A Western Electric modular 500 telephone set previously used at the NASA Langley Research Institute, adjacent to Langley Airforce Base in Langley, Virginia.
Another view of the phone, showing its modular handset in the normal on-hook position.
A close-up of the phone's NASA sticker, showing the system's internal emergency contact number. (Images thanks to Harry Smith.)
A Western Electric 500D rotary desk phone which could have been used in the White House during the Johnson administration. The telephones were converted to Touch Tone in the White House during the Nixon administration.
A close-up of the above phone. We believe this phone is genuine because of the cut-outs details in the printed White House number card, and the printing is similar to other examples of phones from the White House. For more White House phones, see Presidential Telephones of the United States.
When Americans go abroad, sometimes they take their phones with them.
This is a Western Electric 6-button telephone set that had been installed at the United States of America Embassy in Bangcock, Thailand.
A close-up of the American Embassy phone's number card. Only the switchboard extension number and intercom buzzer number are designated.
A close-up of the American Embassy phone's designation strip. Notice some switchboard extension numbers and one number that could be some kind of special tie-line to another US government office.
The rear of the American Embassy phone set. Notice it is only marked, "Western Electric, Made is USA". It does not include Bell System markings.
The under-side of the American Embassy phone. It is marked with a military-looking model number, CA53877, instead of the Bell System 564 or 565 model number. Also notice the set does not appear to have a normal ringer.
