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1941 Western Electric 43A Space Maker Telephone with Matching 534A Metal Subset Box
For sale is a phenomenal mid-century Western Electric \"Space Maker\" (also commonly called Space Saver) telephone set. This is a true \"time capsule\" project piece that has been left entirely original—never repainted, rewired, or modified with modern components.
Historical Verification & Date Codes:- The Bracket: Stamped clearly with the 43A factory mark on the neck of the casting.- The Date Code: Stamped with the official Western Electric G1 code on the bracket face. The stylized sans-serif \"G\" identifies production in the early quarters of 1941, making this a rare pre-WWII civilian survivor piece manufactured right before Western Electric shifted production completely over to military equipment.
Component Breakdown & Condition:- 43A Telephone Base: In excellent cosmetic condition. The original black enamel finish is clean, and the hook-switch cradle mechanism moves freely with excellent spring tension.
- Western Electric F1 Handset: A stunningly clean, heavy black bakelite handset. It features a sharp, crisp, and deep factory stamp reading: \"BELL SYSTEM / MADE BY / Western Electric / F1\". There are no cracks, deep gouges, or chips along the handle, and both the receiver and transmitter caps are original and intact.
- Rare \"Z-Operator\" Rotary Dial: The dial wheel rotates smoothly and returns perfectly. It features the highly collectible, early regional variant dial plate where the character \"Z\" shares the \"0\" finger hole alongside the Operator. The red numbers and black letters beneath the glass look incredibly bright and sharp.
- 534A Metal Subset Box: The essential external bell/coil box. The interior is 100% complete and fully populated with its original double brass ringer gongs, dual cylindrical ringer coils, and the black-paper-wrapped capacitor network block. The structural honeycomb vent holes are completely straight and free of damage.
Condition Note: The external metal cover of the subset box displays heavy, honest, period-correct rust pitting and paint loss from decades of storage.
Shipping & Handling: This heavy metal set will be packed with professional care. The subset box, handset, and wall bracket will be wrapped individually in multiple layers of heavy-duty bubble wrap to prevent any metal-on-bakelite damage during transit.
Please review all high-resolution photos carefully to assess the cosmetic condition. Feel free to reach out with any questions.
