone. Would like to see pictures of the inside.

http://tinyurl.com/a7vmqpe

LarryInMichigan · « **Reply #1 on:** March 13, 2013, 07:18:57 AM »

I was guessing that it is a Phoneco creation.

Larry

rdelius · « **Reply #2 on:** March 13, 2013, 05:31:46 PM »

Phoncco base-body ATEA belgium, cradle Bell Telephone Mfg Belgium.F1 handset

TelePlay · « **Reply #3 on:** March 13, 2013, 06:39:39 PM »

So, $237 was a bit high?

wds · « **Reply #4 on:** March 13, 2013, 07:46:38 PM »

I'm glad I didn't any more aggressive with my bids. I would not have been happy spending that much just to find out its a Phoneco phone.

Doug Rose · « **Reply #5 on:** March 13, 2013, 08:06:02 PM »

Quote from: TelePlay on March 13, 2013, 06:39:39 PM

So, $237 was a bit high?

Ridiculous! I don't think even Phoneco would put a WE handset on one of their creations...Doug

poplar1 · « **Reply #6 on:** March 13, 2013, 08:13:52 PM »

PHONECO inc. catalog shows a similar model: (probably a repro AE-style cradle)

http://phonecoinc.com/topic.asp?map=1&horh=home&gorl=list&group=main&category=Art&topic=01038

ART DECO TELEPHONES FROM THE 20'S, U.S. AND EUROPEAN PHONES, ORIGINALS & REPRODUCTION



Items From: Art Decorator Phones of the 20s
These are very similar ro the ENGR3 except the main body of the phone has been chrome plated to a brilliant shine. The combination of black and chrome will let this beautiful phone stand out in any decore'. The phone has a modular cord end and is ready to plug into your home phone system. There is a 30 day return privilege and the phone carries a one year warranty.
ENGR2·································$264.00

LarryInMichigan · « **Reply #7 on:** March 13, 2013, 10:30:09 PM »

I personally don't want anything which isn't authentic. For me, the fun of collecting old things is in the fact that someone actually used this item, or others identical to it, many years ago. Something which was concocted to look like an antique doesn't interest me. This is just my opinion.

Larry

Brinybay · « **Reply #8 on:** March 13, 2013, 10:52:29 PM »

I keep wanting to pick it up by the cradle and shake it because it looks like a big cow bell!

Dan/Panther · « **Reply #9 on:** March 14, 2013, 12:59:25 AM »

I would like it better with an E-1 handset.
D/P

rdelius · « **Reply #10 on:** March 14, 2013, 11:56:29 AM »

These were ATEA Belgium series magneto sets. the chrome set had the dial hole drilled out.The cradle on this one is the correct real one.The older cradles were similar to US AE type 1A sets.You could even switch parts between them.Marked series 30.These ATEA cradles are removed from these sets and installed on reproduction WE dial candlestick bases and sold as old telephones.The cradle on the top set is Bell Telephone Mfg in Belgium
the set it was on was a tall boxy plain magneto series set.You can modify the plunger on these to repair 102-202 B1 sets to replace missing parts.The second set has a Bell Telephone Mfg handset on it.The hole where the crank was would be covered up or a transmitter mute button installed.These sets had useless 120 ohm ringers

wds · « **Reply #11 on:** March 14, 2013, 12:20:09 PM »

Interesting - so your saying this phone is the real deal. Couldn't find any pictures of the Ebay phone, but found a couple that were close. The seller refers to an "H" in the base - looks like that is where a dial card or something would have been mounted. Here's a picture of something close which has the card in the base.

poplar1 · « **Reply #12 on:** March 14, 2013, 01:37:57 PM »

Here are two similar ones, currently on Ebay:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/370778312973 (same cradle, square base)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/281078275435 (different cradle, square base)

wds · « **Reply #13 on:** March 14, 2013, 01:46:56 PM »

I notice there's nothing on the inside other than a generator. Must have been used on a local battery system?

poplar1 · « **Reply #14 on:** March 14, 2013, 01:48:26 PM »

Yes. The batteries must have been in a separate enclosure. Here is a photo of the inside of the first one:

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