Western Electric A1

The Western Electric A1 Handset Mounting is one of the most common rare telephones in the United States.

The A1, with the necessary Bellset, was the first widely available handset telephone of the Bell System. It was introduced in 1927 and was replaced less than a year later by the B1 Handset Mounting.

Rather an unimaginative design, it consists of the base and shortened stem of a WE 51AL candlestick telephone with a cradle and handset added. Most were originally manual but dials have been added by collectors.

The term Handset Mounting is what Western Electric used to describe a frame with a hook switch and cradle to accept a handset. A Handset Mounting does not contain an induction coil, capacitor or bell; it is electrically equivalent to a candlestick.

Although universally called an A1 Handset Mounting, I have never seen one marked ‘A1’, they all have a design number or ‘D’ number. There are other models such as the A3 but not the standard subscriber telephone, the A1.

Uncommon but not rare, however it’s a first and it’s Western Electric so be prepared to pay $800 to $1400 US on eBay. That’s well over $1000 Australian and and that doesn’t include postage (which is likely to be another $100 Australian) or GST (10% of the purchase price PLUS postage).

A must for US WE collectors.

Australian GST

GST is payable on international purchases. For GST calculations, the purchase price includes the cost of postage.