This is an incredible piece of communications history, a Circa 1910 Western Electric phone model SPL293AL. This phone was purchased from the manager of the Perryman Ranch, and is believed to be part of the first phone system in the Tulsa Oklahoma area. The ranch was selling off some of the old, unused antique items they had put in storage, and this phone was one of those items. Today, the Perryman Ranch, established 1898 by tribal allotment deed to Mose Perryman, preserves 80-acres of the family ranch started by Mose\'s father, George Perryman. From the U.S. Civil War until allotment, the ranch stretched from Mounds to Chouteau, including over 250,000 acres of grazing range. Perrymans established the areas first post office, served as chieftains of the Muskogee (Creek) Indian tribe, and signed the original charter for the city of Tulsa.
As for this phone, it is a model SPL293AL. The 293AL designates that this is a Railway \"PUSH TO TALK RELEASE TO LISTEN\" w/ head band receiver with no ringer. In my research I have not found anything about the SPL designation, but it may stand for \"special\" as this was a railroad phone sold to the ranch for private use. SPL 293 AL is impressed on the inside cover and on the back. Impressed on the edge of the right side is BATT. Stamped into the hinge on the inside right side is L2.
The transmitter is in good shape, with no damage to the cone. The first number is difficult to make out, but the plate on the transmitter reads:
280(?)W
WESTERN ELECTRIC
PAT APPLIED FOR
Impressed into the wood on the front face above and below the push button are the following instructions:
PUSH TO TALK
RELEASE TO LISTEN
On the headset earpiece is the following:
WESTERN ELECTRIC
USA
The cord has some frayed spots, but the headset seems to be in good shape. The main box has the armature for hanging the headset, and a small brass hook on the opposite side.
The main box has some damage at the center mounting hole on top of the back plate where it has broken through. There is also a ding on the front right hand side as shown in the pictures.
Please look at pictures and ask questions. Don\'t miss out on this piece of communication history.
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