| Name | D-180574 Design Line – Coin Decorator |
| Date | 1970s- interesting commercially sold conversion of 3 slots for home phone use. Mechanisms removed. Recognisable by the “555” number on the instruction card. |
| Manufacturer | Western Electric |
Development of the Design Line Payphone
| Western Electric Design Line – Coin Decorator The Design Line Coin Decorator was part of Western Electric’s 1970s Design Line program, intended to provide consumer-styled telephone housings derived from paystation hardware. BSP Issue 1 describes the conversion of a 236G coin collector. By Issue 2 (October 1977), additional models were included. The BSP states: “The D-180574 telephone set is a modified 220-type, 223-type, 230G, 234G, or 236G coin collector. The modification, which is performed at the service center, removes coin handling and security features, converting the coin collector to a general purpose telephone set.” Technical Characteristics Model designation: D-180574 Derived from three-slot prepay payphones (220/223/230G/234G/236G series) Coin handling and vault security mechanisms removed Converted at Bell service centers Function: General-purpose telephone set, not an active payphone Rotary dial only Because coin-control apparatus was removed, the unit functioned as a standard subscriber set while retaining the external payphone aesthetic. Finishes Standard colors listed: Black (03) Green (51) Beige (60) “Or as offered by the local telephone company.” Additional documented finishes include: Bronze Chrome Bicentennial edition (red-and-white striped upper housing, blue lower housing, white handset, eagle card in upper frame) Mounting Options Available mounting configurations included: 144 backboard 174A backboard Tabletop base, walnut (841385719) Tabletop base, maple (841385727) Tabletop stand with drawer for subset, walnut (814385735) Tabletop stand with drawer for subset, maple (814385743) Context The Design Line Coin Decorator reflects Bell System efforts in the 1970s to reposition legacy three-slot paystation hardware into decorative residential or commercial environments. It represents a late-stage reuse of 220/230-series payphone platforms prior to full transition to single-slot and electronic paystation technology. |
Leave a Reply