13 replies to this topic

[Bucket Ridaz]

I'm looking for information about these old test phones, specially theyr age but also theyr brand and where they may come from.... They were bought from somebody in USA who didn't know anything about them...

All I got is:

#1:
Brand: Western Electric
Model: MAYBE MD-95
Year: Unknown
Other: Written in center of the wheel with a pen: "Tu-9-4171 Silver Lake"

#2:
Brand: Western Electric
Model: Bell System (???? Written under Western Electric)
Year: Released in 1939.... to be confirmed


#3:
Brand: Beco
Model: 1011
Year: 1977-1978.... to be confirmed
Other: Very heavy, covered with thick black rubber

#4:
Brand: GTE Automatic Electric
Model: Unknown
Year: Unknown


#5:
Brand: Western Electric
Model:Unknown
Year: Unknown
Other: Has the inscription "Bell system property, not for sale" over Western Electric

So, anybody knows more???

Attached Files

•  Test_phones.jpg   267.79K   138 downloads

Edited by Bucket Ridaz, 02 March 2010 - 05:03 PM.

[bf6b5yr]

I've seen 4 of the 5 & used 3. The sites below may help some.

http://www.sandman.com/telhist.html

http://www.sundance-communications.com/cgi...1/t/002561.html

http://www.sundance-communications.com/for...323.html#000000

[Bucket Ridaz]

WOWWWW!!!!!
These are very usefull links....

So it seems that the number 3 is a Beco 1011 that would probably date from 1977-1978.... That is cool!!!

I also found some great vintage ads. I think I'm gonna have my three favorite one printed on a brown vintage looking paper, framed and hooked over my test-phones in my basement's workplace when I'll finally get my house in 3 weeks!!!


Thank you very much!

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•  beco_butt_set.jpg   57.86K   27 downloads
•  BECO25A1.JPG   119.2K   31 downloads
•  Beco17a26.jpg   60.08K   27 downloads

[Bucket Ridaz]

Woooooooops!!!

I just found something else about the Beco 1011.... Mine is probably dating from 77-78 BUT the first one dates frome 1934 and was patented on May 5 1936 according to the patent drawings showed here: http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http...%26tbs%3Disch:1

(scroll almost untill the bottom of the page)

or click on the pics bellow

I also discovered why it's called a butt-set.... Yes I know, it's obvious... But don't forget that my first and everyday use language is... french

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•  lineman_blount_2039625_01.jpg   143.88K   26 downloads
•  lineman_blount_2039625_02.jpg   117.6K   24 downloads

[Wood Pecker]

Thats to cool, a lasher for 495 bucks
That must be old

WP

[Bucket Ridaz]

Ok, according to this website, #2 Western Electric test-phone dates from around 1939... But a least it was released in 1939

http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http...%26tbs%3Disch:1

[Bucket Ridaz]

#1 appears to be a Western Electric MAYBE a model MD-95 but I'm not sure... The one pictured here: http://images.google.ca/imgres?imgurl=http...%26tbs%3Disch:1 has a leather strap and mine has a metalic hanger instead of the leather strap... Unfortunately, I still don't know how old it is...

End of the 20's or beginning of the 30's... what do you think???

[Wood Pecker]

I would say you are probably real close with your estimate?
I have to say you have a nice collection there

WP

[Bucket Ridaz]

I would say you are probably real close with your estimate?
I have to say you have a nice collection there

WP

Thank you very much! I plan to expand it more now that I'll get a place to expose it (3 weeks remaining before I'll get my house). Let's say that my girlfriend dosen't really agree on "old butt-set exposition" in our appartment, that's why they are kept in bubble wrap and in a box since I have them!!! In fact, the only test-set curently allowed to be "exposed" is my 2009 Fluke TS30

[Wood Pecker]

Well keep us updated as your collection grows
Ladies dont understand
When you get your new pad you will have plenty of room then

WP

[Low In Hz]

those are so sweet butt sets. i have the 3rd and 4th but wow the old ones look great. want sell them anytime hit me up

[olo131]

Hey Hz Welcome to the site.

Glad to see a phone tech here we need more, let you co workers in on our site.

Oh and the new guy has to buy a round

olo131

[Bucket Ridaz]

Wood Pecker, on 02 March 2010 - 05:37 PM, said:

Well keep us updated as your collection grows <img src="http://www.line-man.com/forums/public/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/smilie_daumenpos[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="smilie_daumenpos[1].gif" />
Ladies dont understand <img src="http://www.line-man.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/oh_shit.gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="oh_shit.gif" />
When you get your new pad you will have plenty of room then <img src="http://www.line-man.com/forums/style_emoticons/<#EMO_DIR#>/ernaehrung004[1].gif" style="vertical-align:middle" emoid="" border="0" alt="ernaehrung004[1].gif" />

WP

Got my house, so here it is:

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•  DSCN0431.JPG   1.75MB   37 downloads

[phreak]

I have #3 and #4 here at home. They both still work.