Western Electric 300 Series (except the 329) Candlestick Telephone Transmitter Varnished and Baked Muslin Cloth diaphragm washer used for rebuilding floating diaphragm transmitters.
From WE catalogs, transmitters using this type of washers seem to be 312, 323, 337 and 353. There may be other similarly numbered WE transmitters that use the 300 series floating diaphragm design which require a Varnished Muslin Washer between the diaphragm and the transmitter faceplate (see images). If not sure if a Varnished Muslin Washer is used in your transmitter, please open your transmitter and visually verify the washer type used.
Background: There are only two types of washers used in candlestick transmitters, one varnished muslin washer between the diaphragm and the faceplate or a rubber washer between the front of the diaphragm and the faceplate and a second washer held to the back of the diaphragm by two 3/8" wide spring clips. Most WE 300 series transmitters use one Varnished Muslin Washer. An exception within the WE 300 series is the WE 329 transmitter which is an insulated version of the earlier WE 229 transmitter. Both the 229 and 329 use rubber washers to isolate the diaphragm from the faceplate. All other WE 300 series transmitters use one Varnished Muslin Washer. Kellogg, Automatic Electric, Stromberg Carlson and pre-300 WE transmitters (and the WE 329) use rubber washers available on eBay (eBay item #133551340695).
These Varnished Muslin Washers replace the old, deteriorated original washers found between the faceplate and transmitter diaphragm in floating diaphragm WE 300 Series Transmitters. These are made in a multi-step process with materials similar to the original WE production method.
These are firm, flexible non-conducting cloth washers that restore sound quality to a WE 300 series transmitter. These have been purchased and used by seasoned candlestick restorers and have been reported to work well to restore transmission quality lost due to a degraded or deteriorated original 300 Series floating diaphragm washer.
This listing is for one washer - purchasing 1 will restore 1 transmitter. A 15% price discount will be applied at check out if more than one are purchased
Washer specifications are noted in one of the listing images. One image shows the exploded transmitter with its old, deteriorated washer in place and the image below that shows the reproduction washer in place before the transmitter is reassembled.
