Collections

Automatic desk phone in a grey plastic casing, seated on a metal base. On the right is a white rotary volume (visible when the phone is stable). The device has a transparent plastic rotary dial with a yellow beige number dial back. The handset is fitted with a braided black cord connecting it to the device and a round black connection cord. The model 500 telephone series was introduced in 1949, for the first time, by the American-Canadian company Bell Systems (Bell Telephone Company) (see also ΜΤ-017096). The initials WE refer to Western Electric which in 1950 issued the telephone series in North America, replacing the 300 series which had been produced since 1936. Until the mid-1980s the numerous partnerships with local companies resulted in a number of variations and alterations of the model. In Greece, the telephone series was issued broadly from the mid-1970s to the mid-1980s by Standard Electric Hellas and Face Standard ITT Hellas.