WESTERN ELECTRIC 151AL CANDLESTICK TELEPHONE

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For your consideration, an absolutely georgeous Western Electric Model 151 AL Anti-Sidetone Desk Stand with an early 295A subset (converted to a 634A) made of quarter-sawn white oak. T are no reproduced parts unless stated. This all brass telephone has been completely disassembled and painstakingly refinished with numerous coats of hand-rubbed semi-flat black lacquer, laborously hand polished and protected with Carnauba wax resulting in a deep, lustrous finish that cannot be achieved by any other method. * Around the front edge if the base is imbossed: PAT IN USA JAN 26 15 JAN 1 18 MAY 7 18 SEPT 21 20. 50AL has been crossed out on the back side of the transmitter perch and 151AL has been embossed on the front of the perch. An example of Western Electric's early recycling. * The dial is a No. 2HA that has a 132A notchless porcelain number plate, with the 3 aligning pegs on the back. T is an overly on the plate with numbers only, often referred to as a rural plate. 2HB, with the B crossed out is embossed on the finger stop. The finger wheel is painted brass. The number card escutcheon is new-old-stock nickel-plated brass. The number card and the celluloid cover is also NOS. I will put your 4 or 7 digit number on a reproduced card at no cost, if you wish. Around the edge of the dial case is embossed: WESTERN ELECTRIC PAT IN USA AUG 13 12 AUG 24 15 DES MAY 7 18 SEP 13 21 MADE IN USA. The terminals are designated Y, BK, BB and W on the case. It has that characteristic rasping sound with a tick-tick when dialed and a tick-tick-tick sound when the dial is released. It is not a clickety-clack sound that I have seen in auctions for years. That is a sound made by a train's wheels crossing joints in the rails. * The painted brass transmitter is a No. 323. Embossed on the small plate under the mouthpiece is: PROPERTY OF AMERICAN TEL & TEL CO 323 PAT USA 1 14 13 . It has all of its original interior components and works well. The Bakelite mouthpiece is original (with the star) and like new. The transmitter mounting cup is unmarked. * In the base are two terminal pads, one marked R and GN and the other, B-Y and RR. The switch, dial and terminal pads are connected with an original D3B cord that has 2 additional wires. This harness was specifically made for the 151AL configuration. * The receiver is hard rubber and is a type 144 A, a bi-polor type with a NOS metal diaphram. Around the edge of the cap is embossed: PROPERTY, the rest buffed out, probably during a trip back to Western Electric for refurbishing. T is, however, a green paint stamp inside the cap that says: TEL. CO. PROPERTY. It polished out beautifully. The bottom cover is recovered in genuine brown leather. The woven cloth receiver cord is original, in like-new condition. The mounting cord to the subset is a new-old-stock 4 wire No. 675-B that is 5' 6"long . It is woven silk thread sheathing over silk-covered wires and is in flawless condition. The bottom cover plate has been recovered with genuine leather. * The subset is an early Type 295-A and is made from quarter-sawn white oak and is box jointed on the corners. It has been refinished with clear lacquer and waxed to a mirror-like surface. The original decal is perserved on the outside. Also preserved inside the door is the original paper schematic label of a 295A and a label which has patent dates of 1892 to 1907. Embossed in the door and on the back of the box is: TYPE 295 A. The box contains the original cotton-covered wires and includes a condenser that has 3 wires and capacitance of .5 and 1 MF, an old No. 55 wood induction coil and a Type 8A 1000 Ohm ringer. T is also a maple contact strip for the L2Y and the K and BK wires from the condenser. T are two polished brass gongs that have a pleasant, duo-pitched sound when they ring. They are highly polished and protected with lacquer. This subset is actually a 634A and is anti-sidetone. I have chosen to leave the original labels inside. ... read more

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