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Over the years I have acquired a great collection of working telephones and accessories through my husband’s work. While I still enjoy them, I only have room for a select few favorites. Ranging from rare and not so old to nostalgic Bakelite classics, these represent the “every day” life of telecommunications before the iPhone and PDA's.
This one is a classic art deco “Juke Box” Model 50 wall phone manufactured by Automatic Electric between 1937 and 1956. Automatic Electric was an independent supplier of telephone equipment throughout the 20th century, eventually being purchased by GTE.
While the date of manufacture for this phone specifically is not known, this one is estimated between 1939 and 1945. The handset and body are Bakelite, and features its original cloth handset cord and dial “baseball”, tech slang for the number plate in the dial.
This particular phone was recovered during a foundry remodeling job, and served as an extension phone. Consequently, the ringer was removed to meet its original purpose (a common practice even today). The dial also needs some cleaning, as it returns slowly.
Overall, the phone is in excellent shape, showing normal wear for its age and working environment. A new ringer can be purchased and installed, and the dial can be cleaned. The phone comes with a schematic of the AE50 wiring diagram. The wires seen coming out of the bottom of the phone in the photos are what would normally connect to the telephone inside wiring when mounted on the wall.
Additional or replacement parts for this phone can be purchased at:
http://www.oldphoneworks.com/type-50-wall-phone-chrome-trim.html .
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