Common Western Electric "Solid-Back" Transmitters and Cups

[Sargeguy]

The *228* was used on streetcars and other obscure uses, and so it is rare, but not exactly in high demand.  The 229w was commonly used on a number of desk phones.  Lug refers to the lug that was attached to the back of the transmitter cup for use on candlesticks and 293A wall phones.   Cups without lugs were used on No. 10 arms. Can you post a picture of the *228* faceplate???

[gandskueff]

Greg...

Requested picture of *228* transmitter faceplate ...

[Sargeguy]

Thanks!

[shadow67]

I have a nickel 20-B candlestick. I have acquired a 229W nickel transmitter and two possible cups for the backside. Photo attached. My question is which would be more appropriate for this phone? I thought the one with the patent dates and two pieces would be but not sure. Thanks.

[Jack Ryan]

I think the one with the patent dates too. It was made up until 1909 and was probably the one most likely to be found on a 20-B.

But that's just me.

Jack

[shadow67]

Thanks. I tend to agree. I have been looking for a Bell System *229* transmitter but those seem hard to find. I settled for the 229W which I think will look good on it. 

[shadow67]

Most all of the transmitter cups I have acquired have holes around the edge to screw into the transmitter assembly. I recently acquired a nickel cup with American Bell markings and dates on it. However, unlike my others, this one has notches instead of holes. It is identical in every other regard. Does anyone have info as to what time frame these were used or if the notched were later/earlier than holed ones? Attached photo is not of mine but similar one I found online. Thanks

[HarrySmith]

The wood phone I am working on now has the notches in it, I did not even pay attention to that until I saw your post. It has been painted flat black. I do not recall what, if  any, markings are on it but I will check and post here this weekend.

[allnumbedup]

I am adding to this transmitter to this useful thread. I noticed it as it passed through ebay recently:

https://www.ebay.com/itm/226096813219

The listing is for a small wooden wall phone with a SP 286W marked transmitter. This phone was not mine and I cannot comment on this phone except to say that it appears to be a refurbished 1312A with a SP 286w transmitter as found in the 1922 WE catalog featuring Railroad apparatus found on TCI:

WE 1922 Railroad

[allnumbedup]

Any expert opinion or thoughts on the rarity of this 6 digit/western electric company nonbeveled transmitter found on a later appearing restored WE 317 wall phone? The number has variations in depth as if hand stamped.

[loblolly986]

It looks like a D-number, and as unbeldi once succinctly explained: "The D-numbers were used for equipment that was produced in low volume, for special orders, when it was not practical to assign a permanent apparatus code.  Field trials were also examples of these."

It could be a prototype or field-trial version of an eventual standard transmitter model, or it could be a special-purpose model of some sort. I'm not finding any past references to D12758 in the forum or TCI group archives, but my recollection is there was a discussion here once about a candlestick with a D-number perch, and one recently appeared on eBay as well.

[allnumbedup]

ah...I thought it was six digits with the first a zero but you are right it is five digits after a "D".  The "d" discussion I remember was here and on Paul F.'s site regarding his prototype 302. I too cannot find results with "D" on the transmitter.  There were two restored 317's at a local auction and both had ABT&co Transmitters clearly  not original to the newer model woodies they were on so mayber this is the result of similar tinkering of a part from a special purpose phone as you say. thank you JC

[Witty]

The D-12758 transmitter was a special order as stated earlier, made for Rio De Janeiro, Brazil, in 1917 and made for the tropics. It's a standard 325-W transmitter but the mouthpiece was replaced by a P-93558 mouthpiece, which would be a special mouthpiece for that climate.
It would not have appeared in any WE catalogs.

It's probably one of very few remaining examples, of which another might still be in existence in Brazil by a collector.

I've attached a copy of the D specification for the order which describes the differences.

[loblolly986]

How did you ever come up with that? I wouldn't have thought that the specification still existed. Thanks for posting!

[allnumbedup]

Thanks for the help and amazing info. I managed to acquire this transmitter with phone attached for $130 at auction. As seen in the auction listing, I noticed the phone had a Kellog receiver with a WE transmitter so expected to receive a "frankenphone" which I planned to flip to get my money back after keeping the transmitter for some future project. As it turns out, I think the phone may be original (minus the receiver) and I am no longer eager to split it up but don't want to collect it either, so not sure what to do? Someone took care of this phone and it has alot going for it.

It is a WE 317 marked 317-S and has the outline of a narrow Western Electric Decal on the front face lost to some past "cleaning up".  The front board is at the steep slant. I think its 325 type transmitter and 317 "S" would go together for use on a long loop line.  The 5 bar magneto is marked 48A and goes with this application too maybe? The 1250 ringer is marked 38#F with the letter before the F overstruck out.  The short neck transmitter arm, hookswitch, and black gongs appear to have their original finish.  The unmarked one piece transmitter cup is nicely worn from ages of handling outside to adjust the angle and minty inside. It has a black bolt slotted on both sides attaching it to the short arm.   Date marks and type of parts seem to match 1915-1917. Of note the D12758 transmitter has the newest style solid design (based on early posts above) and the mouthpiece is starred outside and marked 5 over a C inside. At first I thought the phone did not work when I tested function on L1/L2 but it does work fully on L1/GND posts and the transmitter works when I substitute a 9V battery on the battery leads in place of the spent lantern battery it came with. This will be the first phone I have needed a battery to operate and I still wonder if I will be able to resell keeping it all together.