http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/07/18/western-electric-model-354/ Fri, 18 May 2012 18:17:21 +0000 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.5.1 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/07/18/western-electric-model-354/#comment-101 Heath McClure Mon, 21 Jul 2008 03:02:33 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=61#comment-101 In June I fixed up the 354 that had been abandoned in our garage. It had been hanging by the door since we bought the place 9 years ago and most likely had been there since the house was built in 1966, unused. It was built in January of 51, and all the internal parts date matched but the handset is a G3 dated 1955. The ringer was wired for silent, and it has a very odd wiring board over the condenser that I've not been able to find on any other 354. Most of the wires tie in at this board instead of the one by the ringer. The handset cord was a silly little thing about 2 feet long, so I ordered a longer one from oldphoneworks, and we proudly hung it up in the kitchen and are using it. Amazing that something made when Truman was president can be so easily put back into service and work so well, my wife and I are really impressed with the sound quality and the comfort of the old G handset. Yours looks great hanging by the computer over your desk! And the restoration of it is museum quality, I bet it will still be usable in 50 more years. In June I fixed up the 354 that had been abandoned in our garage. It had been hanging by the door since we bought the place 9 years ago and most likely had been there since the house was built in 1966, unused. It was built in January of 51, and all the internal parts date matched but the handset is a G3 dated 1955. The ringer was wired for silent, and it has a very odd wiring board over the condenser that I’ve not been able to find on any other 354. Most of the wires tie in at this board instead of the one by the ringer. The handset cord was a silly little thing about 2 feet long, so I ordered a longer one from oldphoneworks, and we proudly hung it up in the kitchen and are using it. Amazing that something made when Truman was president can be so easily put back into service and work so well, my wife and I are really impressed with the sound quality and the comfort of the old G handset. Yours looks great hanging by the computer over your desk! And the restoration of it is museum quality, I bet it will still be usable in 50 more years.

]]> http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/2008/07/18/western-electric-model-354/#comment-100 Dennis Markham Fri, 18 Jul 2008 18:57:27 +0000 http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/?p=61#comment-100 Wow. It is quite an honor to receive such kind words about my work on your 354. I am equally honored that you consider it your favorite. It looks great next to your computer, tucked away under the shelf. I'll bet that ringer resonates in that enclosed area. I'm glad you like the phone. I enjoyed getting to know it as I cleaned it up for you. And you're right, those matching dates do make it special. I wish we knew the history of that particular phone. Thanks Mark! Wow. It is quite an honor to receive such kind words about my work on your 354. I am equally honored that you consider it your favorite. It looks great next to your computer, tucked away under the shelf. I’ll bet that ringer resonates in that enclosed area. I’m glad you like the phone. I enjoyed getting to know it as I cleaned it up for you. And you’re right, those matching dates do make it special. I wish we knew the history of that particular phone. Thanks Mark!

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