Share your favorites on Show & Tell

Western Electric Candle Stick Phone-January 113

In Telephones > Candlestick Telephones > Show & Tell and Telephones > Western Electric Telephones > Show & Tell.
AzTom's loves1251 of 2226Matchbox 62b Commer TV Service VanCar emblems...Chevrolet of coarse:)
11
Love it
0
Like it

ttomtuckerttomtucker loves this.
KydurKydur loves this.
racer4fourracer4four loves this.
blunderbuss2blunderbuss2 loves this.
officialfuelofficialfuel loves this.
kaffirkaffir loves this.
aghcollectaghcollect loves this.
SEAN68SEAN68 loves this.
AzTomAzTom loves this.
kyratangokyratango loves this.
fortapachefortapache loves this.
See 9 more
Add to collection

    Please create an account, or Log in here

    If you don't have an account, create one here.


    Create a Show & TellReport as inappropriate


    Posted 10 years ago

    kaffir
    (1 item)

    I was given the phone about 35 years ago when a Durban hotel was undergoing renovations. Had it stored away. Recently whilst spring cleaning it pops up. The manufacturer plate n it reads " WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY MADE IN USA- DATE 14 JANUARY 1914".

    Unsolved Mystery

    Help us close this case. Add your knowledge below.

    logo
    Candlestick Telephones
    See all
    Vintage Antique Candlestick Telephone Receiver Kit - Brown Cord - SKU - 24092
    Vintage Antique Candlestick Telepho...
    $39
    Vintage Antique Telephone Candlestick Receiver Kit - Black Cord - SKU - 24092
    Vintage Antique Telephone Candlesti...
    $39
    Kellogg Mouthpiece For Vintage Antique Telephone - SKU - 20467
    Kellogg Mouthpiece For Vintage Anti...
    $21
    Western Electric Receiver Metal diaphragm - Used on WE Candle Stick & Wall phone
    Western Electric Receiver Metal dia...
    $4
    logo
    Vintage Antique Candlestick Telephone Receiver Kit - Brown Cord - SKU - 24092
    Vintage Antique Candlestick Telepho...
    $39
    See all

    Comments

    1. fortapache fortapache, 10 years ago
      Wowsers. It is chrome! We will need ttomtucker on this one.
    2. Kydur Kydur, 10 years ago
      I betcha that phone was the pinnacle of decadence in its day!

      I'm still trying to find the definitive answer as to when chromium steel/plating was invented (or put into wide use) but so far have read sources that suggest the 1920s, and before that things were electroplated with nickel.

      I wonder if your phone was one of the first early examples of chrome or whether it's actually nickel-plated? I'm not sure how exactly to tell the difference except that nickel usually has a softer warmer appearance than chrome.

      It's too bad the mouthpiece isn't chrome as well, and I wonder if maybe there was an original chrome one that was damaged and replaced with a "standard black" mouthpiece at some point - quite possible with the heavy use (and abuse) it may have taken at a hotel.
    3. fortapache fortapache, 10 years ago
      The mouthpiece was usually bakelite/plastic. I am wondering if there are threads for a mouthpiece on it.
    4. Kydur Kydur, 10 years ago
      I just realized I was talking into the wrong piece. Ha! Yeah, it's the earpiece that I was suggesting may have originally been chrome. The current black one would definitely be Bakelite. There's apparently one factory left in Japan (and probably the entire world) that still makes Bakelite as it still has some uses in modern electronics and heat-related applications.

    Want to post a comment?

    Create an account or login in order to post a comment.