7 Western Electric/Bell Telephone 1968 TV ads & letter

Hello. Up for sale is 350 feet of 16mm TV ads for Western Electric/Bell Telephone. Excellent condition and sound, no VS, however, all of the color has shifted. My digital camera had a tough time recording the accurate colors, but most are shades of pink and red.

These ads came from the estate of a person who worked at the Western Electric plant in Phoenix, AZ. In fact, along with the ads (in the original Fotosonic canister with all of the ad info typed on the label), you’ll get a typed letter dated October 25, 1968, with NYC Western Electric letterhead. The letter, signed by William R. Harper, Advertising Supervisor, was sent to C.W. Morgan. Mr. Morgan worked at the Phoenix Plant and was the Assistant Manager of Public Relations. The letter reads as follows:

“Dear Charlie, Enclosed you will find a reel of the commercials we plan to use on the Election Night Returns. As you are aware, should the results be in doubt after our minimum buy is used, the station will repeat them until the conclusion of the telecast. On the first Phoenix Suns telecast of October 30, we will run commercials entitled “Refrigerator,” “Pollution,” and “Map.” These are included in the reel.”

There are seven ads on the reel with a combination of both one minute and two minute ads. The final ad on the reel is a great two-minute spot depicting a man constructing his own telephone. After completion, the announcer asks him “Who are you going to call?” The man proceeds to run wires to his neighbors houses, and then across town until he gets the message. There’s also an ad talking about the 400+ parts in the average phone, and an ad for the Data Phone. In this one you’ll see a bunch of completely outdated and oversized equipment that was cutting edge in 1968. The telecommunications machine seen at a teller’s window inside of a bank is about the size of your average stove top. Great stuff.

The winning bidder to pay $5 for Priority Shipping. Overseas and Canada would be $15 for Priority International. Thanks and good luck!