Anticipating new competition once the bell phone patents would expire in 1895, the american bell telephone company began introducing several new models like this one in the early 1890s. Development started in 1946 with early sketches by bell engineer and dreyfussassociate. Prepaid calling cards also facilitate establishing a call by first calling the provided tollfree telephone number, entering. The pay phones journey from patent to urban relic history. Coinbox coin processing parts payphone parts parts. Call us today at 651 787dial 3425 i acquired a western electric 233g payphone that was fairly complete from bob bartlett bobs antique payphones. Identifying popular western electric telephones in one step stephen p.
Note that this phone originally came with a g handset but had an f handset added to it later. And this 50s style phone was the inspiration for the black crosley 50s payphone. Western electric was the manufacturing arm of the bell group of companies from the late 1800s to its demise in 1984. For auction is this mint condition gray western electric model 50g 1925 pay telephone. The following are representative pictures of automatic electric telephones. Its laboratories produced many major innovations in communication technology, building on the fundamental invention of.
We offer a variety of desk, candlestick, wall and payphones including the rare and elegant kellogg 925 ashtray phone and the attractive, angular, automatic. It is what i call the second version of the graywestern electric 50a. This page provides general identification information on many western electric handsets, focusing on handsets made for commercial use after 1908 and before the bell system breakup in 1984. The western cradle hook provides a resting area for the handset on western electric style payphones.
General purpose test set 3 dial for dial co testing panel crossbar step by step. It will work on any att, verizon, sprint, tmobile phone line. This is the only antique payphone currently on ebay that has a coin mechanism that functions in a 100% historically correct way. Antique and vintage western electric telephones collectors. Western electrics history that have been covered more richly in the.
Payphone history book by ron knappen paperback january 1, 2008 by phoneco inc ron knappen author 5. A wireless, 2 piece, 1940s 3slot, 5 cent, payphone w coin controller. The history of the western electric phones is something of a history of the telephone itself. The original baked black enamel finish is 99% intact t is no pitting or tarnish on the nickel surfaces dial numbers and letters crisp and clear dial turns and returns smoothly an open coin return model it comes complete with both keys needed to service the. Highpolish chrome finish compatible only with western electric style payphones left side coin slot. An antique western electric3slot payphone with a working coin mechanism. It is my first experience with a payphone and my first major telephone refurbishing project so i thought id share my restoration experiences on my web site. Manufacturing the future provides a valuable overview of western. This is a fulllength history of the western electric company, which was the manufacturing arm of the bell system. In 1901 the name was changed to automatic electric. The original baked black enamel finish is 99% intact t is no pitting or tarnish on the nickel surfaces dial numbers and letters crisp and clear dial turns and returns smoothly an open coin return model it comes complete with both keys needed to service the phone. The payphone features a black metal wallhanging design with a rotary dial, a traditional black plastic handset, and a coin mechanism for canadian quarters, dimes, and nickels.
Special thanks to dave hunter for the photos of the northern electric qsd3a. American bell telephone western electric magneto three jug or long distance telephone. Western electric 233g three slot pay phone telephonearchive. Identifying popular western electric telephones in one step. Payphone history book by ron knappen ron knappen, phoneco inc on. Grays previous claim to fame was inventing the inflatable chest protector for baseball. It also assist the hook switch with placing the phone on and offhook. After trying to explain it by scribbling on table napkins, i realized that an article describing the operation. The coinbox stores all collected coins from completed calls.
Western electric northern electric payphone make your 3. Of all the 3 slot payphones sought by collectors the western electric 160 series are the most difficult to find. See also bell telephone manufacturing of antwerp for european phones western electric used a complicated numbering system based on the model, ringer, whether it was for cb or auto use, etc. This is an original three slot payphone made by western electric. Adams and butler deftly summarize important chapters in. Payphone history book by author ron knappen old phone shop. Your desk phone is a western electric model 202 manufactured around 192930. Many have asked for a simple way to make their northern electric and western electric 3 slot payphones into working payphones. A few members have asked me what the purpose of the permanent magnet is in a double coil coin relay. Approximately 450 page history of the payphone, payphone booths and signs. Instructions for mounting a western electric payphone using my install kit. The strowger company was formed in 1891, founded by almon strowger inventor of the dial telephone and the strowger step by step telephone switching system. The above picture is what the 3slot payphone looked like before restoration began.
Its laboratories produced many major innovations in communication technology, building on the fundamental invention of alexander graham bell. I think that in the future the pay phones will almost be completely forgotten, because today with the cell phones and the home phones, barely anybody uses the pay phones, so it will probaly get worse in 2050. Dec 27, 2009 this is an original three slot payphone made by western electric. The wiring of the 1234g is dense compared to the other models. Western electric was the captive equipment arm of the bell system and produced the majority of the telephones and related equipment used in the u.
It was a postpay machine coins were deposited after the call was placed. In this article i am writing about what is not the oldest but probably the rarest payphone in my collection. Unlike the first version with a body totally made of brittle cast iron this version has a steel lower housing. In that time it held patents over many of the major developments in telephony. As manufacturer in the communications revolutions in the nineteenth and twentieth centuries, western electric made products that accelerated societys pace, such as telegraphs, telephones, an early computing machine, radios, radar and transistors. The national payphone clearinghouse npc has over fifteen years experience in providing the service of dialaround compensation dac to interexchange carriers ixcs. Western electric was the first company to join in a japanese joint venture with foreign capital. Payphone history book by ron knappen gray payphones. Both phones were in poor condition and required restoration. Telephone world pictures of automatic electric telephones. In 1889, the first public coin telephone was installed by inventor william gray at a bank in hartford, conn. Western electric telephone with 315h ringer box collectors. Western electric, the equipment division of the bell system, was the major manufacturer of telephones and telephonerelated equipment in the united states for almost a century.
The western electric 500type telephone replaced the 300type which had been produced since 1936. Since its inception in 1992 as the first dac clearinghouse, the npc has remained an industry leader providing quality customer service to all of its clients and responding. A year ago i was fortunate enough to acquire two of them for my collection. Compatible with virtually any bell style payphone including gtequadrum and western style. Western electric 233g pay phone 3coinslot type western electric 50g photos and schematic. Antique western electric three slot payphone youtube. This is the card that goes in the chromeplated frame that mounts on top of a western electric model 233g and similar 3slot payphones. For the first half of the 20th century, most payphones were built by the gray telephone and pay station co.
In 1889 william gray got a patent for his innovative coin payment mechanism. Western electric vintage home telephones for sale ebay. Timeline of pay phones timeline created by lynncomm72. Gray western 50g 3 slot payphone original pay phone.
A modified western electric 191g, 1950s, 3slot payphone. We offer many of the popular, working antique phones and other old phones such as the western electric 202 and the classic telephone designed by henry dreyfuss, the western electric 302. A western electric m odel 233g, prepay, 3 slot payphone. Picture of first pay phone page two of focus article above. Western electric products telephones payphones 233g. We have put together a kit which includes a very easy to follow wiring diagram, along with all the parts you need so you can use your payphone like a regular home phone. Notice progression in governor case with an adjustment notch in one adjustment slot.
Tools begin on page 163 catalog page 7, and include 2 indian motorcycles on page 175 catalog page 149. One of the last 3slot pay telephones made by western electric before the development of the singleslot pay phone. The 3slot dial payphone was introduced in the 1950s when a phone cost a nickel, and then increased to a dime for local calls. An antique western electric model 233g 3slot payphone. This wall phone is perfect for your man cave, gameroom, garage, or retro style kitchen. In 1899, it invested in a 54% share of the nippon electric company, ltd. After trying to explain it by scribbling on table napkins, i realized that an article describing the operation of the double coil coin relay would be of value to at least 3 people. Please send info on models and colors during the 80s. Electrics history, an excellent teaching tool for undergraduates studying the. Western cradle hook western style parts payphone parts. The model 500 line was designed by the firm of industrial designer henry dreyfuss, the product of several years of research and testing in collaboration with bell laboratories and western electric. Understanding the western electric double coil coin relay. Oct 20, 2011 the 3slot dial payphone was introduced in the 1950s when a phone cost a nickel, and then increased to a dime for local calls. Hello payphone pholks and you other types of people.
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