US-WE-05 Western Electric type 5 phone booth

US-WE-05 Western Electric type 5 phone booth

The Western Electric Type 5 phone booth is a mid-20th-century indoor wooden telephone booth used in the United States, dating to around 1950 and supplied under the AT&T Bell System by Western Electric. It’s a timber enclosure with lighting and ventilation, documented in Bell System sections for installation and maintenance

Name	Western Electric type 5 phone booth
Date	c. 1950
Manufacturer	Western Electric
Usage	US Phone Booth

Development of the Western Electric type 5 phone booth

The Western Electric Type 5 refers to a class of indoor wooden telephone booth recognized in Bell System documentation, and likely used during mid-20th century installations. Though precise details and manufacturer data remain elusive in publicly accessible sources, the model aligns with wood booth standards of the 1930s–1950s, featuring lighting and ventilation systems.

Discussions in the Telephone Collectors International (TCI) Library reference Type 5, 6, 10, and 11 booths under shared sections for identification, installation, fixtures, and maintenance:
Sections cited: 508-110-100 (identification), 508-110-200 (installation), 508-110-201 (fixture installation), and 508-110-300 (maintenance)

Below- Chicago 1941. An earlier version of internal timber cabinet.

Free Standing, Timber Phone Box, US Phone Booth, USA, Western Electric / AT&T / Bell System

August 28, 2025

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