REPLACEMENT/REPRODUCTION IMPROVED BLUE BELL #6 WAX SEAL DRY CELL POST 1921

Description

T
he units for sale are
IMPROVED
reproductions of probably the seventh commercially marketed #6 BLUE BELL dry cell for telephone use produced by the Western Electric Company (WEC) with this label in 1921 and for many years thereafter.  The improvement involves simulation of the top edge of the zink canister used in the original production of #6 dry cells.
The National Carbon Company was the first, and sole source of this product for the auto industry, home use, and telephone companies in the early 1900s.  As Western Electric (WE) began producing its' Blue Bell series #6 dry cells for the Bell System Companies around 1907, NCC became a secondary source to Bell while continuing as primary to the Independent (non-Bell) operating companies.  The tops of all dry cells were potted with pitch until around 1930.
If you have a WEC 317 series magneto phone produced between 1921 and 1930,
this reproduction would be correct for display inside.
My reproductions are configured to produce 1.5V with two D-Cell battery holders (wired in parallel) that allow top entry access for replacement of the batteries (not included) when necessary.
The tops are potted with
sealing wax (similar in appearance to Pitch) over epoxy
.  Label graphics, terminal hardware, and cell d
imensions (6-1/2”H X 2-5/8” Dia.) and weight (2 lbs. w/D-Cells) are nominally consistent with the original battery
manufactured with Fahnestock Clip terminals.  The shade of Grey on the label is thought to be very close to the original dry cell new off the shelf.