Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Collector's Corner => Topic started by: Doug Rose on November 10, 2010, 10:28:52 AM

Title: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Doug Rose on November 10, 2010, 10:28:52 AM
I have been collecting telephones a long time. After you get "somewhat" knowledgeable about phones you get a want list. I have had the same phone at the top of my want list for at least 25 years of my 30+ years of collecting. Its a very strange feeling when you finally get that #1 phone you have been searching for. As my wife knows, there is always "another" that I just have to have, but to finally get "that" phone. I have lusted after it for so long and honestly had given up any chance of getting one. The prices were just out of sight. I am still shocked when I see it sitting on my shelf. Trust me, I am more than thrilled with the phone, but the chase has ended. The Stars aligned and I got very lucky, twice. BUT...It is a very strange feeling.


What is "that" phone that you are chasing?.....Doug
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: JorgeAmely on November 10, 2010, 10:46:49 AM
Doug:

Are you having the blues?

I would love to own a red AE40 with chromed trims. Maybe someday.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Dennis Markham on November 10, 2010, 11:27:49 AM
I haven't been chasing very long and perhaps my sights are not set too high, but the first one on my list would have to be a Western Electric 554 in Oxford Gray.  That would complete my collection of those colored sets, except maybe for clear if they made them in clear.

If and when I do pick up that phone then I will refocus my sights.  Like I think you said you did Doug, when I get out of the car at the next flea market, antique shop, whatever, I say, my blue 302 is here today.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: dsk on November 10, 2010, 12:01:05 PM
I did start the collecting at an age of approx 7, I just didn't know. Not looking for the nice looking ones, but the special ones, those I newer even knew was made. This has to be quite unsystematic, and those are not important in other ways than special interests. I have a handmade testtelephone from the 50ies or 60ies made for the telco to test dial speed. it has 2 dials, one slow, and one quick. If both was accepted the exchange was good enough. In addition it is some testing with different impedance's to cope with short and long lines.

I still get some ideas of should have sets. A 2500 set with fixed cords would be the one typical "modern" Amercan one. From Norway growing up with American films, it seems like 2 types of telephones has been used. The black candlestick type, and 2500. And I guess the the Oslo dial telegrafverket 1953 is the only well known Norwegan telephone seen from USA.

I still like my magnetos, and are waiting for this system to be modern again ;D

dsk
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Doug Rose on November 10, 2010, 12:01:26 PM
Quote from: JorgeAmely on November 10, 2010, 10:46:49 AM
Doug:

Are you having the blues?

I would love to own a red AE40 with chromed trims. Maybe someday.
Very good Jorge! Next in line for me is a WE 130A Donut Phone. No not that 70's Donut phone, this beauty. Hard to find anything is decent shape as the cast iron tends to break of the backs off these. I'd settle for just the round base with the hookswitch and build from there. It is a very cool looking phone.....Doug
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: jsowers on November 10, 2010, 12:59:40 PM
Dennis and I have very similar needs. I need a soft plastic 554 in Mahogany Brown. Someday it will happen and I'll have to re-focus. But I'm not holding my breath considering today's market in phones. A genuine dark gray and black two-tone would be nice, and a moss green and black one would be better than the "made up" one I have on display.

Doug, it looks like you're on your way from recovering from the "gotta-get-it-wanna-have-it-now-I-got-it" blues. That doughnut phone is really unusual. Like a candlestick with a stick-ectomy. Good luck finding one.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: HarrySmith on November 10, 2010, 01:16:19 PM
I have only been at this a couple of years so my collection is very small. I am shooting for all the 500 colors and even that is on hold with the truck expense. After that I will look for the color 302's ;D
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Greg G. on November 10, 2010, 01:58:39 PM
I can't pin it down to any one phone, but perhaps a genuinely Ivory (not painted) 202?  I saw one in one of the "Thin Man" movies, or it was something very similar looking.  If there isn't one, I would settle for something very closely matching, with an E1-style ivory handset like I saw in the movie.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Jim Stettler on November 10, 2010, 02:00:57 PM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on November 10, 2010, 11:27:49 AM
I haven't been chasing very long and perhaps my sights are not set too high, but the first one on my list would have to be a Western Electric 554 in Oxford Gray.  That would complete my collection of those colored sets, except maybe for clear if they made them in clear.

If and when I do pick up that phone then I will refocus my sights.  Like I think you said you did Doug, when I get out of the car at the next flea market, antique shop, whatever, I say, my blue 302 is here today.
WE made a transparent 554, SC made a clear 554.
The WE sets usually have a transparent dial bezel.
SC sets alwaqys have a coloered bezel.

The bezel statements are true for 500 sets also.


Just my observations,
Jim
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Doug Rose on November 10, 2010, 02:09:12 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on November 10, 2010, 01:58:39 PM
I can't pin it down to any one phone, but perhaps a genuinely Ivory (not painted) 202?  I saw one in one of the "Thin Man" movies, or it was something very similar looking.  If there isn't one, I would settle for something very closely matching, with an E1-style ivory handset like I saw in the movie.
I have an Ivory SC 1198 that looks like a 202. 202s were metal, so they had to be painted. Is this it, sorry for the bad pic...>Doug
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Greg G. on November 10, 2010, 02:14:36 PM
Quote from: Kidphone on November 10, 2010, 02:09:12 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on November 10, 2010, 01:58:39 PM
I can't pin it down to any one phone, but perhaps a genuinely Ivory (not painted) 202?  I saw one in one of the "Thin Man" movies, or it was something very similar looking.  If there isn't one, I would settle for something very closely matching, with an E1-style ivory handset like I saw in the movie.
I have an Ivory SC 1198 that looks like a 202. 202s were metal, so they had to be painted. Is this it, sorry for the bad pic...>Doug

Can't quite tell, but the one in the movie definitely had an E1 or E1-style handset with the spit cup.  It was the first movie in the "Thin Man" series and it was at the beginning, when the lady was talking on her phone.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: AE_Collector on November 10, 2010, 02:40:03 PM
Quote from: JorgeAmely on November 10, 2010, 10:46:49 AM
Doug:

Are you having the blues?

I would love to own a red AE40 with chromed trims. Maybe someday.

Jorge:

Red AE 40's used to be an "Automatic" (no pun intended) $1500. But not that loing agoi I saw one go for something like $800 on ebaY. So if you keep watching ebaY AND can set yourself a budget of $1000 I think you might be able to snag one.

Terry
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: bingster on November 10, 2010, 05:27:28 PM
For me, I think a set of color 302s would be high on my wish list at the moment.  Even higher would be a collection of metallic painted 102s/202s, but since they're so rare, the 302s are a more realistic aspiration.


Quote from: Brinybay on November 10, 2010, 02:14:36 PMCan't quite tell, but the one in the movie definitely had an E1 or E1-style handset with the spit cup.  It was the first movie in the "Thin Man" series and it was at the beginning, when the lady was talking on her phone.

Exactly right. It's a B-mount with an E1 handset.  These show up very frequently in movies from the 1930s and '40s. 
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Dan/Panther on November 11, 2010, 01:38:34 AM
October 1949 WE 500, or a Clear World's Fair 302.
D/P
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: AE_Collector on November 11, 2010, 12:09:31 PM
My collection wish list would probably be a few more colored AE finds such as Ritchie's & NorthernMan's Mahogany AE34's. I have an Ivory 40 and a Red 40, both with chrome trim. So a different color preferably on a different model such as a 1A,34, 35 or 50 would be great. The most I have EVER paid for a phone was just under $500 so I am not going to be acquiring any of these that aren't either fantastic finds such as the two Mahagony 34's mentioned or maybe examples that are in very poor condition.

On the more affordable front, all I want for Christmas is a Styleline wall base in "Electric Blue"! That shouldn't be a particularly tough one to find but for some reason I haven't crossed paths with one yet. If anyone has one let me know as I have LOTS of nice colored duplicate Stylelines to trade or I'll buy it from you.

Terry
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Adam on November 11, 2010, 12:13:35 PM
My holy grails are a little bit more contemporary.  I'd love to own an older-button-style rotary dial Western Electric Call Director.  If it was red, then I could die happy.  Someday, I'd also like to own a Western Electric card dialer, and a Western Electric 16-button autovon phone.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Dave F on November 11, 2010, 02:30:54 PM
Obtaining an item that has been tops on the want list is a real emotional roller coaster, even more so if it has been on the list for a long time and has been driving you nuts, seemingly forever.  For me, the AUTOVON Card Dialer fits that category to a tee.  I had been searching for one of these elusive phones for literally more than 40 years.  Came close once or twice in the past, but never managed to score until last year.  When it finally happened, I could hardly believe it, even as it stared directly at me from across the table.  The number of these phones that I positively know exist can be counted on just one hand.  Truly a rarity.  I'm still in awe of the amazing set of events that led me to it (and the large dent it made in my bank account).  But now that some time has passed, it feels like "just another phone in the collection", and I'm ready to obsess about something else (my avatar, e.g.).

Let's see, what could possibly be next?  Hmmm....  How about a clear 302, pink 2565 Keyset or Card Dialer, mahogany 554 or AE 34.  For every item we manage to cross off the list, two or three more are sure to get added.  Nope, we'll never get bored.
Quote from: masstel on November 11, 2010, 12:13:35 PM
My holy grails are a little bit more contemporary.  I'd love to own an older-button-style rotary dial Western Electric Call Director.  If it was red, then I could die happy.  Someday, I'd also like to own a Western Electric card dialer, and a Western Electric 16-button autovon phone.
Dave, here's one I dug up just a couple of months ago.  Not red, but still a winner!  PS: Card Dialers appear frequently on eBay.  Unless you are waiting for a rare color, you shouldn't have a huge problem crossing that off your list.

Dave F.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Greg G. on November 11, 2010, 06:15:18 PM
Quote from: bingster on November 10, 2010, 05:27:28 PM
For me, I think a set of color 302s would be high on my wish list at the moment.  Even higher would be a collection of metallic painted 102s/202s, but since they're so rare, the 302s are a more realistic aspiration.


Quote from: Brinybay on November 10, 2010, 02:14:36 PMCan't quite tell, but the one in the movie definitely had an E1 or E1-style handset with the spit cup.  It was the first movie in the "Thin Man" series and it was at the beginning, when the lady was talking on her phone.

Exactly right. It's a B-mount with an E1 handset.  These show up very frequently in movies from the 1930s and '40s. 

Yep, that's it, except the lady was much younger and prettier than that grouchy-looking guy.  So I take it these are entirely painted, like my WE Old Brass?  How often do they show up in the collector's market, I wonder?  An ivory 302 that is genuinely ivory would be equally nice.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: deedubya3800 on November 11, 2010, 06:51:04 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on November 11, 2010, 06:15:18 PM
An ivory 302 that is genuinely ivory would be equally nice.

I'd settle for one made of white chocolate. :)
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: bingster on November 11, 2010, 07:00:58 PM
It was in the pretty girl's apartment.  The grouchy guy was there confronting her and getting ready to call the police to report her embezzling.

Yes, they're entirely painted, just like the metallic sets.  At the time, they also came in light grey paint.  I can't recall ever seeing one come up on ebay, although I don't pay nearly as much attention as I used to.  Dennis has an original ivory one and it's quite a pretty phone.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Dennis Markham on November 11, 2010, 07:16:23 PM
The one I have can be seen here:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=599.msg7019#msg7019

The handset cord is frayed where it enters the handset, but could be pulled inside.  I've done nothing to it since I got it a few years ago.  From the "Bob Loeser" collection.  Bob is a long-time collector that was selling off much of his collection a few years ago. 

The leather bottom on this is in excellent original condition.  The transmitter is a "bullet" transmitter.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Shovelhead on November 11, 2010, 08:10:06 PM
I got mine this year, a 233G.

Some day a mushroom phone, a dial butt set, and a 354.

In no rush, when the mood strikes or one falls into my lap.....
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Doug Rose on November 11, 2010, 08:14:42 PM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on November 11, 2010, 07:16:23 PM
The one I have can be seen here:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=599.msg7019#msg7019

The handset cord is frayed where it enters the handset, but could be pulled inside.  I've done nothing to it since I got it a few years ago.  From the "Bob Loeser" collection.  Bob is a long-time collector that was selling off much of his collection a few years ago. 

The leather bottom on this is in excellent original condition.  The transmitter is a "bullet" transmitter.
Dennis....I have never seen a 4J dial before. I had always heard that they were out there, but I have never seen one. Really cool. That is a fantastic phone. Bob Loeser taught me how to bleach my Ivory 302. Great phone....Doug
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: JimH on November 11, 2010, 08:50:39 PM
Here's my Call Director I received about a month ago.  I'd been looking for one for years, and one finally came along on Ebay that was reasonable.  When I got the box and it was sliding around inside, I knew it was over.  They'd packed it with a few sheets of crunched up newspaper.  The paper lining the bottom of the box was dated 1969.  I think they shipped it in the box it was stored in.  Oh well.  Yes, I got a full refund (Thanks to Ebay! The seller never even responded!)  Now the search continues!
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Dennis Markham on November 11, 2010, 08:53:12 PM
Thanks, Doug.  I've not seen another 4J.  I'm surprised with all of your years at this that you haven't come across one.

Jim, what a shame.  Unbelievable.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Adam on November 11, 2010, 08:56:13 PM
Oh, Jim!  About four months ago, I won a bitchin' NORTHERN ELECTRIC Call Director, beige.  It arrived in almost the same condition.  I have it in a box in the closet, it hurts to much to take a picture of it.

Sorry, Dude!  I know how you feel!
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Dave F on November 11, 2010, 09:50:53 PM
Quote from: JimH on November 11, 2010, 08:50:39 PM
Here's my Call Director I received about a month ago.  I'd been looking for one for years, and one finally came along on Ebay that was reasonable.  When I got the box and it was sliding around inside, I knew it was over.  They'd packed it with a few sheets of crunched up newspaper.  The paper lining the bottom of the box was dated 1969.  I think they shipped it in the box it was stored in.  Oh well.  Yes, I got a full refund (Thanks to Ebay! The seller never even responded!)  Now the search continues!
What a shame!  Seems like we're all in the same rotten boat here.  Last year, I had a rare 602C Data Phone arrive in pieces just like your Call Director.  Only a few flimsy pieces of paper for a piece of equipment weighing several pounds.  It never had a chance.  I'll probably spend the rest of my life trying to find a replacement housing.  Each time a package arrives, we all pray that the seller actually read our pleas for good packing, and that he/she put in at least some effort to do it right.  Before I committed to buy the AUTOVON Card Dialer, I had numerous communications with the seller about packing.  Fortunately, in that case it actually did some good.  The phone was wrapped with such loving care and dedication I thought I would never get it out of all the bubble wrap. 
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: JimH on November 11, 2010, 09:58:09 PM
Dave, you should've gotten a refund!  I don't know what you paid. Well I weighed looking for a new housing shell (that would almost be impossible), or glueing it together and sanding down the edges and spraying it green...it just wouldn't be the same.  Then when the seller wouldn't even answer my emails, I decided the full refund via ebay was the right path.  Now they have the beautiful Call Director (in pieces) back! I would've taken a 50 percent refund and fixed it.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Dave F on November 11, 2010, 10:12:46 PM
Quote from: JimH on November 11, 2010, 09:58:09 PM
Dave, you should've gotten a refund!  I don't know what you paid. Well I weighed looking for a new housing shell (that would almost be impossible), or glueing it together and sanding down the edges and spraying it green...it just wouldn't be the same.  Then when the seller wouldn't even answer my emails, I decided the full refund via ebay was the right path.  Now they have the beautiful Call Director (in pieces) back! I would've taken a 50 percent refund and fixed it.
Jim,

I contacted the seller, who was sympathetic and very sorry.  He just couldn't understand how it possibly would have gotten damaged.  After all, he had been selling on eBay for years, and nothing like this had ever happened before.  And, this paper had always been good enough packing in the past.  (I bet this was the first one of these he had sold!)  Anyway, he did give me a 50% refund, and I'm left with a jigsaw puzzle of plastic to keep me occupied on some rainy night in the far future.

Dave

Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Adam on November 11, 2010, 10:45:08 PM
In my case, fortunately, although painfully for my great deal, I didn't pay a lot.  So, I didn't pursue mine further.  The seller had actually wrapped it nicely in bubble wrap, it was totally the post office's fault.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Dave F on November 11, 2010, 10:58:29 PM
Quote from: masstel on November 11, 2010, 10:45:08 PM
In my case, fortunately, although painfully for my great deal, I didn't pay a lot.  So, I didn't pursue mine further.  The seller had actually wrapped it nicely in bubble wrap, it was totally the post office's fault.
Yes, in many cases the cost is not the major annoying factor.  It's that something old and nice can be ruined just due to laziness or incompetence.  Looks like you and I both have some lonely plastic-gluing nights in our respective futures.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Doug Rose on November 12, 2010, 09:51:29 AM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on November 11, 2010, 08:53:12 PM
Thanks, Doug.  I've not seen another 4J.  I'm surprised with all of your years at this that you haven't come across one.

Jim, what a shame.  Unbelievable.
Dennis ...as the Legend goes the 4J was the first WE dial made for the Clear thick open face finger wheel, like the early 5Js had with the hard to find mounting flange and NO hole in the finger wheel for easy removal. So my guess is at one time your beauty had an open face finger wheel on it...Doug
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Doug Rose on November 12, 2010, 09:59:30 AM
Quote from: Dave F on November 11, 2010, 10:58:29 PM
Quote from: masstel on November 11, 2010, 10:45:08 PM
In my case, fortunately, although painfully for my great deal, I didn't pay a lot.  So, I didn't pursue mine further.  The seller had actually wrapped it nicely in bubble wrap, it was totally the post office's fault.
Yes, in many cases the cost is not the major annoying factor.  It's that something old and nice can be ruined just due to laziness or incompetence.  Looks like you and I both have some lonely  nights in our respective futures.
Dave...I agree...it is such a waste and it can never be brought back to its former glory. I think we all have had the sinking feeling picking up a delivered package and hearing a sound we shouldn't be hearing. What is that rattling.....SH*T!!!!.....Doug
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: deedubya3800 on November 12, 2010, 10:12:30 AM
Quote from: Kidphone on November 12, 2010, 09:51:29 AM
Quote from: Dennis Markham on November 11, 2010, 08:53:12 PM
Thanks, Doug.  I've not seen another 4J.  I'm surprised with all of your years at this that you haven't come across one.

Jim, what a shame.  Unbelievable.
Dennis ...as the Legend goes the 4J was the first WE dial made for the Clear thick open face finger wheel, like the early 5Js had with the hard to find mounting flange and NO hole in the finger wheel for easy removal. So my guess is at one time your beauty had an open face finger wheel on it...Doug

I don't know, my 1942 ivory 302 has a 5J dial on it, and this finger wheel and number card retainer look identical to mine. Does it have the brassy-looking piece behind the card with a single round hole in it to the left of center?
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Jim Stettler on November 12, 2010, 10:32:09 AM
Quote from: JimH on November 11, 2010, 09:58:09 PM
Dave, you should've gotten a refund!  I don't know what you paid. Well I weighed looking for a new housing shell (that would almost be impossible),

I have a lot of used housings for ITT call directors.

Jim S.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Adam on November 12, 2010, 11:31:53 AM
Um... What's an ITT Call Director?

To my knowledge, ITT didn't make a telephone set that looked exactly like the Western Electric Call Director.  Stromberg-Carlson and Automatic Electric did, however...

ITT made a set called the Corinthian (named after their plant location of Corinth, MS).  It was similar to a WE Call Director but I doubt any of the parts would be interchangeable with it.  Pics of Corinthian sets from the ITT TIMM-2 included below.

I'd LOVE to own one of these Corinthian phones, BTW, if anybody has one they'd like to sell.  They NEVER come up on eBay.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: paul-f on November 13, 2010, 12:37:32 AM
Quote from: masstel on November 12, 2010, 11:31:53 AM

I'd LOVE to own one of these Corinthian phones, BTW, if anybody has one they'd like to sell.  They NEVER come up on eBay.

Well -- ALMOST never.

I got this one on ebay a few years ago.   ;D
  http://www.paul-f.com/K1231.html
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Adam on November 13, 2010, 09:51:47 AM
Wow!  And it's a 10-button Touch-Tone pad set, to boot!  Beautiful!
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Adam on November 13, 2010, 12:05:48 PM
Here's a pic I just happen to have laying around of a phone I'd love to own...
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Jim Stettler on November 13, 2010, 01:08:00 PM
Quote from: masstel on November 12, 2010, 11:31:53 AM
Um... What's an ITT Call Director?

To my knowledge, ITT didn't make a telephone set that looked exactly like the Western Electric Call Director.  Stromberg-Carlson and Automatic Electric did, however...

ITT made a set called the Corinthian (named after their plant location of Corinth, MS).  It was similar to a WE Call Director but I doubt any of the parts would be interchangeable with it.  Pics of Corinthian sets from the ITT TIMM-2 included below.

I'd LOVE to own one of these Corinthian phones, BTW, if anybody has one they'd like to sell.  They NEVER come up on eBay.

An ITT call director is basically an ITT version of a call director. The parts won't interchange, but shippers break all brands of phones, If anyone needs a housing for an ITT call director, I have a large box full.

On these the line buttons go across the top and your dial or TT pad is in the middle. The housings work w/ either TT or rotary and I may have some of the front plates.

Jim
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Adam on November 13, 2010, 01:40:17 PM
Just to keep things straight, what Jim is describing is commonly called a "ten button phone".  In my experience installing phone systems, these were NOT called Call Directors.  A Call Director is a set that has button strips that are mounted vertically, specifically The Western Electric Call Director, and the AE and Stromberg sets that were designed like them.

I do believe that parts from ITT ten button phones ARE parts interchangeable with Western Electric ten button phones (just as ITT 500 set parts are interchangeable with WE 500 set parts).

These sets also came in 20 button versions.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: paul-f on November 13, 2010, 08:41:20 PM
... and 30 buttons.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Dave F on November 13, 2010, 10:24:05 PM
Quote from: masstel on November 13, 2010, 12:05:48 PM
Here's a pic I just happen to have laying around of a phone I'd love to own...
This one is my only Card Dialer with a 10-button dial.

<-------  (And this little picture over here on the left is my only Card Dialer
              with a 16-button dial!!)
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Adam on November 13, 2010, 10:27:03 PM
Re: 6-button card dialer: To Die For! :)

Re: 30 button phone: Cool!  Thanks, Paul, for including that.

Can someone check me on this?  I believe only ITT made 30 button phones, Western Electric only made 10s and 20s.  Can anyone confirm that?

BTW, ITT also had wall versions of these.  They consisted of the whole base turned 180 degrees, a different switch hook (cup style) and dial also reoriented, but key strip not reoriented.  Stromberg-Carlson also made these in desk and wall versions, and they also had 6 button versions as well (but not ITT or WE).
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Dave F on November 13, 2010, 10:30:50 PM
Quote from: masstel on November 13, 2010, 10:27:03 PM
Can someone check me on this?  I believe only ITT made 30 button phones, Western Electric only made 10s and 20s.  Can anyone confirm that?
Yes, that's right.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: paul-f on November 13, 2010, 10:48:24 PM
More from the ITT section of the past auction photo archive...
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Jim Stettler on November 13, 2010, 11:02:58 PM
Quote from: masstel on November 13, 2010, 01:40:17 PM
Just to keep things straight, what Jim is describing is commonly called a "ten button phone".  In my experience installing phone systems, these were NOT called Call Directors.  A Call Director is a set that has button strips that are mounted vertically, specifically The Western Electric Call Director, and the AE and Stromberg sets that were designed like them.

I do believe that parts from ITT ten button phones ARE parts interchangeable with Western Electric ten button phones (just as ITT 500 set parts are interchangeable with WE 500 set parts).

These sets also came in 20 button versions.

I stand corrected as to "proper terminology.
I still will probably call them ITT call directors.
Jim
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: AE_Collector on November 13, 2010, 11:05:06 PM
Quote from: Dave F on November 13, 2010, 10:24:05 PM
This one is my only Card Dialer with a 10-button dial.

<-------  (And this little picture over here on the left is my only Card Dialer
             with a 16-button dial!!)

So let me see if I have this correct....You would KILL for a 12 button dial Card Dialer?!

And why does your Card Dialer with a 16 button dial look just like my AECo Styleline Collection??

Terry
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: AE_Collector on November 13, 2010, 11:09:27 PM
Quote from: Jim S. on November 13, 2010, 11:02:58 PM
I stand corrected as to "proper terminology.
I still will probably call them ITT call directors.
Jim

Well, seeing that 30 button model, and knowing that Call Directors came in 18 & 30 button models...I'm gonna let you call them Call DIrectors if you want to Jim!
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Dave F on November 13, 2010, 11:12:04 PM
Quote from: ae_collector on November 13, 2010, 11:05:06 PM
So let me see if I have this correct....You'd KILL for a 12 button dial Card Dialer?!

Yes, for a Pink one!

Quote from: ae_collector on November 13, 2010, 11:05:06 PM
And why does your Card Dialer with a 16 button dial look just like my AECo STyleline Collection??

Terry
Funny how that works!!
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Adam on November 13, 2010, 11:39:27 PM
You can call this a Princess phone too, if you want.  But it's not.

I'm just sayin'...

:)
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Adam on November 14, 2010, 12:15:33 AM
By the way, that red ITT 10 button wall phone must be a refurb repaint, because (besides the non-matching switch hook color) my ITT TIMM-2 dated 1-78 says these phones only came in:

Black
Moss Green
Beige
White
Light Ash
Cocoa Brown

Another interesting tidbit from the TIMM-2:  The ITT wall phones only came in a 10-button version (not 20 or 30).
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: paul-f on November 14, 2010, 12:41:22 AM
Dave:  It's risky to conclude that phones were never offered in versions not mentioned in a particular catalog.  There are numberous documented cases of Western Electric phones that were available in some colors one year and a different set of colors a few years later, as they tinkered with the color palette.

ITT often followed Western's lead or added a color or two for a few years (e.g. orange).

Phones were often available in non-published colors by special order, so there are several possible explanations in addition to painting in refurb.
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Adam on November 14, 2010, 12:55:19 AM
Points well taken.  Amend my comment to read "as of 1978".
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: Greg G. on November 14, 2010, 03:13:30 PM
Quote from: deedubya3800 on November 11, 2010, 06:51:04 PM
Quote from: Brinybay on November 11, 2010, 06:15:18 PM
An ivory 302 that is genuinely ivory would be equally nice.

I'd settle for one made of white chocolate. :)

Nice idea, it would even have ears to bite off, the first thing I go for with chocolate bunnies!  (I meant ivory-colored of course, not real ivory).
Title: Re: Very Strange Feeling
Post by: GG on October 14, 2011, 09:14:23 AM


ITT ten-button key telephones with a single button strip above the dial:

The rotary version was type 830.

The touchtone version was type 2830.

These were typically used for up to 8 CO lines with common single-gong ringer, and one Intercom line connected to a Melco or similar 19-station intercom unit, with a low-voltage AC buzzer ("round buzzer with blue leads"). 

I must have installed hundreds of those over the years.  They were good phones, they were robust and well-made, and they were easy enough to repair.  They occasionally got odd problems having to do with the alignment of the contacts in the keystrips, also easily fixed.  My only beef with ITT in the 70s - mid 80s, was that they used a nasty plastic for their touchtone dial buttons, that made a high-pitched *squeak!* when you pressed each button, similar to fingernails-on-chalkboard.  Lubricating these would make them better until the lube evaporated or scraped off, and then they'd go back to squeaking.  For some reason my clients never noticed (or at least never commented on) the squeaky keypads. 

They are *not* Call Directors.  The Call Director was WE's version of a 1A2 phone with multiple button strips arranged vertically to the right of the dial.  AE's version was the "Call Commander."

AE also made their own version of ITT's 830 / 2830, which were relatively rare in the interconnect industry.  I still have one around, NOS in chocolate brown.  Basically identical appearance to the ITT but with AE's characteristic dials & handsets.   AE's 5-line set of that era was type 186, which had the line keystrip below the dial.  AE's self-contained 3-line version w/ 3 hold buttons, was paradoxically designated as the type 187, and has always been a favorite of mine because it's flexible and easy to deploy in a range of conditions, without need of a key service unit.