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WESTERN ELECTRIC
1500-series Telephone Types

10-Button Touch Tone Sets

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WE 1500D aqua    WE 1514 with headset jack    WE 1662 Card Dialer    WE 1623 Call Director

ON THIS PAGE:     SINGLE LINE     KEYSETS     AUTOMATIC DIALERS     PANEL PHONES     UPGRADED SETS
 
RELATED PAGES ON THIS SITE:    COLORS     G HANDSETS     TOUCH TONE DEVELOPMNT
WE 300-SERIES     WE 500-SERIES     WE 2500-SERIES     WE AUTOVON SETS


The 1500 series was made from 1963 until 1968.

It was designed to gradually replace the 500 series rotary dial sets, using a 10-button Touch Tone (pushbutton) dial.
Early prototype and field trial sets were actually standard 500 series sets with a Touch Tone dial mounted on a circular plate that replaced the original rotary dial.  The production version also got a redesigned case and faceplate. 
For examples, see
TOUCH TONE DEVELOPEMNT.

The public announcement of Touch Tone dialing was made at the Seattle World's Fair in 1962.
1500 series sets were gradually rolled out geographically starting in 1963 and was showcased at the 1964 New York World's Fair.

The 1500 series was replaced by the 2500 series in 1968.  The 2500 series added the * and # keys to the dial, making a total of 12 buttons.  These were required for added value and data services.

1500 series sets continued in service for many years.  Sets were refurbished.  Some had 12-button faceplates added, and some were converted to 2500 series sets, by upgrading or replacing the dials.  See: 10-button dial upgrade.

For similar sets in rotary or 12-button Touch Tone, see WE 500-series Types and WE 2500-series Types.

This page is intended to be a quick summary of the models produced and major functions.  Western catalogs and technical documentation only show the models that were in production or service at the publication date.  To understand the full scope of models produced we must compile data from many years of documents.

Each model had suffix letters that defined variations, such as manual/dial or number of mounting cord conductors.  Details can be found in the Bell System technical documentation (e.g. catalogs and BSPs - Bell System Practices).

Suffix codes are generally consistent with the 500-series codes shown here.

Most info in the chart is from manufacturer catalogs and ads plus discussions on the ATCA and TCI listservs.
No claim is made regarding accuracy or completeness.

If you're enjoying looking at this level of detail and haven't joined one of the phone clubs yet, see the links page.


If you're identifying a phone, you still need to check the internal components as many phones were refurbed and had internal components changed or removed.  If done in a Bell System refurb facility, the code on the bottom was usually repainted or remarked.  Many independent shops or field mods were not remarked with the accurate model number.


For color information, see: Phones in color!

This page is a work in progress.  Please send comments, additions and corrections.

Last update: 27 December 2019


 
SINGLE LINE AND SPECIALTY SETS  WE 1514 with
            headset jack  WE 1514

Photo
Major Functions
(all are desk sets unless noted otherwise.)
WE1500D single line standard set
1500D
Basic Single Line Desk Set.
502-502-101
502-510-100
   (up to issue 5)
502-510-111
502-510-300
502-510-431
502-522-401
1500M

Single line with A-lead control for 1A2. 4-conductor mounting cord and terminal strip installed below dial.  Originally used in applications where the ringer circuit had to be brought out through the mounting cord.

502-510-100
502-510-111
502-510-434
502-581-400
1500S Single line wired for speakerphones, including the 1A, 1A1, 3A and 4A. 10-conductor mounting cord, internal terminal strip, extra dial and switchhook contacts and separate ringer leads for speakerphone control.
502-510-100
502-510-111
502-510-433
512-620-410
512-621-402
502-581-401
NE 1500D with round filler
                and no Operator text

NE 1500D with rectangular
                filler and no Operator text
NE 1500-type
Northern Electric 1500 variations had either 500-type housings with round filler or WE 1500-type housings with rectangular filler.

Dials often had no "OPERATOR" text on the "0" button (for French-speaking areas).
NEP 502-5101-201
WE Message Waiting Light
Message Waiting Light
1500Y

Single line with ringing/message waiting lamp for PBX

502-510-111
502-510-445
502-581-402
WE 1502
                  exclusion plunger
Exclusion plunger
1502B

Single line with extension set exclusion (raise left plunger) and A-lead control for 1A2

502-502-102
502-515-111
502-515-300
502-515-422
WE 1515, gray
2-line turnkey
1510F
Two line desk set with push/turnkey for line selection and signaling.
502-502-102
502-515-100
  (C38.595.02)
502-515-111
502-515-300
502-515-430
502-532-402
WE 1511D,
                2-line with exclusion
2-line key and exclusion
1511D

Two line with extension set exclusion (raise left plunger), push/turnkey for line selection and signaling, and wired for speakerphone.

502-502-102
502-515-111
502-515-300
502-515-431
502-532-403
512-510-421
512-515-412
512-620-415
1511F

Two line with extension set exclusion (raise left plunger), push/turnkey for line selection and signaling, wired for speakerphone and A-lead control for 1A2.  Spade tip cord.

502-502-102
502-515-111
502-515-300
502-532-408
512-510-421
512-515-412
512-620-415
1511H

Two line with extension set exclusion (raise left plunger), push/turnkey for line selection and signaling, wired for speakerphone and A-lead control for 1A2.  D50 connector.

502-502-102
502-515-111
502-515-300
502-532-408
512-510-421
512-515-412
512-620-415
WE 1512, Secretarial control

2-line key, Secretarial
1512

With push/turnkey for signaling and Secretarial line exclusion


   See WE Secretarial Sets


Label: TEL LINE / SECRETARIAL

1511 mod
instructions
502-502-102
(Issue 1, Table I)
WE1514 with headset control
Headset on/off key
WE N1 Ringer
                lever
Ringer loudness lever
1514B
Single line with headset jack in back and headset mode/recall switch.  D10P cord.  Note ringer loudness control on lower left side of case.
  See Photos.
502-502-110
502-510-100
502-510-420
502-520-101
502-520-421
502-581-403
WE 1515, gray
1515B

Two line with push/turnkey for line selection and signaling and hold button (left plunger lifts), 6-conductor mounting cord

502-502-102
502-515-115
502-515-425
502-532-409
WE 1554 Single Line Wall Set 1554B
Basic Single Line Wall Set
502-502-101
502-510-100
502-510-111
502-510-300
502-510-440
  (C38.637.01)
502-515-115
502-522-402
WE 1558 with turnkey 1555B

Two line with push/turnkey for line selection and signaling and hold button (lift hookswitch plunger).

502-502-102
502-515-435
502-532-410
1558D

Two line wall with push/turnkey for line selection and signaling, exclusion (lift hookswitch plunger) and control leads

502-502-102
502-515-111
502-515-300
502-515-421
502-532-411
512-510-423
512-515-414
512-620-418
512-621-413



  KEYSETS

RELATED PAGES ON THIS SITE:   
WE 300-SERIES     WE 500-SERIES     WE 2500-SERIES     WE AUTOVON SETS

Photo
Model
Major Functions
(all are desk sets unless noted otherwise.)
BSP

1543

4-button, single line, specific to a 761A PBX, designed for the small hotel/motel market, used in the guest rooms.  Control buttons and "A-leads" (control leads) tell the switching equipment what kind of line to connect to the set (switching done within the PBX). 4 buttons marked "Message waiting" (the front desk could illuminate it to alert you to a message), "Desk" (connected you to the front desk), "Local" (connected you to a CO trunk for a local call), and "Long distance" (gave you a direct path to a toll operator).  Only 3 of the 4 buttons depressed.   These button features relieved the attendant of having to route much of the guest traffic.

Touch Tone version of the 543 set pictured here.

502-522-100
502-522-400
WE 1565 10-button dial keyset
Photo from Dave Friedman
1563HB
Keyset, 5 lines plus hold, headset
502-500-120
502-502-103
502-525-112
502-525-200
502-525-423
502-542-400
512-620-402
1564HK/HL
Keyset, 5 lines plus hold, exclusion, wired for speakerphone and 1A
502-500-120
502-502-103
502-525-112
502-525-200
502-525-425
502-542-402
1565GK/HK
Keyset, wired for 3A speakerphone, 1A1, 1A2

GK: 6-line pickup.  Often used as night answering stations on PBXs such as 701, 740 and 756 because those require the use of a PU key converted for signaling to operate the hold circuit in the PBX.

HK: 5 lines plus hold. 
502-500-120
502-502-104
502-525-113
502-525-200
502-525-300
  (C38.599.3)
502-525-424
502-525-426
502-542-403
512-620-420
512-621-415
551-129-211
WE Exclusion Key, L suffix sets
Exclusion turnkey on right
1565LK
Keyset, 4 lines plus hold, exclusion turn switch in rightmost key position.  Wired for 3A speakerphone, 1A1, 1A2 502-525-112
502-525-427
502-542-405
512-620-420
WE 568 looks like 1568 1568HT

Early touchtone keyset, relay for 2 or 4-wire operation.  Has 22-type dial with P (Priority) and SG (Special Grade) buttons,  and square line and hold buttons on key strip.  Has square buttons on key pad. Available in black only.  
(See 568HT photos.)

Replaced the 568HT.  (568HB,HF,HR is the rotaty version.  2568HAA is a later 12-button touchtone model.)

502-502-103
502-532-100
502-532-430
502-542-406
WE 1616 Call Director for SCAN network
(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW)
1616A2
Call Director, 18-button, used with Switched Circuit Automatic Network (SCAN), with P and SG buttons (like 1568HT), 2 or 4 wire operation. 1A1 or 1A2. Flash and release keys. Green Only.
Replaced the 616 shown here.
502-600-200
502-616-120
502-616-401

SD-69454-01
WE Call
              Director 1623
Call Director, 18-button, used with Master Control Center of Electronic Switching System Offices. Light Gray (-61).

Found Set, 1965  (Used on the first ESS installation at
Succasunna, NJ.)
502-623-100
 (Issue 1: 9/64)

(Restricted
Distribution)
WE 1630 Call Director, light gray
Photo of a set in the JKL Museum

WE 1631 Call
              Director, green
Photo of a set in the JKL Museum
1630
1631


General purpose Call Director
   18-button
   30-button


Optional speakerphone transmitter in last keystrip position.

502-600-100
502-602-100
502-611-400
502-611-401
502-630-100
502-630-111
502-630-200
502-630-401
502-630-402
502-630-412
512-620-440
512-620-442
512-621-430
521-621-431
521-621-432
1632
Call Director for "limited use" - 18-button.
For 1A1, 1A2 and 6A Key Telephone Systems, NOT 1A.
502-600-100
502-630-101
502-630-402
WE 1634 Call Director, 18-button
(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW)

WE 1635 Call Director,
                  30-button
(CLICK IMAGE FOR LARGER VIEW)
1634
1635
Call Directors used with station line concentrators
   18-button
   30-button
For 1A, 1A1 and 6A Key Telephone Systems.
502-600-100
502-602-101
502-611-402
502-634-101
502-634-401
512-620-444
512-621-434
512-621-435

1636
1637
General purpose Call Directors with headset jack
   18-button
   30-button
For 1A, 1A1 and 6A Key Telephone Systems.
502-600-100
502-602-101
502-611-403
502-611-404
502-636-111
502-636-401
502-636-402

1638
1639
General purpose Call Directors with headset jack used with station line concentrators
   18-button
   30-button
For 1A1 and 6A Key Telephone Systems.
502-600-100
502-602-101
502-611-403
502-611-404
502-636-111
502-636-401
502-636-402


AUTOMATIC DIALERS   1660 Type Card Dialer

RELATED PAGES ON THIS SITE:  
WE Card Dialers    
WE 660-SERIES     WE 2660-SERIES     WE AUTOVON Dialer


Photo
Model
Major Functions
(all are desk sets unless noted otherwise.)
1660 Card Dialer
Photo of a set in the JKL Museum
1660

Automatic Dialer - Uses plastic cards to store phone numbers to be automatically dialed. A lead control.  See Card Photos.

An exclusion key and 2-line pickup key could be added by ordering the proper "kit of parts."  Locations shown here.

(Card dialers were announced in 1961, before the 1500 series.)

502-000-111
502-600-102
502-602-120
502-660-111
502-618-400
502-660-120
  (C38.668.01)
  Issue 1, 11/63
502-660-410
512-621-460
WE 1662
                Card Dialer Keyset, light gray
Photo of a set in the JKL Museum
1662

Keyset, 6-button Automatic Dialer - wired for speakerphone use.

502-600-102
502-602-121
502-660-112
502-618-402
502-660-412
502-662-120
512-621-462
WE Card Dialer Headset Switch
                  Location
Location of headset switch
Photo of a set in the JKL Museum

1663

Automatic Dialer - wired for headset use, has 242-type amp, jack on the left side and turnswitch for ON/OFF control.  The switch uses the mounting for the exclusion option, so exclusion can not be added to this set.  A 2-line pickup key could be added by ordering the proper "kit of parts."  Location shown here.

502-600-102
502-602-120
502-660-111
502-618-403
502-660-120
  Issue 2, 4/64
502-660-413
1664

Keyset, 6-button Automatic Dialer -  wired for headset use, has 242-type amp, jack on the left side and turnswitch for ON/OFF control.

502-600-102
502-602-121
502-618-404
502-660-112
502-618-404
502-660-414
502-662-120
Call_A-Matic 1671A

Call-a-matic dialer, 6-button keyset, magnetic tape memory for 500 14-digit numbers.
502-650-100
501-164-118


PANEL PHONES  1750 Panel  WE 1750
                      Photo of a set in the JKL Museum

Photo
Model
Major Functions
(all are desk sets unless noted otherwise.)
1750 Panel 
Photo of a set in the JKL Museum

1750 A
1750 B

Single line panel phone.  Mounted in a metal box recessed into the wall. Used on CO or PBX lines. Grill on front for ringer and knob for ringer adjustment.

502-700-102
502-706-100
502-731-401
502-750-100
502-750-300
502-750-420

1751A
1751 B

2-line panel phone with exclusion.  Used on CO or PBX lines.

502-700-102
502-706-101
502-750-100
502-750-421
512-510-428

1751C
1751 D

2-line panel phone with exclusion.  Used on CO, PBX, 1A1 or 1A2 KTS lines.

502-700-102
502-706-101
502-734-401
502-750-100
502-750-421
512-510-428
WE 1752 type Panel Set
(Click on photo for larger view)

1752

6-button keyset panel phone with 3-type speakerphone.

502-700-102
502-706-102
502-737-401
502-750-422
512-510-430
512-620-480

1753

2-line panel phone with hold

502-700-102
502-706-103
502-740-401
502-750-423




UPGRADED SETS
Model
Major Functions
(all are desk sets unless noted otherwise.)
1500D to
1500DM

WE 1500
                D2M, converted to modular
Single line desk set converted from hardwired to modular. 

This was done by notching the base housing to accept the rectangular modular jacks or replacing the housing with one designed for a 2500DM set.  If 10-button faceplates were not available, a 12-button faceplate was used with a 2-button filler panel.   See photos.

Sets are typically marked on the bottom with a paper sticker including 1500DM or 1500D2M.

Similar conversion of other models was also obviously possible.
Found Sets
1500D or 1500DM to
2500DM
Sets were also converted from 10-button dials to 12-button dials.  In this case, a new dial and 12-button faceplate were required.  Some later 10-button dials could be upgraded to 12-button by adding the * and # keys as shown here.  See photos. Found Sets




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