• Manufacturer: Western Electric
• Handset model: 1220A, manufactured 3-1968
• Base model: AD1 Mod E2110, manufacture: 6-1970 (modified)
• Dial type: 35C3A, manufactured 6-1974
• Line selector switch 638A
• Color: Turquoise (64)

Very rare Trimline phone with a line switch (explained below).

During the 2 years I worked at the WE plant, this was the only one of these I saw and I never saw another one until recently on Paul's website. This was one of the 2 phones I acquired in 1972 while I worked for the phone company. Unfortunately, years ago I yanked out the wiring to make it do what I wanted and I have not been able to find an official schematic for how it was supposed to be wired. I have now wired this Turquoise phone to operate as a 2 line phone with a 1A2 key system. Dialouge continued below...

On July 10, 2012, I purchased a beige one of these I found on eBay for $49.99. It was in mint condition and was still in its original Western Electric box. After opening it up I was able to diagnose the wiring. Turns out it was a special phone intended for up scale fancy apartments or offices. I gather from Paul's website that this modification may have only been found in the Washington, DC area of the C&P telephone companies.

The original phone was wired using a 10 conductor (5 pair) line cord. The W/S pair supplied power to the handset lamp, the W/BR pair was not used.

In the normal position of the line switch (labled "Line" on my newer phone), the phone operates like a regular 1-line Trimline with the line coming in through the W/BL pair. In the other position (labeled "Secretarial") the incoming line is redirected to an operator's station (assumedly somewhere in the same building) via the W/O pair, so the operator can answer your calls and take messages while the rich apartment owner is out walking her French poodle and showing off her full length white mink coat. (Picture the rich sophisticate apartment dweller out of a 1960's movie)

When you got home you picked up the phone which buzzed the operator who would answer on a local intercom circuit via a 3rd W/G pair. Once you got your messages, you turn the knob back and your phone was normal again. If you forgot to turn the knob back, and a phone call comes in, the phone will ring but if you picked it up you only get the operator. However the operator will still see your incoming call and be able to answer it, or she can suggest you switch the key back to answer it yourself.

Very interesting wiring of a system that was made obsolete with the development of the ESS (Electronic Switching Systems) that came out in the early 1970's.

A schematic of the correct wiring on the base can be found at the bottom of this page. I'll try to get some photos of the inside of the newer phone next month. It's now packed away in the back of my truck and difficult to get to.