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Frankenphone 202

Started by Sargeguy, February 07, 2009, 08:17:54 PM

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Sargeguy

I bid on this phone because I felt sorry for it:

http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=170297052604

The seamless E1 handset also helped. 

When it arrived i was a little concerned at first by the 164A dial plate, thinking I had a 6H dial but when I turned it I brightened up a bit because of the distinctive 4H sound. 

I turned went to unscrew it to confirm and got another surprise.  The base was ivory colored suede.  Not bleached out, it appears to be really ivory colored.  Unfortunately there was blue paint around the edges over what appeared to be black paint.  I scrutinized the housing to make sure it was originally black, and it was, dated II 35. 

I unscrewed the bottom to have a look.  I removed the filter and took out the dial.  It's a transitional dial (used to be a #2) with the Western Electric logo around the outside.  The dial is not dated, as far as I can tell (can't  find my glasses).  The dial plate is dated IV::59 which I assume is October 1959.  The fingerwheel is steel, which dates it from WWII and the transmitter is from 12/44.

The handset is a mess.  It is blue spray paint over the original black.  But wait the "original" black is actually painted over the original brown Bakelite.  I unscrewed the various caps and spacers on the E1, which came off surprisingly easily, and I found traces of Ivory paint in places, as well as blue spray paint.  The handset cord is brown.

This combination appears to be the result of WWII era parts scrounging that was updated in 1959 with a new dial plate and card before some hippie painted it blue.

Any easy methods for removing paint from Bakelite?  I thought the spray paint would be no problem but since I have multiple coats on a relatively rare handset I am wondering what the safest bet is.
Greg Sargeant
Providence, RI
TCI /ATCA #4409

Steve K

Many paint strippers will not hurt the bakelite.  One thing that you might try is to soak it overnight in amonia.  I have removed paint that way from plastic phone pieces and other plastic parts from radios, etc. that I was afraid would be damaged by paint stripper.

Steve

Dennis Markham

That really looks like you got a great deal on that blue phone!  I mean you got a converted #4 dial and a brown Bakelite E1 handset for $50 plus shipping.

Check out Dan/Panther's posting about the 302 he removed paint from.  He's the man to talk to about getting that paint off of there.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=218.0

Dennis

Sargeguy

The gamble paid off. 

I am having some pretty good success with the lacquer varnish, it doesn't seem to effect the Bakelite.  It leaves the Ivory paint behind, which I think I will leave in place for now.
Greg Sargeant
Providence, RI
TCI /ATCA #4409

Sargeguy

Here are a few pics of the almost finished handset, the dial and the baseplate:

Greg Sargeant
Providence, RI
TCI /ATCA #4409

HobieSport

Lookin' good, Sarge.  Careful of those good sharp closeup shots of the 4H dials though.  You can be arrested in some countries for phone-porn for that. ;)

Sargeguy

Thanks. 

Does anyone have any idea how to estore the suede to its  original color?  Will paint thinner harm suede?

I am not sure what to do with these pieces.  I bought it so I could use the handset for another project, but since it's brown, I can't use it.  I suppose I could restore the phone to the original ivory, but it doesn't look like the housing was ever ivory to begin with. 
Greg Sargeant
Providence, RI
TCI /ATCA #4409

bingster

I'm not sure what would do it, but it's not suede, it's wool--see all the moth holes and tracks?  And not the regular woven felted wool, but it looks like extra thick, solid felt.  Bleach would certainly correct the aging of the bottom portion (which is ivory, like the handset apparently was), but I'm not sure about the paint.  Wool is a very resilient material, so I might try out paint thinner. 

You could always replace it with new brown suede, though.  Especially since you're not going to go back to ivory.  A bright white base might look odd on a black phone
= DARRIN =



Sargeguy

I double-checked and it is suede.  I'm not sure what the holes are from, maybe some other bug.  I tried brushing it with a wire brush, which helped in some spots, but I am afreaid to do too much or risk of damaging it.  I have plenty of spare 202 bases that are in my "to be restored" box, so this one will stay original
Greg Sargeant
Providence, RI
TCI /ATCA #4409