Equipment Catalogs of the Open Wire Era
Hubbard & Company Catalog Number 38 (late 1940s?)
McGraw-Edison Catalogue 710: Line Construction Materials – Communications (1967 Edition)
Western Electric Catalog of Communications Supplies – 1st Edition (1901)
This first edition of the Western Electric “General Catalogue of Electrical Supplies” appeared in print as a bound volume in 1901. At the time, Western Electric manufactured or was a “jobber” for many makes, brands and types of electrical apparatus. Not only including communications equipment, but commercial and industrial electrical equipment. Also included was a wide range of electric traction (trolley car) construction materials. Here are some pertinent pages regarding communications equipment of various kinds relative to open wire.
A Catalogue of Western Electric Telephone System – Equipment
When I was very young, this old catalog was given as a gift to me. In the midst of cleaning my parents home after their deaths, I came across this item well hidden from damage. Unfortunately, I don’t recall the donor’s name, but much appreciate the gift. I think you will too. It is being published here for the first time in 2016. This was the first Western Electric Catalog I know to be published on their equipment lines. The date: 1880.
I think you will heartily enjoy leafing through it. It is yellowed with age, but is largely undamaged and the line illustrations are fascinating works of art! From time to time, we will add some other vendor’s catalogs as they become available to us.
Sadly, in this particular WE first publication, there are very few sale articles pertaining to open wire application, however, the instruments, sets and paraphernalia are noteworthy in and of themselves. Some great and unusual business-type instruments for commercial houses.
Graybar Electric Catalog 1928 – Open Wire Materials For Telephone
Here are a few pages from a 1928 catalog featuring poles, crossarms and a variety of other accessories for the well dressed pole of the era.
