Hi to everyone, and thanks, Mark, for hooking me up (yeah, I know, that was awful...! :D) I just received two old phones from the family, and I'd like to know more about them. I read a lot of the posts, and was totally lost just on the dial discussions! Anyway, I'll post some pics of them and let me know what you think! The older phone has a dial tone when I plug it in, but I just found out it doesn't have a ringer (apparently that's a separate thing). It's very exciting!
Hope to hear from some of you.
Kitty
Welcome aboard Kittybell!
The folks here are friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and oh so generous.
For example, the esteemed member Mr. Dan/Panther would be happy to take these nice phones off your hands (you'd have to pay for the shipping/handling to his address of course). ;D
Once again, welcome.
You have definitely come to the right place if you want to enhance your telephone I.Q.
Tom
Hello and welcome!
Yes, it does look like you have a pair of very nice telephone. The newer one is a 500 set, while the older one is a D1 handset mounting with a desirable E1 handset.
The D1 doesn't have a ringer built in, nor does it have any other necessary circuitry components for proper operation. Yes, it will work by simply hooking it up to the wall, but the sound quality is relatively poor, and this can quickly destroy the receiver.
In order to properly use this telephone, you need something called a subset, which brings the line voltage to the proper level for operation, as well as providing a ringer.
Hi, metdial, and hi, Ben! Thanks for writing back. One belonged to my great-uncle, and I'm trying to decipher the receipt, and the other belonged to my grandfather and was in his home where he lived since 1919. My dad collected them, and no-one wanted them but me. Ben, you're right, the dial tone was funny and echoey, but cool to hear! I didn't want to keep pumping power into it without knowledge, so I just did it for a second. What does a subset look like? I wonder what the ring would sound like. Maybe a 30's movie? May I ask what an E1 handset is? Is that the deeper mouthpiece at one end?
I just heard that Walmart is selling a Crosley reproduction of the 500, but it has push buttons.
Welcome to our forum.
It appears you've got two noce phones as a start for your collection.
your concerns about your phones are very common concerns and can be fixed rather quickly and and at reasonable exspense. The subset will cost you but the ringer problem should be a simple wire move.
By your Signature can we assume you are a member of the fairer sex ?
Welcome to our Forum, and you will be hopelessly hooked soon.
Regards;
D/P
Hi, Dan/Panther,
Yes, I am "capricious, coy, and hard to please". I was teasing Mark that I didn't get approved for the board because apparently, I'm the only girl, and the shock was too much for the system! I'm glad everyone so far likes my little collection beginnings...maybe it's because I never got to have that pink Princess phone! I like history and artifacts though, and I thought these were interesting. Plus, the older one (D1) goes with my film noir collection! :)
Hi Kittybell, and welcome! I think it's high time we had a lady to class up the joint!
Here are a couple photos of a subset, exterior and interior. They were all pretty much the same: Black boxes screwed to the wall close to the baseboard. Telephones like yours, and the older upright "candlestick" telephones all required these boxes, because the telephones' bases weren't large enough to hold all the electronic parts needed to make the phones work.
Quote from: Kittybell on January 15, 2009, 04:21:25 PM
Hi, Dan/Panther,
Yes, I am "capricious, coy, and hard to please". I was teasing Mark that I didn't get approved for the board because apparently, I'm the only girl, and the shock was too much for the system!
It's not the shock, but the realization that we're going to have to clean up our act... and I'll probably have to ban Dan/Panther! ;)
Welcome Miss Kitty! You have a very nice couple of phones there. The older model 202 appears to have what is commonly referred to as a "seamless" E1 handset. This means there is no groove along the bottom front and rear sides of the handset near where it rests on the cradle. It looks like your 500 model has the grooves and you can see them on both sides between receiver and transmitter caps. The "seamless" handsets are more rare than the later types that had the grooves. Also, your handset has been retrofitted to accept the later type of transmitter capsule that was used with the F1 style handset. This is a good thing if you intend to put the phone into regular use. The original "bullet" type transmitters used with the 202 model provided inferior voice transmission and the F1-style retrofits were a major improvement. A lot of 202's got retrofitted with F1 handsets when refurbished so you are fortunate to have one that still has the original E1 type. From the story you've told, I suspect that this phone was deployed only once, to your grandfather's house, and never went back for refurbishing. The transmitter capsule change was probably done on a service call. You could have an early dial on that phone too. When you decide to open it up, take some pictures and members can probably tell you more.
You shouldn't have any problem getting the 202 working once you get the subset or "bell box" for it. I think you'll be pleased with the type of ringer the old subsets used. It should provide that classic movie sound you're hoping for. Plenty of people here can help you get things hooked up properly so you can enjoy your phone!
Ralph
Kitty;
That 202 is absolutely gorgeous.
Now before Mark bans me, are you married, I'm single, If I get banned write down my Email before I get blocked.
Regards;
Dan/Panther
To everyone else it's still D/P
Hi Kitty and welcome to the forum. nice phones, I especially like that 202 :)
Hi Kitty and welcome. Anyone with a 202 telephone and a film noir collection is all right in my book! :) What are some of your favorite noir movies? I also enjoy spotting the great old phones in the movies. That's great that you have your grandfathers' phone from 1919.
QuoteNow before Mark bans me, are you married, I'm single, If I get banned write down my Email before I get blocked.
Regards;
Dan/Panther
To everyone else it's still D/P
Wait a minute, I thought we voted you off the island! ;)
Or was that me who got voted off? Can't recall.
Or maybe we all got voted off the mainland onto the same island? ;)
Ooo, that's probably more likely what happened. So is this sort of a Gilligan's Island episode? Who gets to be Gilligan? I think Dennis is the professor.
Yes, it's very much like Gilligan's Island except we all have telephones made out of coconuts and bamboo and all the phone operators are highly trained and extremely curtious well-groomed monkeys. Speaking for myself, that is.
Kittybell,
Welcome. If you pick up your newer black "500" model phone, you should see some markings on the bottom like 500 6-69. This is the date it was made. You can also unscrew the handset (receiver) and look inside the ear and mouthpiece and find dates. It's always nice to get a phone where all these dates are the same. There are two screws on the bottom that you ca undo to pop the housing off and see the "guts" of the phone.
I recently bought an old beige one that had the same date my wife was born.
I am not as lucky as you and don't have an older 202 like you do. These other guys will help you get her up and running , especially with ebay's help, if you shop there.
Sometimes the funnest part of this hobby for me (and a lot odf these other guys) is the HUNT, finding bargains at yard sales, flea markets, and so on.
Welcome, we need more ladies in here to spice this place up.
McHeath;
You're the Skipper...
D/P
Hey Hobiesport "Little buddy" what you doing ? ::)
Quote
McHeath;
You're the Skipper...
D/P
Hey Hobiesport "Little buddy" what you doing ? ::)
I'm watching The Maltese Falcon and admiring the AE40 telephones on Sam Spades' desk at the moment. Why?
cause you got the "bug" man, like all the rest of us...... :P
Hi there Kittybell, Welcome and enjoy the forums
there's lots of cool people here
Quote from: metdial on January 15, 2009, 03:31:50 PM
Welcome aboard Kittybell!
The folks here are friendly, knowledgeable, helpful, and oh so generous.
For example, the esteemed member Mr. Dan/Panther would be happy to take these nice phones off your hands (you'd have to pay for the shipping/handling to his address of course). ;D
Tom
Tom;
Thank you for the disclaimer above, it saves me having to remind everyone every time a new member arrives.
D/P
Quote from: Kittybell on January 15, 2009, 04:21:25 PM
Hi, Dan/Panther,
Yes, I am "capricious, coy, and hard to please".
That makes you certified 100% All American Female..... :o :o
D/P
Kittybell, Welcome to the forum. That 202 is a great telephone to start your collection. AND you know the history of it. Having a family owned phone of that vintage is awesome. Be careful, this telephone collecting thing can become addicting!
Again, welcome.
Dennis
Welcome to the forum!
Winkydink
Quote from: Dan/Panther on January 16, 2009, 12:18:42 PM
Quote from: Kittybell on January 15, 2009, 04:21:25 PM
Hi, Dan/Panther,
Yes, I am "capricious, coy, and hard to please".
That makes you certified 100% All American Female..... :o :o
D/P
You betcha!
Dennis, I love having the family history of the phones...somehow it makes it a bit more fun. I've been looking at some of the pictures and I am amazed that you guys take them apart and look inside! I don't think I have the courage for that. Plus I'm not "electrically-minded" at all!
Dan, I'm putting in the picture of the bottom of the phone. The only number I see is 78257. I don't see a 500 anywhere. Do you see anything?
Thanks for the welcomes, everyone!
Comeon, Kitty, you have to investigate! I think your phone is pretty new. Those two screws on the bottom are easy to unscrew. You won't hurt anything. You could at least unscrew the endcaps. The ear piece pops out and is held in by two wires. It will have a date. The ear part has a piece that comes out completely. it will have a date too. At least you will have a date this way.
Look at the white sticker up above the number you posted.
Right under the blue AT&T logo, there's a line which reads "R 500 DM".
My guess in the '72 to '74 range.
D/P
Not wanting to be outdone, I'm guessing 1980-84. :P