REPLACEMENT/REPRODUCTION WESTERN ELECTRIC #6 DRY CELL POST 1916 WAX SEAL

Description

T
he units for sale are reproductions of possibly the fifth commercially marketed #6 BLUE BELL dry cell for telephone use produced by the Western Electric Company (WEC) around 1916.  The label on this unit includes the image of the WEC 317 Plain Front (PF) magneto wall phone with the short transmitter  bracket and writing shelf with steep slope introduced in 1916.
The National Carbon Company was the first, and sole source of #6 dry cells for the auto industry, home use, and telephone companies in the early 1900s.  As WEC 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 PF series magneto phone produced between 1916 and 1920,
this reproduction would be correct for display inside.  A new #6 Blue Bell label was introduced in 1921,
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 top of this unit is potted with
sealing wax over epoxy which is similar in appearance and color to the Pitch used on the original
.  Label graphics, terminal hardware, and cell d
imensions (6-5/8”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.
Additional  units will be produced upon request.  According to the 1916 WE Catalog, #6 dry cells were available in two options: Fahnestock Clips, and 8-32 screw terminals.
The tops and labels on my #6 reproductions are interchangeable, therefore the buyer may request any label/terminal configuration desired.