OST Receiver Info Wanted

[LarryInMichigan]

I just received an OST receiver with a couple of phones I bought.  I know nothing about it.  Can someone here identify it and suggest an approximate value?  The diaphragm is missing.

Thank You


Larry

[Ktownphoneco]

Larry   ....   It's a Western Electric 122W OST receiver.     Attached is a picture out of a Western catalog showing the receiver.   Click / double click to enlarge.

Jeff Lamb

[LarryInMichigan]

Thank you for the information.  Is it worth much?

Larry

[rdelius]

They can sell for $100+

[Dan/Panther]

They can sell for $100+

Maybe closer to $200.00. I looked for a long time for one, finally purchased a broken one for over $100.00.

Here are before and after photos.

D/P

[FABphones]

......I looked for a long time for one, finally purchased a broken one for over $100.00.

Here are before and after photos.

D/P

Is that the same broken side in the after photo? Very very nicely done if it is. What adhesive and method?

[Ktownphoneco]

The 122-W OST Western Electric receivers, were usually made from hard rubber.    If they were broken, or damaged in some way, and the damage didn't involve missing pieces of hard rubber, they are, generally speaking, repairable.    They can also, under most circumstances, be highly polished.    I repair them by cleaning the broken surfaces with warm water and dish detergent and well rinsed with warm water, and allowed to thoroughly dry.     Then I use instant crazy glue, applied to both surfaces that will be bonded together.    If I can use some sort of mechanical clamping process I will, but sometimes because of the odd shapes that occur when they break, I use my hands to hold the pieces together for a few minutes until they set.     Once the pieces are completely cured, I sand the parts using wet / dry sand paper up to 2500 grit.    Then I buff the parts on a electric buffer with a cotton buffing wheel and plastic buffing compound.
The attached pictures are of a Western 122-W receiver I did for a collector on the east coast. 

Jeff Lamb   

[Doug Rose]

Jeff & Dan....outstanding repairs...Doug

[FABphones]

Thanks for the info Jeff, I had no idea how those were constructed.

An interesting read, there is no end to your talents. Very impressive, thanks for sharing.

[Key2871]

Excellent work, Jeff. Can't even tell it was broken.

[Sargeguy]

Take a toothbrush and some dish soap and scrub the top of the cap.  It will often reveal the markings. A "z" and "WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY". If you are lucky it will have a 7-digit serial #.

[kleenax]

For what it's worth, I do cast replacement parts for the WE OST receivers. Top & bottom caps, and "Shell" as I call it. I have the top caps WITH "Western Electric Co" and plain.  BUT, I don't have any cast right now; I'm out.

[Dan/Panther]

Is that the same broken side in the after photo? Very very nicely done if it is. What adhesive and method?

Yes the same spot.
The method I use is Superglue very much as Jeff describes. I didn't want a new looking receiver, because I wanted my phone to look restored but not new. So I did not replate the components. I have the ability to plate parts but I chose not to. I added a coat of semi gloss clear lacquer. Absolutely no marks are visible on the receiver, you can not tell it was broken.
D/P