Western Electric Company D-281652-A Solenoid Coil

The Western Electric D-281652-A Solenoid Coil is a Bell System-era coil assembly manufactured by Western Electric for AT&T equipment, dating from 1942 through 1962. This solenoid coil acts as a magnetic actuator within mid-20th-century telephone switching and relay gear, energizing to move internal components and enable signaling or control functions in legacy networks. The D-281652-A designation identifies a specific coil model used in Western Electric/Bell System hardware deployed in classic installations, reflecting the standardized coil designs that powered many electromechanical switching devices of the era. In the context of vintage telephony, coils like the D-281652-A supply the magnetic force required to actuate relays and other mechanical elements as part of call routing and signaling workflows on Bell System networks. The part sits within Western Electric’s broad line of solenoid coils used across switching and interconnection equipment, representing the era’s modular approach to electromechanical telecommunications hardware.