Western Electric telephones and more from collectorville.com

This page lists the sets, in sequence, as they were introduced. This page does not cover wood or candlestick telephone sets.

Model or ???	Introduced	Information
Rotary Dial	1919	W.E. began manufacturing the #1 dial - The #2 dial replaced the #1 dial later in 1919 - The first dial service was introduced to Norfolk, Virginia in 1919 using the #1 dial & the AE Mercedes dial. The first dial service was introduced to the New York metropolitan area in 1922 using the #2 dial - All Western Electric sets listed below were capable of accepting a dial. Note: Strowger introduced the first rotary dial in 1892
(A) **	1925 - 1926	first WE cradle - desk set "A1" mount - round base w/"E1A" handset - candlestick style base with short neck and requires external subset See additional info., Click here
101 (C)**	1928	First wall mount hang-up set - "C1" mount, "Space Saver" w/E1A handset - 3 conductor mounting cord and requires external subset. Set was originally introduced as a "101", but later wired and used for other models. See additional info., Click here
102 (B) **	1927 - 1930	Round base "B1" mount - desk set with contoured base to cradle - replaced the "A1" set - Originally equipped with "E1A" handset and requires external subset - this set was originally introduced as a "102" model - but later the "B1" mount was wired and used for other models. See additional info., Click here
202 (D)**	1930 - 1937	Oval base "D1" mount - desk set - replaced the "B1" mount - requires external subset - set was originally introduced as a "202" model, but could be used for other models. See additional info., Click here
211 (G1)**	1930's - 1970's	Wall "G1" mount - replaced the "C1" mount wall set - this set could be equipped with or without a dial - the early sets had a fixed dial mount (41) with the dial at 90 degrees to the receiver hook, followed later by a rotateable dial mount (41A) allowing vertical angled dial positioning relative to the receiver hook and later a mount (43A) would allow the dial to also tilt to different horizontal angle positions - These sets require an external subset which contained a network coil, a ringer & condenser - Later sets included models 212, 213, 214, 2211 & 2212, which would have "G1" to "G8" mounts. ( 2211 & 2212 sets are touch tone and very rare)
???	1932 -	Wall " " mount, predecessor of the 354 wall set, "E1" handset (saw one dated 1932)
Anti Sidetone **	early 1930's	Improved telephone set transmission qualities --- required sets to have a 4 conductor mounting cord to anti-sidetone subset --- sidetone transmission sets are equipped with 3 conductor mounting cords to subsets --- many sidetone sets were in the field and maintained for years after introduction of anti-sidetone --- Sets used for both sidetone & anti-sidetone are "A1", "B1", "C1", "D1" & "G-"mountings. Sets prior to the cradle telephones were also updated to use 4 conductor mounting cords and anti-sidetone subsets. Click here for model numbers using the above sets.
205(E) & 208(E)	1929 - 1938	First "multi-line" telephone - 202 type phone with a base added to provide for more than one telephone line to be connected to a single telephone. This set has several buttons below the dial area. This telephone is used on the first key systems (15A & 23A)
553	1920's - 1930's	wall - dial - black metal housing - separate receiver (144) & transmitter
653	1930's - 1950's	wall - dial - black metal housing - updated version of the 553 model - separate receiver (706A) & transmitter (635A)
302(H)	1937	First desk model with network & ringer enclosed in one unit - case is made of cast zinc and equipped with a "4H" dial & "E1B" handset. Later sets had the new "5H" dial and "F1" handset. The base has smaller switchbuttons, riveted feet and a vent under cradle on back side. ((earliest date, 5-37))
302(H)	1938 to 1958	The 302 housing was redesigned. The basic style was improved and still made of cast zinc. The case was changed to thermoplastic in 1941, but some sets were made of cast zinc in the 1940's - This set came with "F1" handset. In the late 1940's the case & handset were available in several colors made of thermoplastic. (101A inductor)
304	1938 to 1958	same design as the 302 model - components supporting its use as the second (TIP) party station on a two-party line with station "ID" ( for message rate service and later for automatic message accounting). This set could be used as a non-party line set, but was more costly to manufacture. (101B inductor)
320		wall set - mine telephone that is explosion proof (no sparks) newer versions are 520 (dial) & 2520 (TT)
354	1930's - 1954	wall set - single line companion to 300 model line desk sets.
400	1937 - 1950's	desk set - same style as 302 sets - with "multi-line" and business features
500(G)	1949 to 1983	New design & style - new component design - first coiled handset cord & adjustable ringer - "G" style handset - there are many wiring versions of the 500 set with model numbers from 501 to 599 - early models had a metal finger wheel.
Imperial	1951	Known as the "Imperial" - 75th anniv. issue set used the 202 base, "D1" mount set from the 1930's - silver base & ivory "F1" handset or gold base & ivory "F1" handset.
500 - colors	1954	desk & wall models - early colors were "two-tone" with just the housing having a color other than black - Full Color sets: white, beige, pink, green & blue (blue rare) Several colors were added and removed between 1954 and 1958.
520		wall Mine telephone - explosion proof (no sparks) older version 320
554	1954 - 1983	wall set - new design - mate of the "500" model - black & ivory first year - colors available the following year
5302G	early 1950's	Looks like a 500 style set - cross between 302 & 500 models with parts incorporated from 302 & 500 sets. These sets were designed to use all the existing stock from the 302 series and give the modern look of a 500 set - the housing of this set stops just behind handset holder, (7 1/2") one inch shorter than the standard 500 set. Colors: black & standard WE colors
5410G		desk - 2 line version of the 5302G phone
"Princess"	1959 - 1994	desk - dial or TT - "Its Little, Its lovely and It lights" Click here for Princess Models, colors and history
1500	1964 - 1967	desk set - same style as the 500 series with slight design change - first model with 10 button touch tone dial pad (1-0) & notice there is no * or # buttons on this dial - first tested & used in Carnegie and Greensburg, Pennsylvania - Other models began using touch tone dialing
2500	1968 - 1983	*desk set - same style as the 1500 set with 12 buttons on the touch tone dial pad (1-0, #, ) - the 2500 set series had many wiring versions with models from 2501 - 2599**
2520		Wall Mine telephone - TT version - see 320 & 520 models for earlier versions
"Trimline"	1965 -	desk and wall telephone with 2 piece design - rotary or touch tone versions - handset with dial & base with ringer - Michigan Bell, first used the Trimline set
The following Western Electric telephones are from the "Design Line" series
"Exeter" 900	1970's	desk - with various appliqué faceplates
"Telstar" 911	1970's	desk - cylinder - dial or TT - smoked plastic roll type cover
"Accent" 921	1970's	desk - rectangular - dial or TT - several colors with different material around sides of base
"Celebrity" 940	1970's - 1980's	desk - French style - dial or TT - colors: blue, ivory or black

Note: If you see anything on this page that is not accurate, please let us know.