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| Western Electric A1 Desk Telephone (c. 1925) |
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In 1925, Western Electric introduced its first handset telephone, the A1. The A1 telephone was produced in limited quantities and is extremely scarce today.
The A1 handset mounting consisted of a brass base and a short-stemmed cradle and plunger made of an aluminum alloy. The A1 cradle accommodated the newly designed E type handset. Like its desk stand predecessors, the A1 also required a bell box.
The A1 base is identical to the base used on a dial desk stand, except no patent information is stamped on the edge of the A1 base. The patent information on an A1 is located on the short cradle stem.
A1 Western Electric A1 Round Base Desk Telephone - Original A1 desk telephone with E1 handset and #2HB dial. New black finish, cloth cords, base pad and bell box. The A1 telephone is extremely rare and highly prized by serious telephone collectors. We get them occasionally, but they are very expensive Inquire (PRICE WILL INCLUDE BELL BOX)
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| B1 Desk Telephones - Round Base |
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| Western Electric B1 (1927-30) |
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By 1927, the A1 was replaced by the B1 desk telephone. Equipped with the same E1 handset, the B1 had a somewhat higher profile round base made of stamped steel and an aluminum alloy cradle and plunger. The B1 is often called a 102, a BELL SYSTEM designation for a sidetone handset desk telephone. However, B1 sets were configured for both sidetone (102) and anti-sidetone (202) service.
B1-E Western Electric B1 (102) Round Base Desk Telephone - Original B1 desk telephone with E1 handset and #5 dial (pictured above). New black finish, new cloth cords, new base pad, and bell box with cloth-covered modular line cord
$460.00 (BELL BOX INCLUDED)*
$410.00 (with GTE mini-network instead of bell box)
$390.00 (a la carte - buyer already has bell box)
*Price includes an American-made subscriber set (bell box) that may contain some new components.
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| E1 on LEFT - F1 on RIGHT |
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Western Electric's first handset for production telephones was the E handset, pictured on the left, introduced with the A1 telephone about 1925. E handsets had five bakelite parts: the handle, the mouthpiece, a thick lock ring for the transmitter assembly, the receiver cap, and a narrow lock ring for the receiver assembly. The F handset, pictured on the right, was introduced about 1937, with the advent of the 300 series desk telephones. The F1 handset remained in production long after production of new 300 series telephones was discontinued in the mid-1950s. The bakelite parts of the F handset consisted of the handle, the mouthpiece and the receiver cap.
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| Western Electric B1 with F Handset |
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After the F1 handset was introduced in 1937, Western Electric and local Bell System companies frequently replaced the older E1 handsets with F1s when B and D-type telephones were refurbished. These updated sets often remained in service for many years, and continued to be included in the Bell System Practices manuals for installers until the late 1960s.
B1-F Western Electric B1 (102) Round Base Desk Telephone with F handset - Original B1 desk telephone with F1 handset and #5 dial. New black finish, new cloth cords, new base pad, and bell box with cloth-covered modular line cord $430.00 (BELL BOX INCLUDED)*
$380.00 (with GTE mini-network instead of bell box)
$360.00 (a la carte - buyer already has bell box)
*Price includes an American-made subscriber set (bell box) that may contain some new components. |
| D1 Desk Telephones - Oval Base |
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| Western Electric D1 (1930-38) |
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By 1930, the B1 handset telephone was discontinued and the D1 handset telephone was introduced. The D1 had an oval base and a new cradle assembly, both made entirely of an aluminum alloy.
In mid-1936, Western Electric began producing the D1 base and cradle in a heavier zinc alloy pot metal. About the same time, Western also began offering the D1 telephone with the newer F style handset, designed for the new 302 desk telephone (see D1-F below).
The D1 is often called a 202, a BELL SYSTEM designation for an antisidetone handset desk telephone. However, D1 sets were configured for both sidetone (102) and anti-sidetone (202) service.
D1-E Western Electric D1 (202) Oval Base Desk Telephone - Original D1 desk telephone with E1 handset and #5 dial (pictured above). New black finish, new cloth cords, new base pad, and bell box with cloth-covered modular line cord $390.00 (BELL BOX INCLUDED)*
$340.00 (with GTE mini-network instead of bell box)
$320.00 (a la carte - buyer already has bell box)
*Price includes an American-made subscriber set (bell box) that may contain some new components.
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| Western Electric D1 with F Handset |
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After the F1 handset was introduced in 1937, Western Electric and local Bell System companies frequently replaced the older E1 handsets with F1s when B and D-type telephones were being rebuilt for re-issue. These updated sets often remained in service for many years, and continued to be included in the Bell System Practices manuals for installers until the late 1960s.
D1-F Western Electric D1 Oval Base Desk Telephone with F handset - Original D1 desk telephone with F1 handset and #5 dial. New black finish, new cloth cords, new base pad, and bell box with cloth-covered modular line cord $360.00 (BELL BOX INCLUDED)*
$310.00 (with GTE mini-network instead of bell box)
$290.00 (a la carte - buyer already has bell box)
*Price includes an American-made subscriber set (bell box) that may contain some new components.
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All of our B1 and D1 desk telephones come with a standard Western Electric #5 dial. Older dials are available at extra cost. |
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| Western Electric D1 "Imperial" (Gold) |
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To commemorate the 75th anniversary of the telephone in 1951, the BELL SYSTEM offered the Imperial, a special D1 (202) desk telephone plated in nickel or brass. The F handset, plunger, base cover, and accompanying bell box were colored ivory. The brass Imperials were meant to look like they were gold-plated, but they werent. But our Imperials ARE gold-plated!
D1-FI Imperial 75thth Anniversary Edition - D1 desk telephone base and cradle plated in gold or nickel (specify finish when ordering), with #6 dial with clear fingerwheel. Plunger and bakelite F handset refinished in ivory enamel $475.00 (BELL BOX INCLUDED)*
$425.00 (with GTE mini-network instead of bell box)
$445.00 (mini-ringer and GTE mini-network instead of bell box)
$400.00 (a la carte - buyer already has bell box)
*Price includes an American-made subscriber set (bell box) that may contain some new components.
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| Western Electric 302 - Metal Housing |
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| Western Electric 302 (Metal Housing - 1937-41) |
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302-M Original Western Electric 302 desk set with metal housing and bakelite F handset. This was the first Western Electric desk telephone to be self-contained, with the induction coil, condenser and ringer contained in the same housing as the cradle and dial.
The earliest 302s, made of a zinc alloy pot metal, were produced from 1937 to 1941. Our metal 302s have a beautiful new baked-on black finish, #5 or #6 dial, and a new black neoprene or brown cloth modular line cord. Customer may choose either an original rubber handset cord (straight or coiled) or a new brown cloth handset cord - $215.00
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| Western Electric 302 - Plastic Housing |
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| Western Electric 302 (Plastic Housing - 1942-54) |
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302-P Original Western Electric 302 desk set, with black thermoplastic housing and bakelite F handset. Production of thermoplastic 302s lasted from 1941 until 1954, when factory production of new 302s ended. However, as with most other Western Electric telephones, both metal and plastic 302s continued to be factory rebuilt for re-issue for many years after the manufacture of new sets ended.
The thermoplastic housings and bakelite handsets on our 302s are buffed and polished to look new. Comes with a new black neoprene or brown cloth modular line cord. Customer may choose either an original rubber handset cord (straight or coiled) or a new cloth handset cord - $195.00
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| Western Electric 500 - Early Edition (1952-65) |
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| Western Electric 500 (1949-65) |
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500 Original BLACK Western Electric 500 Desk Set
Already a collectible! This is the original desk set that remained a staple of the BELL SYSTEM for over 40 years! Rugged, handsome and functional. Beautifully buffed with retractable handset cord and new black modular line cord - $80.00
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OUR TELEPHONES WORK - AND THEY ARE GUARANTEED!
GUARANTEE
All Wistful Vista telephones are guaranteed against operational failure due to defective parts. We will repair or replace any defective part free of charge within one (1) year of purchase. All of our telephones are compatible with most modern switching equipment. However, our guarantee does not cover operational failure on telephone services provided by cable TV, the Internet (VOIP), or on any telephone system that does not support pulse dialing. |
Wistful Vista Telephone Co.ฎ telephones look and work like they just came from the factory. Still, customers are advised that the original telephones we sell are old some of them over 100 years old. Over the years, some have acquired minor imperfections in the metal and/or bakelite surfaces, which will not detract from their functionality, beauty or collector value. However, original bakelite parts will be free of cracks, chips and significant gouges. The availability and prices of all items listed on this website are subject to change without notice.
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