WE 51AL Frankenstein?

[NY Collector Geek]

Anxiously awaiting to see if there's a marking on the other side of the unit.

In the meantime, I came across this catalog card for the 152A Condenser, which is listed as an equivalent for the 61-type filters. It has two wires, so may be a possible match.

Correctamundo! I finally got the chance to pull the component out (I'm nursing a recent knee replacement surgery and so spend most of my time resting, in PT, or on drugs) and it is indeed a 152A condenser. But it's marked .1MF, not .085 as it says in the table Paul found. I guess the table lists the minimum capacitance and the marking stamped on the case is its actual rating.

So it seems I have a 1929 phone with a 1931 transmitter, a 1940's receiver, an early '30s pre-61A filter, and a coiled cord from who knows when.  A Frankenstein indeed, but possibly the result of Bell System upgrades.

Thanks to all for your help and knowledge sharing; you guys are the best!

Now to getting the thing working...

Thanks again,
Frank in NY

[MMikeJBenN27]

It is the result of Ma Bell upgrades and/or repairs.  During the war years, nearly all phones were manufactured for the military, with the result that phones just before the war were considered obsolete were being refurbished instead of disassembled and scrapped.

Mike

[paul-f]

... it's marked .1MF, not .085 as it says in the table Paul found. I guess the table lists the minimum capacitance and the marking stamped on the case is its actual rating.

Note the catalog card lists 0.1 mf with a range of 0.085 - 0.115. The table apparently referenced the minimum value.