Identifying Popular Western Electric Telephones in One Step

Stephen P. Morse, San Francisco




CANDLESTICK PHONES
Model/Years No. 1 No. 2 No. 3
No. 1:
1892-1894

No. 2:
1892-1894

No. 3:
1895-1897

 
Model/Years No. 9 No. 10 20 series / 40 series 50/51/151 series
No. 9: 1897

No. 10: 1898-1904

No. 20 B: 1904-1912

No. 20 AL: 1912-1917

No. 40 AL: 1917-1925

No. 50 AL: 1919-1925

No. 51 AL: 1925-1931

No. 151 AL: 1931-1941


STANDARD DESK AND WALL PHONES
Model/Years E1 Handset F1 Handset G1 Handset   Model/Years Wall Phone
A1
1925-1927
         
B1, (a.k.a. 102**)
1927 to 1930
circular base
       
D1 (a.k.a. 202**)
1930 to 1937
oval base
       
"Space Saver"

1st column
C1 (a.k.a. 101/201*)
1930 to 1937

2nd & 3rd columns
G1 (a.k.a. 211)
1930s to 1970s
  653
1910-1946
302
1937 to 1958
    354
1947-1956
5302
(hybrid of 302+500)
1955 to mid 1960s
       
500
1949-1984
      554
1956-1984
1500
(10 buttons)
1963-1967
      1554
1964-1967
2500
(12 buttons)
1968-1984
      2554
1967-1984
3500
(16 buttons)
Autovon Network
1960s-1980s
         
* 101 and 201 denote sidetone and anti-sidetone respectively in C1 phone.
** 102 and 202 denote sidetone and anti-sidetone respectively in either B1 or D1 phone, but 102 was often used synonymously with B1 and 202 with D1


PRINCESS AND TRIMLINE PHONES
Model/Years Rotary 10 Button Touchtone 12 Button Touchtone 16 Button Touchtone   Model/Years Wall Phone
1st col, 701/702***
1959

2nd col, 1701/1702***
1963

3rd col, 2701/2702***
1968

4th col, Autovon
     
1st col, 220 AD
1965

2nd col, 1220 AD
1966

3rd col, 2220 AD
1968

4th col, Autovon
  AC base
220 AC shown
1965
*** _01 denotes no bell, _02 denotes bell


For more information, see Paul F's excellent website and in particular his WE Telephone Identification page.

© Stephen P. Morse, 2014