Vintage Phones

[missjo]

Interesting, I noticed that as well.
I am sure it is intentional, a little press office detail.
It would be very odd to put phones like that in a movie otherwise, especially ALL of them.
But I would think that removing the mouthpiece would make it harder to use these phones in such a busy room where everyone is talking at the same time.

 

[LizzieMaine]

Mouthpieces were often removed from communal phones for sanitary purposes -- when they were used by a lot of different people they got dirty fast from spit, tobacco smoke, germs, etc. That's likely the case here.

 

[rjb1]

Very good... Makes sense, but I never thought about that aspect of it. I was just considering the technical issues. (I'm an engineer...)
Thanks for the info.
(I recently mentioned that I bought a candlestick phone on a scissors mount that you told me was likely used in a communal environment such as an office, Post Office, phone booth, bookie joint, etc.) Just like in the movie, it is missing the mouthpiece. I thought it was missing a part just by chance, not probably by choice.)

 

[John_Z]

A 232 in ivory with internal bell

The little thing on the right is to put people on hold it winds up like a musical box, and plays a little tune, the pull out "cheese tray" contains dialing codes, or you can put a jotting pad in it

232's were never fitted with an integral bell.

 

[1930artdeco]

A coworker just gave this to me today. Came home plugged it in and got a dial tone!!!!! Then made a very short call to a friend and it connected so I am happy to dial again! I figured that all of the lines nowadays were digital. Curious, anyway to date this Bell labs phone? I believe it is a 302 made by Western Electric as an 'F-1'. At least that is what it says on the handset.

Thanks,

Mike

p.s.-I called it from my cell and it had a sick ringer. Si figured it just needed a good cleaning-nope. Someone had stuck a band-aid on one of the bells.

 

[LizzieMaine]

If there's no date stamped in orange-red on the bottom plate ("11-38" or similar) open the casing by removing the two large screws on the bottom and look inside. There will be a date marked on the induction coil -- the transformer with all the wires attached to it -- in the format "IV-38." That example would translate to the coil being manufactured in the fourth quarter of 1938. Coils were sometimes replaced in the field, but were usually intact for the life of the phone, so a coil date is a good guide to the age of the unit absent any more obvious date. The 300 series was manufactured starting in late 1937 into the early 1950s, and remained in service well into the 1970s.

 

[Fading Fast]

A coworker just gave this to me today. Came home plugged it in and got a dial tone!!!!! Then made a very short call to a friend and it connected so I am happy to dial again! I figured that all of the lines nowadays were digital. Curious, anyway to date this Bell labs phone? I believe it is a 302 made by Western Electric as an 'F-1'. At least that is what it says on the handset.

Thanks,

Mike

p.s.-I called it from my cell and it had a sick ringer. Si figured it just needed a good cleaning-nope. Someone had stuck a band-aid on one of the bells.

Outstanding - fun story / beautiful phone. Enjoy.

 

[1930artdeco]

Thanks Lizzie, now to clean it up and get a small phone plan so I can use it. One last question, what about cleaning and lubing the dial mechanism?

Mike

 

[LizzieMaine]

A little shot of electrical contact cleaner into the workings of the dial will accomplish much.

 

[Bushman]

I remember my neighbor/childhood babysitter had a rotary dial telephone in their kitchen, despite having modern appliances in it. Like the rest of their kitchen decor, it was Coca Cola themed.

 

[1930artdeco]

Besides the Bay, does anyone sell the cards that go in the flip phone number finders? I think it would like good on my 40's desk and be a good backup if the cell phone goes out.

Mike

 

[LizzieMaine]

If you mean Rolodex cards, any good office supply store should be able to help you out.

 

[DNO]

Thanks Lizzie, now to clean it up and get a small phone plan so I can use it. One last question, what about cleaning and lubing the dial mechanism?

Mike

If you rotate the finger wheel all the way from the operator position, it should take 1 second to return. It that's the case...don't touch the works of the dial, it's working fine. If you do decide to lubricate, be careful of the governor...that's the small open brass cylinder with something that rotates inside. Don't get any stuff in there, especially oil. (used to have pics of the dial works but they seem to have disappeared in cyber space!)

 

[1930artdeco]

Thanks DNO, to late. Being a mechanic I hit things that moved or contacted with contact cleaner. Still seems to work just fine. I am going to get ahold of my carrier to see about a basic phone plan so I can start to use it.

Mike

 

[1930artdeco]

I just got the center of the dial round cards for my phone. How do I get the clear plastic piece out and the card in?

Mike

 

[LizzieMaine]

Grip the metal ring of the dial center at the top and bottom and squeeze. It's simply clipped in place with metal tabs that fit into slots on the dial wheel. The celluloid insert is held in position inside the ring with a small notch that fits around a small lug on the ring. The dial card should have a similar notch to align it in the correct position. Then just clip the ring back into place.

 

[1930artdeco]

Thanks again LizzieMaine

Mike

 

[John_Z]

Just thought I'd show my 50's red WE 302 (known as the Lucy phone) as I had it out of the cabinet to fit a tidier handset chord and an original dial label in place of the copy it came with.

 

[John_Z]

*cord

 

[GHT]

Just thought I'd show my 50's red WE 302 (known as the Lucy phone) as I had it out of the cabinet to fit a tidier handset chord and an original dial label in place of the copy it came with.
View attachment 100680

Back in the 1960's all of the UK 's communications were nationalised, that's all postal and telecommunications. The phone we were issued with in 1968 was known as GPO 760. Some years later and our nationalised companies were privatised. The subsequent phone companies bombarded me with various new phones, none of which appealed. In fact, our GPO 760 is still in service giving excellent reception. We have it hooked up to a modern phone so that we can see who is calling. The modern phone is also useful when you have to respond to an audio menu. Press one for the money, two for the show and all that.