Western Electric rotary dial desk telephone
Date: circa 1965
Inventory Number: 8102
Classification: Telephone
Subject:
Maker: Western Electric Company (1881 - 1995)
Maker: Henry Dreyfuss Associates (1930 - 2010)
User: Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments, Harvard University (founded 1948)
Cultural Region:
Place of Origin:
City of Use:
Dimensions:
12 × 21 × 23 cm (4 3/4 × 8 1/4 × 9 1/16 in.)
dial: diam. 7.4 cm (2 15/16 in.)
DescriptionA Western Electric-made, pulse-switching, rotary dial desk telephone from the mid-1960s. The telephone includes a one-piece handset resting a pair of plungers inset in a cradle at the top of the rectangular base unit. A clear plastic rotary dial plate with ten (10) finger holes is mounted on a circular inset, which is positioned in the center of the top front face of the base unit. From left to right, beginning at about the 1:00 position, the finger holes align with inscriptions printed on the inset, "1; A B C / 2; D E F / 3; G H I / 4; J K L / 5; M N O / 6; P R S/ 7; T U V/ 8; W X Y / 9; Operator / 0"
In the center of the dial, the phone number is inscribed, "AREA CODE / 617-495-2779."
The base consists of a black plastic housing for the dialing mechanism, mounted on a metal plate which forms the underside, and which rests on four disk-shaped rubber feet. On the left-hand side of the housing is a modular jack; a matching jack is found on the left-hand side of the handset. Each end of a length of coiled plastic-coated electrical cord is inserted into one of the jacks, connecting the two.
On the lower edge of the back of the housing is a modular jack for connecting the telephone to a telephone line.
This instrument is an example of a telephone model known as the "500" series, designed by New York industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss. It was the prevailing domestic telephone model used in North America from the 1940s to the 1980s.
In the center of the dial, the phone number is inscribed, "AREA CODE / 617-495-2779."
The base consists of a black plastic housing for the dialing mechanism, mounted on a metal plate which forms the underside, and which rests on four disk-shaped rubber feet. On the left-hand side of the housing is a modular jack; a matching jack is found on the left-hand side of the handset. Each end of a length of coiled plastic-coated electrical cord is inserted into one of the jacks, connecting the two.
On the lower edge of the back of the housing is a modular jack for connecting the telephone to a telephone line.
This instrument is an example of a telephone model known as the "500" series, designed by New York industrial designer Henry Dreyfuss. It was the prevailing domestic telephone model used in North America from the 1940s to the 1980s.
Signedbehind handset rest: BELL SYSTEM MADE BY WESTERN ELECTRIC
Inscribedon handset: BELL SYSTEM PROPERTY NOT FOR SALE Western Electric;
fingerholes marked: 1 ABC2 DEF3 GHI4 JKL5 MNO6 PRS7 TUV8 WXY9 OPERATOR0;
center of dial: AREA CODE 617 [printed] 495-2779 [handwritten];
Other inscriptions -- see file
fingerholes marked: 1 ABC2 DEF3 GHI4 JKL5 MNO6 PRS7 TUV8 WXY9 OPERATOR0;
center of dial: AREA CODE 617 [printed] 495-2779 [handwritten];
Other inscriptions -- see file
FunctionTransmission and reception of sound over a distance
Historical AttributesUsed in the Harvard Collection of Historical Scientific Instruments until Sept. 1989.
ProvenanceCollection of Historical Scientific Instruments.