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WE701B, Keychains in original 5 colors, E1C external ringer, Mini "sample" set |
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RELATED
PAGES ON THIS SITE: Colors
Handsets
Table Key Development Timeline
Touch_Tone_Development WE
500-Series WE 1500-Series
WE 2500-Series
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Princess sets were announced in 1959 in five colors and evolved into the models shown here over the years. They were made by Western Electric until divestiture in 1984, then by AT&T. Numerous similar designs by competitors demonstrate the popularity of the design. This page is intended to be a quick summary of the Princess models produced and major functions. Western catalogs and technical documentation only show the models that were in production or service at the publication date. To understand the full scope of models produced we must compile data from many years of documents. Each model had suffix letters that defined variations. Details can be found in the Bell System technical documentation (e.g. BSPs - Bell System Practices).
More details on set coding are found on the 500-series page. Many also apply to Princess sets. Most info in the chart is from manufacturer catalogs and ads plus discussions on the ATCA and TCI listservs. No claim is made regarding accuracy or completeness. If you're enjoying looking at this level of detail and haven't joined one of the phone clubs yet, see the links page. If you're identifying a phone, you still need to check the internal components as many phones were refurbed and had internal components changed or removed. If done in a Bell System refurb facility, the code on the bottom was usually repainted or remarked. Many independent shops or field mods were not remarked with the accurate model number.  1702 and 1712 "Imperial" sets with metallic gold bases. For color information, see: Phones in color! This page is a work in progress. Please send comments, additions and corrections. Last update: 27 December 2012 |
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Model
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Major Functions
(all are desk sets.) |
BSP
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1702B |
Single line model with dial light/night
light and internal ringer.
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502-702-100 512-620-471 |
| 1702D |
Single line with flush-mounted neon message waiting lamp. |
502-702-103 |
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2-line with turn switch line selection and
signaling and hold (raise the left plunger). No internal
ringer. Used with 1A home
interphone, 2A farm interphone, 3A speakerphone or 1A1/1A2 KTS.
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502-725-401 512-510-426 512-515-418 |
| 1712BC |
With turn switch key for Secretarial exclusion and signaling. No internal ringer. | -- |
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2-line with turn switch line selection and
signaling and hold (raise the left plunger). No internal ringer. |
502-702-103 |
| Several
styles of pads were used to help minimize slipping during the
Princess set's lifetime. Date ranges shown below are from sets observed by collectors, so may be inaccurate or incomplete. Please send additions and corrections. |
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1959 - December 1960 |
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December 1959 - December 1962 Note: overlaps the previous design by one year. The words "Bell System" and "The Princess Phone" were changed from being printed in ink to stamped into the metal in May, 1960. "The Princess Phone" did not appear on the phones until November 1959. |
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January 1963 - July 1976 Variation on the above design to accommodate the M1 ringer adjustment and flat bottom of the 702-series sets. Note the fewer dots around the edge. Other minor variations exist with slightly different cutouts to match features of specific sets such as the 711, 712 and 713. |
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October 1976 - 77136 (136th day of
1977) Larger cutout for model info and stickers. |
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77131 - 79100 (100th day of
1979) Even larger cutout for model info and stickers. |
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79086 - 80074 Variation on the above design. Material changed to cork. |
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81042 and later Layout changed to accommodate the P1 ringer's adjustment. |
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The same cork design was used for the CS sets, which did not
have
a dial light. |
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The later AT&T 2703 Signature Princess had a plastic base
with
4 small feet. |
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©1997-2012 paulf. All rights reserved.
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