Art Deco Western Electric 302 / 306 "I LOVE LUCY" Phone Start Price USD 89.99 Current Price USD 89.99 Time Left - Bid Count 0 Buy It Now Price USD 94.99 Reserve Price - Start Time Monday, August 18, 2008 End Time Monday, August 25, 2008 Location Pompano Beach, Florida See more about 'Art Deco Western Electric 302 / 306 "I LOVE LUCY" Phone' Description Rare Thermoplastic Western Electric 302 / 306 Selective Ringing Party Line Telephone Dated to 1948 and Refurbed in 1956. Includes a Vintage Straight Handset Cord. New Modular Line Cord. Works! SOLD "AS IS" SO WHAT YOU SEE IS WHAT YOU GET. Click Photo to Enlarge You are bidding on a Black Thermoplastic Western Electric 306 rotary dial telephone which dates to 1948. This telephone is over 60 years old and it functions still. That is a living testament to how thoroughly well-made these 302's really are. This phone was made when Americans in the United States really made things for Americans and the world. I repeat this again: As my friend Bobby said it best: "When I see one of these phones and hear it ring, it tells me I'm an American in America." And he's right. I agree. This phone is one hundred percent pure Americana in the "flesh". The 306 model was designated WE306H5. It was designed for 4-Party Selective Ringing and 8-Party Semi-Selective Ringing for Party Line phone systems. The distinction is that instead of having a 195A condensor (dual condensor), it contains a 195C condensor which services the anti-sidetone circuit. The vacuum tube, in this case a Western Electric 372A, serves as the condensor. The other distinction is the ringer. Normally a 302 has a B1A ringer installed. This one has a B3A ringer. The use of the vacuum tube and the B3A ringer allowed for a wider range of ringing service which in turn permitted selective party ringing. These circuits were sometimes also used in train stations and other locations where selective ringing circuits became necessary, for instance in manning phone banks and for telephone paging so as to direct patrons to a specific ringing telephone. This telephone instrument is in overall excellent condition. Other than ordinary wear and tear there few if any major issues with this phone. There is a hairline crack at the front left near the foot which I repaired and the fingerwheel does show some wear. At some point and time around 1956, the phone company replaced the receiver parts and the base shell. The fingerwheel is in excellent condition but does bear some noticeable paint loss. The handset has ordinary wear but the wear is not very noticeable. Its glossy shiny. It comes with a 1940's vintage aftermarket Western Electric straight handset cord which is remarkably well-preserved. This is one of the last of several phones I took out of a barn locally some years ago. Each one was a telephone taken from service by the phone company long before the breakup of AT&T. All of them were simply kept out in the barn, piled up in boxes. I spent a great deal of time the day I first listed this item, cleaning this up and repairing and cleaning its parts. So this phone is very nice inside and out and will look good sitting on your desk or table. Click Photo to Enlarge The interior of this phone is very clean now and has all of its factory markings. I spent some time cleaning this telephone up, testing it and getting it in working condition. Click Photo to Enlarge Click Photo to Enlarge Click Photo to Enlarge The base plate is marked 1948 and is in excellent condition. This phone was largely kept well over the years and was preserved under a layer of fine grunge which I have wiped most of it off inside and out. Click Photo to Enlarge   The sleek, art deco lines of this telephone are undeniable. Its origins, dating to the original Western Electric version patented in 1937, and its Canadian counterpart patented in 1939, are evident in its design. The bottom of the base plate is in excellent condition and bears few marks of its history. The leather feet are in very good condition and function to protect furniture. Click Photo to Enlarge The interior of the base shell is dated to 1955. The date of the manufacture of the phone is around 1948 with the dial, dialplate, ringer and induction coil all dated to 1948. The 195C Condensor is dated to Ist Quarter 1948. The B3A Ringer is dated IInd quarter 1948. The 372A Vacuum Tube is undated. The dial is dated 1948. The handset capsule parts are dated 1955 / 1956 which roughly match the base shell date which tells me the phone company replaced the capsules in the handset and the base shell in or about 1956. The only thing evident to me is that the phone company did a little refurbishment job around 1956 and the phone remained in service for YEARS after that. The fingerwheel on the #5 dial is in good condition with some paint loss, and it comes with a new dial center number card and celluloid window. Overall, there are marks here and there about the phone, indicative of its use in the past. This was a working phone no doubt. Click Photo to Enlarge Click Photo to Enlarge Good luck   My Favorite Bell System Ads. Can you guess which phone this is? Click Photos to Enlarge   Patent Office Drawing of Manual Phone With Straight Cord Patent Office Drawing of Dial Phone Opened. Please bid early and bid often on my auctions. BEFORE BIDDING PLEASE READ THE "LEGAL" PRINT! (1) May require standard Bell System 5 ren line, may not work on digital private exchanges or networks, and requires pulse enabled dialing. If you are not sure if this phone is compatible with your system, check with your phone company. (2) This (these) item(s) are used and sold "as is" with all faults, and no refunds for breakage in transit! You should insure. (3) The item(s) offered for bids are the actual item(s) in the picture connected with this listing. (4) If the terms "As New In Box" appears, it means: the item is used and comes with its original box and/or paperwork. I am not a distributor or a retailer. If the item was unused then it will also be sold as "As New In Box". If you have questions, contact me prior to bidding. If you want more photographs, e-mail me before bidding. I won't bite and I'll answer your questions promptly so long as I have sufficient time to respond. (5) Buyer pays all shipping and handling charges in associated with this transaction, including in the event there is some issue: return shipping and handling. (6) You should purchase insurance. Buyer assumes the risk of loss once I deliver it to the shipper whether its USPS or UPS or anyother intermediry shipping agent. (7) If you send check for payment it must clear before I ship. If you send a USPS or other reputable money order it ships when I receive the money order. I prefer PayPal but do not require it. (8) Payment is due within ten (10) calendar days of the end of the auction or I relist this item and will consider leaving negative or neutral feedback for the bidder. US bidders only. I no longer sell my items overseas all because of one man who didn't pay and then left a negative for me. (9) If you have a problem after receiving this item, contact me first before leaving feedback. Many problems can be solved quickly and easily, with little frustration and expense on either side. (10) My feedback policy is if you leave a positive for me, I will reciprocate immediately and leave one for you. 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