| Name | WE 174G Payphone |
| Date | early 1950s |
| Manufacturer | Western Electric |
Development of the 174G Payphone
| Western Electric 174G Conversion Paystation with 139A Bracket The paystation discussed is a Western Electric 174G, a handset-equipped, three-slot, ten-cent prepay paystation remanufactured from earlier two-piece Western Electric models (including 50G, 150G, 161A, and other 160C-series variants). The 174G designation functioned as a catch-all conversion classification, and units differ depending on the original base model from which they were rebuilt. Each variant had its own corresponding Bell System Practices (BSP) diagram. The example referenced appears to have originally been a 50G (5-cent prepay) unit, later converted—circa early 1950s—to ten-cent service. The coin track bears a 1952 date, consistent with the industry-wide rate change from five cents to ten cents. During conversion, the original lead coin track was replaced with a stainless-steel ten-cent track, and an F-type handset was added. Conversions were performed either by Western Electric Distributing Houses or Bell Operating Companies. New York City conversions often included a rectangular front plate to cover original 10A transmitter mounting holes; that plate is absent on this example because the instruction card holder is mounted above the dial. The paystation retains desirable early components, including: Cast-iron top housing Open coin return (rather than later pull-down bucket type), indicating an early bottom housing Two-coil relay and early bolted coin hopper Properly stamped top housing and backboard, including a BSP diagram number printed internally The presence of both Gray and Western Electric embossing indicates manufacture prior to 1934, when Western Electric ceased sourcing complete paystations from Gray and began in-house production. Gray/Western versions differ technically from Gray-only units in wiring type (stranded vs solid), hopper construction (sheet metal vs cast), relay coil shielding (snap-on vs riveted), and lock markings (Western Electric vs The Long Lock Co.). The payphone is mounted on a Model 139A cast L-shaped bracket, designed to secure a payphone to a flat surface such as a counter or desk. The 139A is the second version of this bracket and is considered collectible; however, it is not part of the payphone assembly itself. Historically, three-slot payphones date back to 1912 (manual prepay). The 50A appears in the 1913 Gray catalog. A patent showing a three-slot design on behalf of Gray (George A. Long) was issued July 5, 1921. The 174G conversions were produced in quantity because the Bell System required handset-equipped payphones; many original two-piece models were dismantled for conversion. Some collectors value 174Gs for their documented Western Electric upgrade status, while others view them primarily as parts sources reflecting the earlier model from which they were derived. Recent secondary-market sales of 174G examples have ranged approximately $1,500–$2,500, though condition and originality vary. |
Leave a Reply