Vintage Western Electric B1 Rotary Phone with Dial No. 4, 1927-1930s
Who has grandchildren or children that have never seen one of these before? We have had so much joy watching younger friends try to figure out how they work! But that said read on for details on the model and the history of this phone.
This vintage telephone has the following details relevant to collectors based on our online research:
- Model B1 is shown on the back of the phone body which has a round base covered in felt
- Dial No. 4 is identified by the 3 inch dial and the clickity-clack of the return
- Headset model number E1 is marked inside the handle of the headset. The transmitter is labeled PROPERTY OF AMERICAN TEL & TEL CO 395 and the receiver PROPERTY OF AMERICAN TEL & TEL CO 557
- Telephone Model 102 (sidetone) subset / electric system is identified by the three conductor mounting cords protruding from the brown woven cloth covered lines used to connect the base to the wall-mounted ringer box and the headset to the base.
A subset box, which hosted the electrics and the ringer and was usually set on a wall, is not included.
This phone is in decent vintage condition with signs of its age evident as shown in the rusted band around the fogged number plate in the middle of the dial, a chip in the headset cradle, and minor marks on the base and headset. The felt base is also aging.
Gloss black finish polish can make this phone gleam. For those interested in more work, there are specialists (such as oldphoneworks.com) who can take apart, clean, and restore these phones. They can also modify them to work with current landline phone systems.
A little history for those interested:
The Western Electric B1 was an early desk phone produced between 1928 and 1930. As one of Western Electric's first models to feature a combined handset and receiver, it represented a major step in telephone design, transitioning away from the older "candlestick" phones.
The B1’s unique characteristics included its circular, weighted metal base with a black ‘japanned rubber’ varnish. It also had a rotary dial that sat on top of the phone’s frame rather than being recessed into the body. The phone’s base came covered in either leather or felt to protect one’s desk or table.
The B1 phone came with an E1 handset, which featured the transmitter (mouthpiece) and receiver in a single piece, a departure from earlier models. It was made of solid Bakelite plastic.
Unlike later, more integrated phones, the B1 contained only the switchhook and switch within its base. The ringer and network components were housed in a separate "subset" box, which was typically mounted on a wall.
The dial, which we identified as the rare Dial No. 4 by sound, was interestingly replaced due to complaints about the clickity-clack noise it would make on return, only to nowadays be particularly sought after for just that sound!
Approx H 5 1/8” x L 8 1/2” x D 5 1/4”
Disclaimer: We have tried to make sure colors shown in photos are representative of the real colors of each item. We have tried to identify all imperfections in descriptions, but we may have missed some. If you are unhappy with your purchase, let us know.