Twenty Five Old Oak Crank Wall Phones with Generator and Bakelite Cradle

Description: The last three photos you see are NOT part of the sale! This one is to simply show how these can look if refinished by a clear (no stain) procedure. It simply demonstrates the potential beauty of the wood if or when refinished. Twenty five old Oak crank wall phones with generator and Bakelite cradle, switch, brass (nickel plated bells and other usual accessories, finger joints (often misnamed dovetail). The original "varnish" on this is not bad. I stripped this off and applied a clear finish on one of these once; it is very pretty. You can do, or I can do for extra charge. Use these for creating a cottage industry (idea). The bells are 2-1/2" in diameter. The backboard is about 9"x 7." The box itself is about 7" x 6." The door is 7-1/2" x 6-1/2." Cranks will be included. Handsets are $20.00 each (without the cord). In the abode where these are stored are over 1400 same. They can be had via Ebay all for $6 each, or: 200 @ $9, 500 @$8, 1,000 @ $7. Photos have been added to demonstrate the amount available. These are shipped five (5) to a package @ $58 each. Shipping will be adjusted as requested if you would like to purchase more. These items will ship international, but please Contact us and request a shipping method to your location before placing a bid.In 1975 Bob P. told me about these being originally older than surmised. You European collectors often have the motivation and how-to to share details about these, especially dates of manufacture of the wood; I've heard numerous dates. Inside some of these, I've seen indications of 1930s and 1961. I deducted that even though the wooden part may have been made in the 1920s or 1930s, the bakelite cradle made in the 1920s or 1940s, the magneto made in the 1940s and 1950s and other electrical parts made in the 1940s and 1950s. It is a very genuine and intricate unit and original decals survive on them saying something like: the "Bell Telephone Mfg.Co", Antwerp. This label is a very credible clue as to when they were put out into the public for communication. I have history dates indicating that this name had some origination with Alexander Bell and that he established this factory and the name carried on. I heard that this factory was damaged during WWll. I can't say what happened after this; I assume the factory was repaired but don't know if it was re-named. The decal saying "Bell Telephone" indicates the box likely originate prior to 1942. The bells are brass with a heavy coating of nickel or chrome. Most have 1945 - 1948 stamped inside on the back and most have wiring diagrams on door. Out of 300 of these, possibly 40 or 45 are absent the decal. These are not taken from the pile with any discretion as to whether the decal is absent or not, or if the bells are nickel plated or chrome plated. In 1991-1993, I researched companies like the Bell quite thoroughly. The 2200 pg Telephone History now available on eBay on DVD for $29. The phone that appears like an ancestry to this box and associated is shown on page 1322 upper right and page 1295. However, those pictures shown are clearly LME. The top box has a similar design but is obviously older. Routed edges often give way to age. Simpler routings are more recent. I've seen both on these boxes. Bob P had hundreds of the backboards/bottom boxes like shown on these 2 pages. He would put these together in the 1970s and sell them for $75 and $85 each. And then he also would sell these boxes shown on pg 1322 and 1295. I would assemble them and resell these boxes as seen here on eBay and also the backboard/battery boxes shown on pages 1322 and 1295. I would assemble them and resell them as complete units. Some were really neat with much walnut. And then PacTel bought Bob's Telco and collection. PacTel then sold Bobs inventory such as the old wood stuff to Paul V and I, and now, I'm offering to sell them. I have seen many of these boxes, one of which I brought into the house last summer and which has a date stamped onto the wood: 1939. In one of Phoneco's 1980 catalogs shows numerous concoctions utilizing this box. Numerous applications are applicable from bird houses to making payphones out of them. We have sold parts such as magnetos out of them for $50 to industries. The condition of the wood: I don't recall seeing warpage. Since plain-sawing was used, one may expect warpage, but no. They must have selected a high grade of cured wood. Most were oak, but some were of other woods, very few of walnut (which clues their age (walnut was very abundant before and around the early turn-of-the century but was not seen in telephones much after 1908. I can include for additional nice walnut backboards and accommodations to somewhat (although somewhat imaginative) to those seen on the pages mentioned above. This one is typical pulled off the pile. It, as many may have has a schematic showing an old fashioned transmitter/mouthpiece. These have many brass parts including hinges. This one has a date of 1948. I now suspect that this is a date of when it was upgraded for more modern application. Yes I can have these refinished here for a "conservative fee" (never really thought of it). The woods used to manufacture these cabinets were selected on the basis of availability and a few were not oak; they were sycamore, gum, walnut, butternut, cherry and others. A traditional finish in early decades was varnish-stain. If this were removed, the beauty of the clear wood can be appreciated more so than if the color is changed/altered/degraded by using a stain to create a color not natural. I am showing one which was refinished 6 or so yrs ago. It is oak. A hook many times is fastened at the bottom of these onto which you would hang your 1911 telephone number directory (called "phone book"). I don't recall ever screwing a crank onto these and that they then would ring when turning the crank. Usually have to goof around with some of the wires inside to hear the pleasant sound "appear". Will do for + $5 or so, or include a simple rearrangement of wires for free. Most of these have an old fashioned brass grommets (just like phones from early 1900s had) in the corners to strengthen the backboard wood as you fastened it to the wall or to your board. Many had little standoffs/feet to distance the back from the wall or board so that wires were not in the way of the surfaces. When Bob, I and others made these into 2-pc double box telephones, we removed the bakelite cradle and installed a plate across the opening. The cradle could then be repurposed to create an old fashioned cradle phone of imagination or to imitate. This is not an uncommon, seldom found in this nice of condition. Many are as nice as this. I may have ignored one or two when I grabbed this one off the pile which might have a seam-joint loose,foot absent, or bell screw absent. By and large, defects are few and in around 1987, I sorted out those which had defects. Those defectives had others where-by out of 5 defections, we could come up with 3 or 4 that would do the job. It was a slight shocker for me to see 1961 on the inside back of one of these boxes; but after the dust settled, come to think of it, I was driving around every day in a 36 Ford pickup and in 1962 and 1963 took 600 mile trips in a 41 Buick convertible; and in January of 1972, unhooked an old oak cranker from the wall in a home atop a ridge near Hokah, MN. It had been in use just 2 weeks prior until they got their new dial phone. And part of Canada were still using crank telephones then. This is all in regards to crank phones history that I'd enjoy conversation sharing with anyone interested. Please be sure to read the description Sold As IS; and if you have any questions please call us at Phonecoinc. No returns. We are not responsible for your mistake for not reading our description. Review images for representation of item(s) you are purchasing. If you would like combined shipping, please wait until you have received your final invoice before making payment. If you have any issues with item after receiving, please contact us before leaving negative feedback. Your business is greatly appreciated! Shipping applies to the lower 48 States, please send an email if you have questions or to request shipping charges for International shipping, and shipping to Alaska, Hawaii and Puerto Rico which will cost extra as determined by weight and size. Orders outside the United States will be shipped the most economical way available to us, and costs may be higher than the shipping cost shown on this listing.

Price: 424 USD

Location: Galesville, Wisconsin

End Time: 2024-03-28T18:46:59.000Z

Shipping Cost: 290 USD