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VINTAGE BELL SYSTEM / WESTERN ELECTRIC 3-PIECE TELEPHONE LOT — TWO ROTARY WALL PHONES + WOODEN EQUIPMENT BOX
Offered here is a THREE-PIECE vintage Bell System / Western Electric telephone lot consisting of TWO black rotary wall telephones AND ONE vintage wooden telephone equipment box/cabinet.
THIS IS A 3-PIECE LOT.
You will receive ALL THREE PIECES shown in the photographs.
This is a particularly interesting group because the two telephones have different surviving period telephone-service markings, including an unusual CRIME ALERT / emergency-service label on one telephone and a vintage 515 area-code telephone number card on the other.
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📞 PIECE #1 — WESTERN ELECTRIC / BELL SYSTEM ROTARY WALL TELEPHONE
The first black rotary telephone is a vintage Western Electric / Bell System wall-mounted rotary telephone from the 554 family.
It retains:
* Original black telephone housing
* Rotary dial
* Original handset
* Coiled handset cord
* Bell System / Western Electric markings
* Vintage service labeling
CRIME ALERT / EMERGENCY-SERVICE LABELING
This is what makes this particular phone especially interesting.
The telephone retains a visible vintage CRIME ALERT label with:
PHONE 283-4811
There is also additional emergency/service wording visible on the label, including AMBULANCE.
Rather than being an ordinary anonymous Bell System telephone, this example appears to have had a previous security/emergency-service application, and the original labeling remains with the phone.
There is also a visible A/B 534 4-62 marking on an internal/base component.
I am not claiming “534” is the telephone model number. Western Electric used separate component/subset designations, so that marking should not be confused with the overall telephone model. The 4-62 marking is useful period/date evidence for that component.
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📞 PIECE #2 — WESTERN ELECTRIC / BELL SYSTEM ROTARY WALL TELEPHONE
The second black rotary telephone is another vintage Western Electric / Bell System wall telephone from the 554 family.
This phone retains its vintage rotary dial and original telephone-number card.
The card clearly shows:
AREA CODE 515
277-0201
The original 515 area-code card is a great piece of period telephone history and gives this particular telephone its own character.
The phone also retains its vintage:
* Black housing
* Rotary dial
* Handset
* Coiled handset cord
* Bell System / Western Electric markings
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🪵 PIECE #3 — VINTAGE WOODEN TELEPHONE EQUIPMENT BOX / CABINET
The THIRD PIECE included in this lot is the vintage wooden telephone-associated box/cabinet shown in the photographs.
It has vintage markings/stenciling and appears to have been associated with telephone equipment.
I am including it as photographed and am not assigning an exact Bell System equipment number or specific function that cannot be conclusively established from the markings visible in the photographs.
It is included as an integral part of this 3-piece vintage telephone lot.
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🔥 WHAT YOU ARE GETTING
COMPLETE 3-PIECE LOT:
1. Vintage Western Electric / Bell System black rotary wall telephone — CRIME ALERT / emergency-service labeled
2. Vintage Western Electric / Bell System black rotary wall telephone — 515 area code / 277-0201 telephone card
3. Vintage wooden telephone-associated equipment box/cabinet
ALL THREE PIECES ARE INCLUDED.
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COLLECTOR APPEAL
This is an excellent group for someone interested in:
* Western Electric telephones
* Bell System memorabilia
* Vintage rotary telephones
* Telephone-company history
* Telecommunications collectibles
* Mid-century Americana
* Vintage office/business equipment
* Emergency-service memorabilia
* Local telephone history
* Vintage industrial equipment
* Restoration projects
* Vintage décor
* Prop/display collections
The original surviving labels and telephone-number cards are particularly desirable from a historical/display standpoint because they document how these telephones were actually used.
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CONDITION
USED VINTAGE CONDITION — SEE ALL PHOTOS.
All three pieces show normal signs of age and previous use, including surface wear, scratches, scuffs, discoloration and other age-related imperfections.
The original labels, markings and telephone-number cards are present as shown.
IMPORTANT:
THE TELEPHONES ARE UNTESTED.
I have not connected either telephone to an active telephone line and therefore cannot guarantee ringing, dialing, transmission, receiving or other electrical operation.
They are being sold AS-IS / UNTESTED for collecting, display, restoration, historical use or further testing.
Please examine ALL photographs carefully. The photographs are considered part of the description and show the actual three-piece lot being sold.
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📦 WHAT WILL BE SHIPPED
ONE COMPLETE 3-PIECE LOT
✔ Western Electric / Bell System rotary wall telephone with Crime Alert/Ambulance labeling
✔ Western Electric / Bell System rotary wall telephone with 515 / 277-0201 card
✔ Vintage wooden telephone equipment box/cabinet
