My new project: Western Electric 500 series telephone with blank dial from 1961

[JFKFP]

I just rebuilt and modified my last phone. It dates back to March 1961, and all the dates match. I wanted to make the same phone that was used by President Kennedy, which was on his desk and set up after the Cuban missile crisis.

I've included before and after photos.
The last photo is of President Kennedy's original phone.

[Antonio]

It does look like the same phone, that is true!

[JFKFP]

I wanted to use a telephone manufactured during his presidency, so I used the dial cover model (model 95B), which is the same as the one on his telephone.
http://www.paul-f.com/500blanks.html

I am currently looking for an original vintage handset cord. For now, I have a new cord.

The hardest thing to find is the metal bracket. For now, I've made a cardboard version while I wait to find one.

[JFKFP]

It does look like the same phone, that is true!

Thanks.

[paul-f]

The hardest thing to find is the metal bracket. For now, I've made a cardboard version while I wait to find one.

It should be relatively simple to fabricate a bracket from a simple strip of metal. You don't need the notches on the end, which are only used for the wall set.

BTW, it's good form to include a link to source photos posted, so others can view the info in context. (Especially when the content is on my web site.  )

http://www.paul-f.com/500blanks.html

[JFKFP]

It should be relatively simple to fabricate a bracket from a simple strip of metal. You don't need the notches on the end, which are only used for the wall set.

BTW, it's good form to include a link to source photos posted, so others can view the info in context. (Especially when the content is on my web site.  )

http://www.paul-f.com/500blanks.html

A collector is going to send me a real one, so in the meantime, thanks to Vern P.
I made the change.

[JFKFP]

The President using the telephone in question:

The President of the United States John F. Kennedy phoning the Nigerian Minister Abubakar Tafewa BALEWA on August 26, 1963.

[Antonio]

Forgive my ignorance, the phone only works with incoming calls? No outgoing, there is no dial?

[countryman]

Persons like presidents, CEOs do not dial out themselves but have the connections made by their office staff. Dial-less phones were also used on central battery manual systems. Lifting the handset would not give you dial tone but you'd speak to a human operator in the central office.

[MMikeJBenN27]

So many people under a certain age are stumped by that.

Mike

[dsk]

The last (telco owned) manual exchange in Norway was shut down in 1982!
You may edit the ATA to have the dial less phone on a "hotline"  so when you lift off the handset it will call a predefined number.
I hope it will come something about that in the Singing Wires soon.

[JFKFP]

Forgive my ignorance, the phone only works with incoming calls? No outgoing, there is no dial?

I did some research: it was a secure line. It went through the White House military switchboard (the "Signal Board"). This line allowed confidential discussions with the Pentagon or other command centers without going through the public network.

[JFKFP]

I replaced the cord with an original cord from 1960; I prefer it better with that one.

[JFKFP]

It should be relatively simple to fabricate a bracket from a simple strip of metal. You don't need the notches on the end, which are only used for the wall set.

BTW, it's good form to include a link to source photos posted, so others can view the info in context. (Especially when the content is on my web site.  )

http://www.paul-f.com/500blanks.html

I can't see on your website whether you have a page for the different handset cords?

[paul-f]

I can't see on your website whether you have a page for the different handset cords?

The charts on the site site mainly provide an overview of telephone sets and handset variations, with BSP numbers so you can find details.

There are many more cord types than I choose to list!  Parts and components are best described in catalogs and the BSPs. Many good reference documents are in the TCI Library.

BSP division 501 has many of the parts. Here's a search link to several on handset cords;
https://www.telephonecollectors.info/index.php/search?q=501-140-102

Check out the division index (501-000-000) to find BSPs describing more components.

For WE catalogs:
https://www.telephonecollectors.info/index.php/browse/document-repository/catalogs-manuals/bell-system-we/we-catalogs