Added to the basement tonight

[Nimrod]

I found a good deal on a nice wood wall telephone with a crank. It's a 1911 Western Electric model 317 N-P-R-S. The bell works and overall it's in excellent shape for it's age. I am going to try and find a replacement cord as the one on it it very frayed. Also, I need to find three dry cell batteries as well. It is a heavy sucker, probably about 30 pounds, much heavier than I expected. But the woodwork is exceptional, all the corners are dovetailed and everything is perfectly fitted. Once again, I can't help but marvel at the quality of American craftsmanship. A century after it was made and it still works, and looks good doing it too.

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[Wayne in BC]

looks excellent and they were for sure well built. I grew up with one of them and on a party line. If there was a prairie fire or home fire, one long continuous ring was "central" and everybody picked up.
Nice addition.

 

[Royal]

sure if it works though. Those workers were really craftsmen. They did most of it by hand too. Those dovetail joints were not done with a router for sure!!

Glad you found it!

 

[Micheal_R]

We used the hand crank, put a couple of wires in the ground, turned like crazy and gathered the worms that came out and went fishing. :

fair winds

Micheal

 

[Nimrod]

Hopefully you can see these.

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