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Art Deco Bakelite & Chrome 1930's Wall Telephone
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Art Deco Bakelite & Chrome 1930's Wall Telephone
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Undoubtedly this rare Stromberg Carlson 1211-A wall telephone from the 1930s is the most art deco phone ever created. From its layered body, to the graceful curved bottom, to the stepped center on the front, to the layers on top, to the layered dome holding the chrome dial, you see all the art deco elements that you see in the world-famous Chrysler building in New York, sweeping lines of the automobiles of the day, and streamlining in furnishings reminiscent of the era. The handset is a work of art in itself. The receiver and transmitter caps even sport multi-faceted rings (count them - 20 facets to each ring). Even the rare spit cup you speak into is irregular in shape. The front of the phone's case at the bottom sports six tall, rectangular vents to allow the sound from the heavy, brass mechanical bell to come into the room. And those vents, again, are a work of art in their design. This telephone is fully restored and will work on any modern line in 99% of the country, as the equipment at the telephone companies still recognizes pulse dialing. This instrument is all original, the only non-original parts being a new piece of cloth inside behind the vents, and the paper number insert on the dial. Look at the pictures to the right in order, and I will tell you the story of the rehabilitation of this telephone. Picture #1 shows the finished product. Picture #2 shows the guts of this phone disassembled for cleaning. Picture #3 shows the case dismantled, ready for cleaning. Picture #4 shows w the phone gets a good bath in warm, soapy water. Picture #5 shows assembly after receiving a machine buffing and final hand polish. Picture #6 shows a close-up of the internal workings of this phone after reassembly. Picture #7 shows w the inside of the bell's sound vents gets a new piece of fabric installed, as the old one rotted out. This helps to keep dust out. Picture #8 shows a close-up of the fabulous mechanical pulsing dial made by Automatic Electric Company, which was cleaned, lubricated, and checked for proper operation. The porcelain metropolitan number/letter ring is an outstanding original, with superb detail to the black lettering and red numbers. Look at the gorgeous chromed finger wheel. The ring holding the number card is also chrome, and the number card is a reproduction of what might have been inserted at one time. Pictures #9 and #10 show the telephone finished out before the handset was installed. Picture #11 shows a close-up of the handset. The handset sports a new-old-stock cloth covered cord made in the 1940s, but never used. The cord consists of four internal cloth-covered wires connecting the elements of the receiver and transmitter capsules to the network inside the telephone. You can step out five feet from the telephone with this cord, which still retains new stiffness. And finally, Picture #12 shows the back of this telephone. Notice that t are two holes in the backing plate to mount this to your wall. This is easily accomplished by removing two screws to the cover so you can get into it. All of this telephone's external housing and handset are antique Bakelite, with no chips, cracks, or issues. This telephone works all the way, dialing out, receiving calls, transmitting sound to the ear and from the mouth, and ringing its bells loudly when someone calls. If you intend to hook it up, pull your incoming red and green wires and connect to L1 and L2 on the terminal block. If you need me to mount a cord for you to run to a jack, t is no additional charge. I have cording in silver, off-white, and black, and can create the length you need. It will end in a modern clip for your modern wall jack. Just let me know when you win this if you need this option. Also, if you would rather have a long, coiled modern handset cord instead of the one I installed, let me know. T is no charge to change it out. This will weigh 7# packed up to ship. When the au...
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