North Desk Sets Highlighting Variations of North manufactured desk sets ©2002 paulf.  All rights reserved. (What's this copyright notice?)
	Most NORTH dial desk sets look like this from the front.  AE dials are most commonly found; occasionally Western Electric or Kellogg dials; and rarely North dials.
	NORTH BAKELITE SETS have distinctive vents, a generous hand grip and the cases are well marked, although in small letters, along the bottom edge.
	NORTH METAL SETS (early production units) have a similar handgrip, but no vents and no name on the back.
	NORTH PARTY LINE SETS have a small button on the right of the cradle.  When the handset is lifted, the plungers pop up part way, and the receiver is activated.  You can listen to activity on the line without interrupting any ongoing conversations. In theory, if the line is free you can then push the button, releasing the plungers and activiating the transmitter and dial.  Great for evesdropping without risk of your gasps or guffaws being overheard. These sets also had frequency sensitive ringers.   This one has a Kellogg dial. (Sorry for the photo distortion on the close-ups.)
	NORTH MILITARY SETS (TP-6-A) have no vents, a simpler hand grip and are clearly marked.  Note the rubber fitting around the cord hole, and that the line cord exits out the back, while the handset cord exits on the side.                 The (AE or Telephonics) dials often have patriotic number cards and have a black dust shield under the fingerwheel.
	COPIES are usually plain (or have a non-north logo) and have a small handgrip.   Dials may have a visible external bolt on the fingerstop.
If you've read this far, congratulations -- you're a certified North fanatic.  Your reward is a view of some favorite phones:       NORTH Metal base deskset with NORTH dial and stainless fingerwheel.                NORTH desksets: Ivory with WE dial and brass fingerwheel (6H6 SL I   8/47), White with black handset and North dial and stainless fingerwheel (7H64 H D  1952), Ivory with North dial and matching fingerwheel (7H6 3 SLO IV  9/52).   These were not painted, but cast from colored plastic.  The two ivory sets are now different shades due to different exposure to UV and other environmental stresses.   Colors made included black, mahogany, green, ivory, maroon, royal blue, chinese red and rose beige. I believe the ivory sets were the only ones that have brass-banded handsets. For more on colors: click here.