In the early 1950’s Western Electric began gradually to produce colored model 500’s. The earliest colors were red, gray, green and ivory. During early production handset cords were not yet made to match the colored sets. The cords were available in black, straight or coiled (retractable). The only part of the two-tone 500 sets that were colored was the case. The handsets and number rings remained black. Later as early as July of 1955, full color sets were available in all eight original colors. Those colors were dark brown, dark blue, daffodil yellow, moss green, ivory, rose beige, cherry red and oxford gray.

Recently I have been fortunate enough to pick up a couple of these two-tone telephones. Each of them were manufactured in 1954. One is black and ivory and the other is black and red. Read the rest of this post »

You just don’t hear that sound anymore unless you have a vintage telephone. Tucked inside this beautiful Western Electric model 500 are the dual brass harmonic ringer bells. This particular model 500 was manufactured in May of 1959 and is made of soft plastic—its color is “light beige”. Just listen to the beautiful ring—if you haven’t heard the sound of a vintage rotary phone in a while it will take you back to that time. Turn up the volume and enjoy!

Part of what I found interesting when I began to collect telephones from the past is that little round number card right in the center of the finger wheel. There is as much historic value in that little round disc as the telephone itself. As a very young boy I remember our crank desk phone that we had when our family lived in a rural farming community in southeast Michigan. Our exchange at that time was EXpress. Read the rest of this post »