Comments on: Why won’t my phone ring? http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/04/02/why-wont-my-phone-ring/ Fri, 10 Sep 2010 20:35:04 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 By: Marty Barrett http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/04/02/why-wont-my-phone-ring/#comment-652 Marty Barrett Tue, 20 Apr 2010 00:07:30 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=17#comment-652 Thank you as well, Brian C. It took me a little longer than Jeff (I had to borrow a screwdriver), but that is the first time I have heard a rotary bell (or talked on a rotary phone) in at least 20 years. Great sound - it freaks people out. Thank you as well, Brian C. It took me a little longer than Jeff (I had to borrow a screwdriver), but that is the first time I have heard a rotary bell (or talked on a rotary phone) in at least 20 years. Great sound - it freaks people out.

]]> By: Jeff http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/04/02/why-wont-my-phone-ring/#comment-615 Jeff Wed, 23 Dec 2009 22:30:37 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=17#comment-615 BrianC, thank you for posting that link!!!! I had bought an old rotary phone on eBay and the ringer didn't work. I took one look at that diagram, and fixed it in less than 5 minutes. BrianC, thank you for posting that link!!!! I had bought an old rotary phone on eBay and the ringer didn’t work. I took one look at that diagram, and fixed it in less than 5 minutes.

]]> By: BrianC http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/04/02/why-wont-my-phone-ring/#comment-224 BrianC Mon, 01 Sep 2008 04:07:47 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=17#comment-224 Nevermind people. I got it working... I found a great picture of the guts. I just wired it like the picture and it works great! I will post the URL: http://www.porticus.org/bell/images/500ringerrewiring.jpg Nevermind people. I got it working… I found a great picture of the guts. I just wired it like the picture and it works great! I will post the URL:

http://www.porticus.org/bell/images/500ringerrewiring.jpg

]]> By: BrianC http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/04/02/why-wont-my-phone-ring/#comment-223 BrianC Mon, 01 Sep 2008 03:47:44 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=17#comment-223 Hello people, I have an old rotory phone that belonged to my grandmother. I found it in a box in my mom's attic. I have been trying to get it to work by hooking wires up randomly to the wall power, but the best I have been able to do is get everything working except the ringer. It will actually ring just as I pick it up (if someone is calling), but it only does a partial ring as the headset is being lifted. Can someone please help? Thank you, BrianC Hello people,
I have an old rotory phone that belonged to my grandmother. I found it in a box in my mom’s attic. I have been trying to get it to work by hooking wires up randomly to the wall power, but the best I have been able to do is get everything working except the ringer. It will actually ring just as I pick it up (if someone is calling), but it only does a partial ring as the headset is being lifted. Can someone please help? Thank you,
BrianC

]]> By: Dennis Markham http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/04/02/why-wont-my-phone-ring/#comment-215 Dennis Markham Sun, 31 Aug 2008 15:35:32 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=17#comment-215 Allen, The issues with your phone could be a result of a couple of things. With the popularity of VOIP (voice over internet protocol) telephone service, that has to be the first thing that comes to mind when I read that a phone will not dial an out-going call. Most VOIP services do not support pulse dialing. There is a device that can be easily installed in to your phone that will convert pulses to tone. With regard to the ringing, most phones of this vintage will ring on a VOIP line. Generally it boils down to improper wiring. The phone may have been originally wired for party line ringing. Often people tinker with the wiring and then the phone is passed on to the next person. We should be able to get the telephone to ring again but the current wiring must be examined. Mark will contact you with a direct e-mail address in which you can contact me and we can start trouble-shooting your issue(s). Thank you Allen for the question. I will look forward to hearing from you soon. Allen,
The issues with your phone could be a result of a couple of things. With the popularity of VOIP (voice over internet protocol) telephone service, that has to be the first thing that comes to mind when I read that a phone will not dial an out-going call. Most VOIP services do not support pulse dialing. There is a device that can be easily installed in to your phone that will convert pulses to tone. With regard to the ringing, most phones of this vintage will ring on a VOIP line. Generally it boils down to improper wiring. The phone may have been originally wired for party line ringing. Often people tinker with the wiring and then the phone is passed on to the next person. We should be able to get the telephone to ring again but the current wiring must be examined. Mark will contact you with a direct e-mail address in which you can contact me and we can start trouble-shooting your issue(s). Thank you Allen for the question. I will look forward to hearing from you soon.

]]> By: allen wilson http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/04/02/why-wont-my-phone-ring/#comment-213 allen wilson Sun, 31 Aug 2008 13:49:48 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=17#comment-213 Dennis Markham, I am experiencing the same problem which you have helped others resolve: dial tone but can't call out, won't ring but receives incoming calls, same symptoms WE 202 and 302. Thanking you in advance, Allen Dennis Markham, I am experiencing the same problem which you have helped others resolve: dial tone but can’t call out, won’t ring but receives incoming calls, same symptoms WE 202 and 302. Thanking you in advance, Allen

]]> By: Philip Gauthier http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/04/02/why-wont-my-phone-ring/#comment-209 Philip Gauthier Sat, 30 Aug 2008 16:22:00 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=17#comment-209 After reading how you resolved the problem of Dan, I hope you can resolve mine. I have a AE 1A Monophone and I can get a dial tone, dial in and out no problem, but two things: when I hang up it does not close the line and dialing in the sub set ringer moves slightly but will not ring. Can you help, It's making me nuts! After reading how you resolved the problem of Dan, I hope you can resolve mine. I have a AE 1A Monophone and I can get a dial tone, dial in and out no problem, but two things: when I hang up it does not close the line and dialing in the sub set ringer moves slightly but will not ring. Can you help, It’s making me nuts!

]]> By: Dennis Markham http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/04/02/why-wont-my-phone-ring/#comment-108 Dennis Markham Thu, 31 Jul 2008 14:52:53 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=17#comment-108 Dan, It was my pleasure to help you get that telephone ringing again! Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be (when it won't work) and how such a simple thing of finally getting it to work can bring a smile to one's face. I didn't learn what I do know without the help of several collectors. I'm just passing on what others have given me. That phone will be ringing for another sixty years! Thank you for the kind words. Dan,
It was my pleasure to help you get that telephone ringing again! Believe me, I know how frustrating it can be (when it won’t work) and how such a simple thing of finally getting it to work can bring a smile to one’s face. I didn’t learn what I do know without the help of several collectors. I’m just passing on what others have given me. That phone will be ringing for another sixty years! Thank you for the kind words.

]]> By: Dan http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/04/02/why-wont-my-phone-ring/#comment-107 Dan Thu, 31 Jul 2008 06:17:28 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=17#comment-107 Mark, Thank you for referring me to Dennis and giving him the heads up with my problem. Man, that guy is good. After a couple of tries and him unconfusing me, my phone is now 100% operational once again. I don't remember if I told you that this house is the only house that this phone has ever lived, and for it to be used once again in our house is really cool. Our house was built in 1940 and is still 90% original. We bought it back in 1993, and that's when we found the phone in a cupboard in the garage. The couple before us were here 45 years (friends of my wife's family) and the original owner was a friend of theirs an elderly man. Thank you once again, Dan Mark, Thank you for referring me to Dennis and giving him the heads up with my problem. Man, that guy is good. After a couple of tries and him unconfusing me, my phone is now 100% operational once again. I don’t remember if I told you that this house is the only house that this phone has ever lived, and for it to be used once again in our house is really cool. Our house was built in 1940 and is still 90% original. We bought it back in 1993, and that’s when we found the phone in a cupboard in the garage. The couple before us were here 45 years (friends of my wife’s family) and the original owner was a friend of theirs an elderly man.
Thank you once again,
Dan

]]> By: Dan http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/04/02/why-wont-my-phone-ring/#comment-104 Dan Tue, 22 Jul 2008 04:13:14 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=17#comment-104 Hi, I have a W.E.302. I've updated the power cord and when I plug it in I hear a dial tone, but I can't dial out and when I hang up the head set it does not close the line. When I unplug the cord from the wall that then closes the line. Everything looks to be wired right according to wiring diagram found on the internet. Any suggestions? Thanks, Dan [<i>Dan, I'm going to refer you to my pal Dennis Markham, who, though he'll deny it, is a genius when it comes to vintage phone troubleshooting. I mentioned your problem, and he said, "It could be dial contacts, more than likely wiring. I am finding out that those 302's were wired in so many different ways." I'm going to e-mail you with contact info, and he'll be more than happy to help you with your phone.   -Mark</i>] Hi, I have a W.E.302. I’ve updated the power cord and when I plug it in I hear a dial tone, but I can’t dial out and when I hang up the head set it does not close the line. When I unplug the cord from the wall that then closes the line. Everything looks to be wired right according to wiring diagram found on the internet. Any suggestions?
Thanks,
Dan

[Dan, I'm going to refer you to my pal Dennis Markham, who, though he'll deny it, is a genius when it comes to vintage phone troubleshooting. I mentioned your problem, and he said, "It could be dial contacts, more than likely wiring. I am finding out that those 302's were wired in so many different ways." I'm going to e-mail you with contact info, and he'll be more than happy to help you with your phone.   -Mark]

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