Jim asked if I could refurbish the phone and agreed to e-mail me photographs.  I told him that I was sure I could help and the phone was soon headed east.This is one of the photos that Jim e-mailed to me.  Attached to the ringer box was a smaller box with a switch on the top.  It was unfamiliar to me but I guessed that it either switched to a second phone line or was used to switch the ringer on and off.  It looks like there were several coats of paint after all these years.  I had my work cut out for me—but it looked like it was going to be a fun project.When the phone arrived, as I always do I photographed it as I removed it from the box.  I was trying to determine a date.  The subscriber set, or “ringer box” as they’re more commonly called appeared to be from around 1912.  The telephone, with the round B1 body was probably from the early 1930’s however I could not locate a date.  The early E1 handset did have some dates on it from 1934.  The phone underwent some refurbishing in 1949 as the dial was replaced with a 5H dial dated from that year.  This phone began its life in Rensselaer, NY and had a HObart exchange.

Take a moment or two and follow along via my web album where I show step-by-step the process that transformed this telephone into a beautiful Vintage Rotary Phone that is now being used daily.  There were some trying moments as I had problems with a loud annoying “dial click” that could be heard in the receiver during dialing.

Just click the image below of the finished product to view the album.  There is text under each photo that will explain the transition.

I would like to thank telephone collector Bill Geurts of Telephone Collectors International for all of his help in solving the technical aspects of problems I experienced during the restoration process.  Bill is also a member of Classic Rotary Phones Forum.  Postings about this phone and his technical assistance can be seen here.

By the way, Jim just recently retired from the phone company after a thirty-seven year career.

Thank you Jim for the opportunity to work on this treasured heirloom!

From my collection is this brown (Mahogany) Model 500 made by Western Electric.

1957 Mahogany Western Electric

The first of the plastic color Model 500’s were made in 1953.  Those colors were Ivory, Moss Green, Dark Gray (Oxford Gray) and Cherry Red.  In 1954 colors that were introduced were Mediterranean Blue, Pastel Yellow, Dark Beige (Rose Beige) and Mahogany.  These brown sets were discontinued in 1957, making a very short run of three years for this color.  A while ago I came upon an example of a Mahogany Western Electric that had lived a rough life.  Come with me as I take you along on my journey to refurbish this great piece of American history.One winter night I was sent a link to a Craiglist telephone that the sender thought I may be interested in seeing.  This e-mail was from a passing telephone contact that I had met via eBay.  I almost deleted the contact without looking.  The sender had sent me dozens of phone links and most were things of absolutely no interest.  But I decided to take a look.

Photo Posted on Craigslist

The Ad simply said “brown phone” and “Western Electric”.  I took a look at the small photo and decided I’d take a shot in the dark.  I contacted the seller and a deal was struck.  She agreed to ship the phone to me from Maine.

I had to mail funds and it seemed like forever before the phone finally arrived.  I was pleasantly surprised to find that it was in fact a Mahogany, soft plastic Western Electric Model 500.  It was pretty rough, with one deep scratch but there were no cracks or breaks in the plastic.  With a little work this COULD become a very nice piece of Americana.

It takes a trained eye to notice the difference between a black Western Electric Model 500 and a Model D/K 500,  made by The Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Co. of Chicago, Illinois.

Production of these Western Electric look-alikes began in 1954.  This model of Kellogg telephone replaced the earlier 1000 series Kellogg, often referred to as the Red Bar.  Made with Tenite (soft plastic) the D/K500 had a black metal finger wheel.  Leather foot pads were on the bottom corners of the phone and the Bakelite “Gumdrop” handset first appeared with a straight black handset cord.  I wrote an article about a “banjo phone” that I refurbished  back in 2008. In 1956,  to meet the demand for color sets, Kellogg released several colors.  those were Red, Yellow, Gray, Ivory, Brown, Beige, Blue and Green.  These sets in color are now extremely rare.  One rarely sees one for sale and when they are listed they sell for a rather handsome sum of money.

Looking at the phone from the front you notice a circular design around the dial bezel.  This is where the so-called “banjo phone” got it’s name.  It resembles the round shape of the banjo.  With it’s open center finger wheel and slightly rounded matching plastic handset, this phone is  a very stylish soft plastic telephone.

Kellogg Model D/K 500's

I am very happy to have this phone in my collection.  Shown here with both the earlier Black set and also pictured along side the Western Electric counter part.

Soft Plastic Yellow Kellogg "Banjo Phone" & Western Electric Model 500

Technology changed rapidly fifty years ago.  Soon ABS plastic would be used for the manufacture of telephones, replacing Tenite.  ABS, commonly called “hard plastic” is still being used today for the manufacture of various plastic items.  We said good-bye to soft plastic telephones around the end of June, 1959.  There are exceptions as there were surplus supplies of previously manufactured plastic items but for the most part telephones made by Western Electric were made of hard plastic after mid 1959.  However black sets have been found made of Tenite into the mid-1960’s.  Telephone collectors will tell you that the “thumping” sound the plastic makes when one taps one’s fingernail against the side of the housing is the tell-tale sign that a phone is soft plastic.  Then there is the smell.  Since Tenite was made from organic material they continue to out-gas even today.  They are said to smell like cheese.  In addition to dated parts, just removing a handset cap and taking a whiff will tell the story.  That cheesy smell is undeniable.  It is a smell (or what some consider an odor) that is enjoyable to a collector of soft plastic sets such as myself.

Despite the vanishing act of soft plastic in that summer of 1959, sets made of Tenite are still found.  They are the source of “the hunt” by many plastic telephone collectors.  Many can be found on auction web sites like eBay or Etsy–and others.  Soft plastic sets are out there in the world too.  The Moss Green set seen here was found at a flea market by one of my sisters.  She saw the date of April 1955 on the bottom and picked up the phone for me as a gift.   That is the month and year of my birth.  The set is completely dated from April of 1955 and was a great find.  There are many stories of great telephone finds yet today.  Those stories will be a topic of discussion for another day.  Meanwhile I commemorate  the passing of “soft plastic” telephone sets but revel in their discovery.

Summers are short here in Michigan so now that the snow has melted and the grass is green again there are many things to do outside!  Someone recently told me that there are two seasons in Michigan—–Winter and July.  Well actually it’s Winter and July & August!

In addition to all of my other obligations I have been busy over at Classic Rotary Phones posting on the forum that we started there last fall.  If you get a minute drop by the forum.  It is a great place to talk about phones and phone related topics.  It’s very informal and no question is too simple or unimportant.  So if you have a question or many questions someone will be able to help you or direct you to someone else that can.  I always urge new telephone collectors, or those interested in becoming a collector of Vintage Rotary Phones to join one or both of the telephone clubs.  The Antique Telephone Collectors Association and the Telephone Collector’s International have hundreds of members with many many years of experience who are always willing to share their knowledge.  There are many benefits to membership in each of these organizations.  I am a member of both clubs.  I have met many fine telephone collectors and learned much from them.

So today I will leave you with a photo I took a few months ago on President’s Day.  A small piece of Americana are these beautiful Western Electric Model 500 telephones.  Red, White and Mediterranean Blue.  This is a photo that I have posted on the forum so my apologies to those of you that have seen it already.

I hope wherever you are that you enjoy this day, a day of celebration and remembrance on this, the two hundred and thirty-third anniversary of the United States of America.  A day that I hold dear and a day that I continue to be thankful for all of those that have served, sacrificed and continue to serve so that I can live in the greatest Country on the planet!

Valentine's Day Model 554

Other dated parts are within a few days of the 14th.  I kept the dial card that came on the phone.  The 502 area code is from central Kentucky but I think someone along the way stamped the phone number on the original card.  What would be the chances that someone’s phone number would be 214-1957??  The Area Code card more than likely would not have been in existence in 1957.  Certainly the card was added by a previous owner.

The phone came to me with a small crack in the plastic as a result of poor packaging by the seller.  With the assistance of my friend, fellow phone collector Mark Scola, the damage was repaired and is now virtually invisible.

Valentine's Day Phone

I am very pleased to have this Vintage Rotary Phone in my collection.  Note the wide chrome switch hook, the handset caps missing the center holes and the more recessed soft-center finger wheel.  Also, the handset cord is the original thick coiled cord.

Inside Case Date - 2-14-57-3

All signs of a true early Western Electric telephone.  Happy Valentine’s Day everyone!

North Electric "Galion" Phone

Although North Electric (not to be confused with Northern Electric of Canada) did manufacture their own dials, they also released phones with dials from other manufacturers.  This particular telephone was made in 1953 with an Automatic Electric rotary dial.

A.E. Dial With Original Exchange Card

This phone was sent to me by a woman in Washington State.  She had obtained the phone and was excited to get it into shape for every day use.  The phone was not in that bad of condition to begin with but the cords were shot and the ringer did not work.

It was also missing the dial card retainer ring that is located in the center of the finger wheel.  An unusual aspect of this telephone is the dial plate below the metal finger wheel.  Most dials of this vintage have a dial plate made of porcelain.  This particular dial plate was made of aluminum.

If you would like to see some of the steps I went through in refurbishing this phone, just click on the photo link.

Listen to the loud galion-ringer.

Elvis Talking on Red Model 500

In response to a previous posting showing Elvis Presley inside a phone booth, a reader (Erin) sent me a photo she had found of Elvis deep in conversation on a Vintage Rotary Phone.  I promised Erin that I would post  the picture.  Since today would have been Elvis’ 74th birthday, what better day to publish his photo?  It looks like a Western Electric Model 500. Happy Birthday Elvis, wherever you are celebrating.

Elvis gets his second featured posting in just the last four postings.  Looks like I need to get to work and get some more posts written!

By the way Erin, THANKYOUVURYMUCH!

January 27, 2009 – Updated Information

I received an e-mail from a fellow telephone collector, Jonathan Sowers after he read this posting.  Jonathan did some searching on the internet and found yet another photo of Elvis talking on a Vintage Rotary Phone.   In the photo Elvis is talking an a Mediterranean Blue Model 500.  The phone has a neutral gray coiled cord.  Also as Jonathan pointed out Elvis is wearing the same shirt in both the photo with the blue phone and also in the photo originally posted here with the red phone.  There is a portrait of Elvis on the desk and it actually appears that the photos make have been taken at Elvis’ home.

The Mediterranean Blue 500

We know that the photo at the top of this posting is from 1956 and as Jonathan pointed out Elvis’s first movie was released that year.  “Love Me Tender” was a western so it is unlikely these photos would be from a movie set.  Nonetheless, thank you Jonathan for find this photo on the web and forwarding it to me.  By the way the Mediterranean Blue Western Electric Model 500 (and the 554 wall version) was only produced by Western Electric beginning in 1954 and the model was discontinued in 1957.

One more note about these photos.  The small photo of Elvis, above on the red phone is a reversal of the larger image.  Jonathan took the time to use Photoshop to reverse the image and reported that it lay perfectly atop the other.

Western Electric Model 302 - E1 Handset

A woman in Massachusetts sent me her Western Electric Model 302 to be refurbished. Her father had given her the phone years ago to use as a toy. She had told me how as a young girl she played “operator” using this classic old telephone. She would emulate Lilly Tomlin’s character from the 1960’s television show, Rowan & Martin’s Laugh-In by dialing a number and pretending to be the operator. Now many years later with a family of her own, she wants the phone to look nice again as well as being a usable working telephone. There was one unusual aspect of the telephone however, that was mentioned as a “by the way” type of thing.

As a child and while playing with the old desk phone, she dropped it to the floor. As a result both of the rear cradle ears were broken completely off the thermoplastic case. Now many years later, as mentioned she wanted the phone cleaned and put in working condition.

View of Broken Cradle Ears

When she mentioned the broken ears in our initial e-mail conversation I indicated that I could probably locate a replacement case for her phone—one with all four good ears. She replied that for sentimental reasons she really wanted to keep the original housing. So the phone was shipped to me to do what I could to spiff up the phone, add new cords, clean the dial, get it ringing and send it back. What resulted actually turned out to be more than both of us had bargained for when work began. Thanks to my good friend and long time telephone collector Mark Scola, new cradle ears were created.

Cradle Ears After Repair

This phone is a real Heinz 57 of telephone parts. Usually when one sees a model 302 with an E1 handset, the case is made of steel. They were made of steel until WWII when the thermoplastic sets were produced. Sometime along the way this case was replaced. The handset has parts dated from 1937. The plastic housing from 1945. The base of the phone is dated December 1941, as was the ringer. The dial is the older #4 dial. It has what many call that “clickety-clack” sound to it.

Take a moment to view my Picasa web album and see the progression of the refurbishing process including the formation of the replacement cradle ears by Mark Scola. I put together some photos of what was done to make this a very nice, working presentable Vintage Rotary Phone.

If you’d like to hear the sound of the dual harmonic brass ringer bells, I have made a sound clip available, along with the sound of the refurbished #4 dial.

Mark Scola has been collecting antique telephones for over forty years. He is a member of the Antique Telephone Collectors Association and is currently on the board of directors for the Telephone Collectors International.

To make this a really nice forum it would be great to have participation by the veteran telephone collector as well as the “newbie”. So even if you are a long time collector that belongs to the list serves of the larger telephone clubs, it would be great to have input from you. Don’t be bashful—go on over and log in!!