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Western Electric Handset Styles

Handset identification Aid

Includes Dial Hand Test Sets ("Butt Sets")

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This page provides general identification information on many Western Electric handsets,
focusing on handsets made before the Bell System break-up in 1984.

Handsets with numeric codes were primarily used internal to the Bell System for test sets or specialty applications (e.g. intercoms) -- only occasionally in general subscriber environments.

Handsets with letter codes, started with the A-type, were for general use,
and were combined with "handset mountings" to create a whole telephone.

Most handset types have several variations with suffix numbers and letters to denote
different terminal, switch and wiring arrangements. See the catalogs or BSPs for details.
There are undoubtedly more BSP references to be found.

Color information is on the page "Phones in Color!"
Handset mountings are covered on WE Handset Mounting Types.

Follow links where available to detail pages highlighting the major variations.

This is a work in progress. Please send comments, additions and corrections.

Photo	Description & Marking	Common Uses	BSP/ Catalog
	WE 1001 Handset Originally used by linemen. Variations with pushbuttons could be used as desk stand replacements (e.g. 1040AL). Introduced ca. 1902	Test Sets Field Phones Interphones Desk Stand Replacement	____________ WE Cat. 2, p.33 WE 1918 Yearbook, p.31
	WE 1002 Handset The ring is connected to a line switch, which goes off hook when the handset is removed from a hook. Introduced ca. 1907 Marked 2AC	Desk Stand Replacement Often found connected to 315 or 400 subset. Switchboards	WE Cat 2, p.34 WE 1916 Yearbook, p.100
	WE 1003 Handset Introduced ca. 1910	Interphones	WE 1916 Yearbook, pp. 43, 66
	WE 1004 Handset	Field Phones	-
1011B 1011G with Dial Central Office Test Cord	WE 1011 Handset (Dial Hand Test Set) Introduced ca. 1939. "Dial-in -handset" became the inspiration for the Trimline decades later. 1011A - Manual, B - Small 103A dial, C - G - 3" 6A dial, 346A plug and various cords and specialty connectors to fit equipment to be tested. F1 and HA1 elements (same as F Handset) Without Bell System marking (1011BW) Military TS-365/CT marking	General Purpose Test Set 3" dial for Dial CO Testing Panel Crossbar Step by step	WE Cat. 11, p. 186 100-120-101 106-020-111
	WE 1012 Handset 1001-style handle with F handset caps and elements.	Train Dispatching	WE Cat. 11, p. 186
	WE 1013 and 1014 Handsets (Dial Hand Test Sets) 11A dial. T1 and LA2 elements. Colors and cords vary by model and intended use. Blue - 1013, general purpose, alligator clips Yellow - 1014, 346A plug, various cords and specialty connectors to fit equipment to be tested. Since sets were used by technicians, found sets often had cords and plastics changed -- including two-tone sets (e.g. half blue and half orange).	General Purpose Test Set Dial CO Testing	100-120-101 106-020-111 106-020-113
	AT&T 1015 Handset (Dial Hand Test Set) Touchtone Dial	General Purpose Test Set	-
	D-Specification Type Handsets Components and construction vary by model variation. Various cords and specialty connectors fit equipment to be tested.	General Purpose Test Set Dial CO Testing Panel Crossbar Step by step Community Dial Intertoll Dialing Dial PBX	100-120-101
Jim Prather Photo	WE A Handset WE Type-A Introduced ca. 1922, with several versions produced until about 1924.	A mounting	-
	WE E Handset Early D 80370 marking Introduced ca. 1926. Starting in 1935, the E1B included the F1 transmitter developed for the F handset. For details and variations, see "Desk Telephones of the Bell System" by Lawrence Wolff.	A mounting B mounting C mounting D mounting E mounting	C32.202 C32.203 C32.275 C63.341
	WE F Handset Introduced ca. 1936 in bakelite. Went to plastic in the early 1950s. Variations	B mounting refurb D mounting refurb Imperial Continental 211 300-series 5300-series	C18.022 C32.203 C32.275 C38.807 C55.152 C63.341 501-210-101 501-210-300 501-220-100 501-230-100
	WE GF Handset Uses G1 or G3 handle with adapters to hold the F1 handset's F and HA elements. Details	5300-series	502-400-301 NY
	WE G Handset Introduced in 1949 in bakelite. Went to plastic in 1953 for colored sets and the mid-1960s for black sets. Variations	500-series 1500-series 2500-series 3500-series Princess	C18.022 C32.203 C32.204 C63.341 501-210-102 501-210-103 501-210-104 501-210-120 501-210-300 501-210-301 501-211-102 501-211-103 501-211-400 502-200-101
	WE J Handset Control of 1-type telephone reporting set from a remote line. Similar to G5 with a switch controlled oscillator for generating a 1475 cps signal.	1-type reporting set	501-210-104
	WE K Handset	Design Line Accent Elite Exeter Stowaway Telstar TouchAMatic 16 960 2960 Comkey 416 Late 2500	501-210-105 503-200-106 503-200-103 503-200-100 503-200-125 503-200-101 503-200-127 503-200-105 503-200-128
	WE L Handset	Design Line Celebrity	503-200-104 503-200-129
	WE M Handset R, M and N Handset size comparison.	TouchAMatic S	501-210-110 503-400-100
	WE N Handset R, M and N Handset size comparison.	Design Line Big Button Glow Olympic '84 "Showcase"	503-200-118 503-200-133 503-200-134
	WE R Handset R, M and N Handset size comparison.	Merlin	501-210-130