20-B

20-AL

40-AL

Copyright © 2004 – Wistful Vista Telephone Co.®, Hamden, CT
 (Desk stands with insulated transmitters are in blue bold type)
 
Solid Perch Desk Stands¹
 
These desk stands all had the older solid perches.  The only desk stand listed with an insulated transmitter was the 20-P, which had a No. 271 transmitter.  It would appear that the No. 271 was the predecessor of the No. 291 insulated transmitter listed in the 1912 catalog, and the later No. 329 insulated transmitter introduced in 1913.
 
20-B – For regular local battery bridging or central battery service – Nickel plate
            Includes:          1 – No. 20-B desk stand
                                       1 – No.  229-W transmitter
                                       1 – No. 122-W receiver
 
20-B is the same as 20-S, except for the finish
 
20-C – For operator’s telephone set with cordless private exchange – Nickel plate
            Includes:          1 – No. 20-C desk stand
                                       1 – No.  229-W transmitter
                                       1 – No. 122-W receiver
 
20-F – For central battery service, used with No. 7 type coin collector – Nickel plate
            Includes:          1 – No. 20-F desk stand
                                       1 – No.  229-W transmitter
                                       1 – No. 122-W receiver
 
20-H – For intercommunicating service – Nickel plate
            Includes:          1 – No. 20-H desk stand
                                       1 – No.  229-W transmitter
                                       1 – No. 122-W receiver
 
20-J – For operator’s telephone set, using 128-W receiver.  No switchhook – Nickel plate
            Includes:          1 – No. 20-J desk stand
                                       1 – No.  229-W transmitter
                                       1 – No. 128-W receiver
 
20-M – For central battery service using transmitter cutout button – Nickel plate
            Includes:          1 – No. 20-M desk stand
                                       1 – No.  229-W transmitter
                                       1 – No. 122-W receiver
 
20-P – For regular local battery bridging or central battery service – Nickel plate
            Includes:         1 – No. 20-P desk stand
                                      1 – No.  271-W transmitter
                                      1 – No. 122-W receiver
 
20-S – For regular local battery bridging or central battery service – Black Enamel
            Includes:         1 – No. 20-S desk stand
                                      1 – No.  229-W transmitter
                                      1 – No. 122-W OST receiver
 
20-S is the same as 20-B, except for the finish
 
¹Western Electric Bulletin, No. 2 (c. 1907), pp. 27-28.
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Drawn Perch Desk Stands²
Solid Perch Desk Stands¹
These desk stands had the newer brass drawn perches and the No. 143-W “concealed binding post” receivers with “composition case.”  The perch markings on these desk stands more or less corresponded with those of the earlier solid perch desk stands, but with the letter “C” added to the perch marking.  The No. 291 transmitter replaced the No. 271 on insulated sets.  The No. 291 was apparently replaced the following year with the introduction of the No. 329 insulated transmitter.  The 122-W receivers were still an option, as were the even newer No. 144 receivers with “hard rubber case.”
 
Series circuit desk stands were available with either a No. 293 uninsulated or No. 291 insulated transmitter, and No. 171 “magnetless” receiver.
 
 
20-BC – For regular local battery bridging or central battery service – Nickel plate
            Includes:         1 – No. 20-BC desk stand
                                      1 – No.  229-W transmitter
                                      1 – No. 143-W receiver
 
20-SC – For regular local battery bridging or central battery service – Black
            Includes:         1 – No. 20-SC desk stand
                                      1 – No.  229-W transmitter
                                      1 – No. 143-W receiver
 
20-BC and 20-SC are the same except for the finish
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20-MC – For central battery service, using transmitter cutout button – Nickel plate
            Includes:         1 – No. 20-MC desk stand
                                      1 – No.  229-W transmitter
                                      1 – No. 143-W receiver
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20-AK – For series central battery service – Nickel plate
            Includes:          1 – No. 20-AK desk stand
                                    1 – No.  293-W transmitter
                                    1 – No. 171-W receiver
 
20-AM – For series central battery service – Black
            Includes:          1 – No. 20-AM desk stand
                                    1 – No.  293-W transmitter
                                    1 – No. 171-W receiver
 
20-AK and 20-AM are the same except for the finish
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20-PC – For regular local battery bridging or central battery service.  Insulated transmitter – Nickel plate
            Includes:       1 – No. 20-PC desk stand
                                    1 – No.  291-W transmitter
                                    1 – No. 143-W receiver
 
20-AL – For regular local battery bridging or central battery service.  Insulated transmitter – Black
            Includes:       1 – No. 20-AL desk stand
                                    1 – No.  291-W transmitter
                                    1 – No. 143-W receiver
 
20-PC and 20-AL are the same except for the finish
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20-AG – For series central battery service.  Insulated transmitter – Nickel plate
            Includes:       1 – No. 20-AG desk stand
                                   1 – No.  291-W transmitter
                                   1 – No. 171-W receiver
 
20-AH – For series central battery service.  Insulated transmitter – Black
            Includes:       1 – No. 20-AH desk stand
                                   1 – No.  291-W transmitter
                                   1 – No. 171-W receiver

20-AG and 20-AH are the same except for the finish
 
² Western Electric Bulletin, No. 12 (Sept. 1, 1912), p. 26. 
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During America's involvement in World War I (1917-18), Western Electric produced desk stand bases and stems out of steel instead of brass.  The steel parts were given a greyish Bower-Barff (no kidding!) or "Parkerized" finish.  Western continued to manufacture the perches and transmitter faceplates out of brass.  This became Western's 40 series of desk stands.
 
40-AL – For regular local battery bridging or central battery service. Insulated transmitter
               Includes: 1 – No. 40-AL desk stand
                                1 – No. 323-W transmitter
                                1 – No. 144-W receiver