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Societe Lyonaise D'Electricite et Des Telephones Telephone

Started by DavePEI, June 20, 2015, 08:30:50 AM

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DavePEI

Societe Lyonaise D'Electricite et Des Telephones Telephone photo. See the nameplate below. Does anyone have any information on the telephone or on the company? I have not done any restoration work on it, surface cleaning only. The transmitter needs a new metal diaphram and cap. And, look... A truly Bell shaped bell!

Am I correct in assuming one element served for both transmit and receive in these Cornet or hygenic handsets? Examining the handset, it looks as though transmit audio came from the front of the handset as one would expect, and receive audio came from the hollow listening tube acoustically which opens into the back of the transmitter cavity behind the coils.

Final photo: Google Street View of the address on the nameplate.

This phone was amongst those sent down by Don last year. A most unusual looking instrument to our North American eyes!
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
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rdelius

The receiver and transmitter were back to back.The transmitter was rather thin and flat with a carbon diaphram.

DavePEI

Quote from: rdelius on June 20, 2015, 10:16:24 AM
The receiver and transmitter were back to back.The transmitter was rather thin and flat with a carbon diaphram.
Ok, If that is the case, Robbie, then why does it have a magnet and coils. They wouldn't work with a carbon diaphram. It would need a metal diaphram. Only two conductors in the cord, I am pretty sure. I will have to have another look at it tomorrow am. The rest of the day is pretty well shot!

Does anyone have an idea of its age? I am guessing turn of the century to 1920s. The hansets I understan were also called Hygenic handsets, so I suspect they were developed after the 1918 flu epidemic.

Is there anyone on the Forum who collects early telephones from France who might be able to help me find out more about this phone or about the handset?

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

rdelius

The receiver side had a normal rec  with a coil ,sometimes had a split coil like AE with an electromagnet and diaphragm but mounted behind the rec assy was a thin transmitter capsule  it had the carbon diaphragm and sometimes round carbon balls . it faced the other way.there were contact springs behind the rec assy on the back.there was an insulator of some type to isolate the capsule from the horn if necessary.The Japanese copied this design for some field telephones.I rewired many of the handsets for modern use

DavePEI

Quote from: rdelius on June 21, 2015, 12:12:03 AM
The receiver side had a normal rec  with a coil ,sometimes had a split coil like AE with an electromagnet and diaphragm but mounted behind the rec assy was a thin transmitter capsule  it had the carbon diaphragm and sometimes round carbon balls . it faced the other way.there were contact springs behind the rec assy on the back.there was an insulator of some type to isolate the capsule from the horn if necessary.The Japanese copied this design for some field telephones.I rewired many of the handsets for modern use
Hi Robby:

Have you seen any diagrams of how these were assembled? I would love to see a diagram of one. I got so tied up with the car, etc. yesterday, that I wasn't able to get back to look at it again. I can imagine it won't be fun to find a new diaphram and cap for it, but I do have quite a few orphan caps out back - with luck, one of them might fit.

Today, one of the things I intend to do is to re-glue the crack in the backboard, and I want to remove and clean up the switchhook - it is a bit sticky, and perhaps do a bit more cleaning. It is a bit of a departure from our N. American phones, and I do find it intriguing...

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

Jack Ryan

The transmitter element is very often missing in these handsets and the receiver may be electromagnetic - ie, no permanent magnet.

Jack

DavePEI

I did some work on the "Societe Lyonaise D'Electricite et Des Telephones" Telephone this morning, re-gluing the crack in the backboard, and cleaning up and lubricating the coil & Hook switch assembly. I discovered a push-button had fallen inside when I did so, so returned it to its proper location. The hook switch operates much more freely now.
I also searched for a handset cap which would fit the Cornet handset to no avail - I am not quite out of options, but would be interested if anyone has one to fit. I also took a photo of the handset itself.
The coil & hook-switch assembly had a partial crack in the top cover which I will fill whenever I get a chance.
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

DavePEI

Here is the phone after a bit more work and re-assembly:
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

DavePEI

This afternoon, I took off the rusty bell, and wire brushed the rust of it, finally painting it black with lacquer. I have no idea what colour it was originally, as there was nothing but rust left on it for a finish. I also put a couple of coats of paste wax on the backboard - I don't want to completely refinish the phone, as I want it to look its age, but it was tempting. Still looking for more information on the phone and the company. No luck yet finding a handset cap for it - I have tried an assortment of North American headphone and mother-in-law receiver caps, but they are either too large or too small. I, and others suspect the cap needed is metric.

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

DavePEI

Still looking for a bakelite receiver cap to fit the handset on this phone. It is smaller than most, 40 MM O.D. Anyone have any suggestions or have one?

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001