This is a Western Electric Emergency Telephone - 500 series. Made in 12-1959. Bottom is stamped property of Illinois Bell Telephone System. This dark red beauty has a gorgeous profile, made cleaner by it's lack of a rotary dial. This phone was specifically for 1-line or emergency system use. It has what appears to be it's original cord, though 1 prong is missing from the end. If you had the appropriate outlet for this, it would still work however.
Now to the back story. My friend acquired this phone about 13 years ago from an elderly friend who worked security at the International Amphitheater during the 1968 Democratic Convention held in Chicago.
As a total political nerd, that made me squeep, but for those more curious, and less ridiculously over read folks, the 1968 Convention was overshadowed by turbulent protests and extraordinary use of police violence in the wake of numerous socio-political events including the assassinations of Martin Luther King Jr. and Robert Kennedy as well as the increasing anti-war movement.
According to him, the phone came directly from one of the private rooms that would have been used by higher ranking Government, and Party Officials after the Convention was over. It very well may have seen some action with everything going on at the time.
It's not just an incredibly cool red emergency phone with pretty darned Mad Men sexy lines, but also a unique and rather unusual relic from one of the most politically charged conventions in American History.
Enjoy! :)
Have any questions?
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