Dial Desk Telephones

(What's this copyright notice?)

Velour covered Princess Phone -- Leave it to ITT/Kellogg to spruce up the classic. The base and handset are covered with brown fuzz. Interestingly, the plastic under the fuzz is gray, while the caps and cord are beige. Probably an aftermarket add-on.

Marked 70114030M1166

The phone is similar to Western's 701B, although the lead weight in the base is a different shape and the terminal block is mounted above the weight, not under it.

TeleConcepts "Circa 1926" -- Model 236142. When I first saw this, I did a double take. It looked like an early Stromberg Carlson handset on a Western Electric D1 base -- but it had pushbuttons, tone/pulse, redial and * and # keys. The modular coiled cloth cord was a nice touch, also. Made in August, 1992.

For comparison, I put a "real" SC handset on a WE D1 base, and it looked like this. The dimensions were virtually identical. Nice job.

WESTERN ELECTRIC 500 -- Unusual clear model. From David Massey's collection

(Photo courtesy of Dave Massey)

North 541 Desk Set -- After the Western Electric 500 set was introduced, competitors rushed to modernize their product lines. Here is an example from North Electric, Galion, Ohio.

By the mid-70s, most companies licensed the WE500 design and an era of creativity in design came to an end -- until the Bell System was split up in 1984.

Click to see more examples and ringer styles.

STROMBERG CARLSON 1573 -- 3 line business telephone with separate hold buttons for each line and line switch on front of phone. Also has a button near the cradle for signalling.
View detail of switches.

STROMBERG CARLSON 1575 -- 5 line business telephone with separate hold button and line switches with lights on front of phone.
View detail of switches.

STROMBERG CARLSON 1215 -- Bakelite base and handset similar to the SC1198 placed on a cast metal extension base containing 12 pushbuttons used for signaling and intercom functions. Surprisingly, the photo captured the small facets on the receiver and transmitter caps.

This phone is wired with a modern network and modular line cord and works great. The buttons activate a small buzzer in the base.

NORTHERN ELECTRIC NO. 1 -- Canada's version of Western Electric's model 302. It's electrically similar, but the case is much wider when viewed from the front, giving it a more substantial appearance.

Normally found with an F1 handset and #5 dial, this unit has the more angular NU handset and a British Post Office (B.P.O.) type dial with chromed fingerwheel.

Check out the wiring diagram found inside.

View the wall model and handset evolution here.

Click for more details

Will the real NORTH Desk Set please stand up?

From a distance they look identical. On closer inspection, the phone on the left is a copy. The case is unmarked, and of inferior quality. The base and internals are from a "recycled" WE 302 (turned sideways). The dial is an AE, which is commonly found on the "real thing." Even the handset is a genuine North -- although I've seen them with Western Electric F1 or Automatic Electric handsets -- whatever was available.

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