Automatic Electric Dial Service

[TIPandRING]

I'm pondering offering a service to fellow phone enthusiasts...

Let me know if there's an interest...

My service would provide cleaning, lube, and adjusting Automatic Electric rotary dials used in phones from roughly 1940-1975. I would not do any cosmetics, other than cleaning. This would end slow sluggish, crud filled dials from dialing incorrectly.

? Thoughts?

[HobieSport]

T and R,

I think Ben Hutcherson also offered dial cleaning and lubing services but I don't know if he got any takers.

Personally, I want to learn to do it myself, yet in the future, I might be interested at some point in sending out several AE40 dials at once to get them all cleaned and lubed together.

Any ideas for costs-per-dial to make your time worth while?
Are you at all interested in also servicing any WE302 and 500 dials?

It's great that you have thirty years of experience!

[BDM]

Hmmmm, any idea of what the cost may be? I know you can't determine the actual damage or problems with a dial until you get it into your hands. But what would be the cost for a general clean and lube so to say?

[TIPandRING]

Well, I believe the other poster was in regards to WE dials. I specialize in AE phones.

I was thinking about $15-20 range per dial (this would include shipping back to the owner).  $5.00 service fee if I find out the dial is beyond help. I'd be willing negotiate for "bulk" repairs

How do I have 30 years experience if I'm not even 30 years old?

[HobieSport]

How do I have 30 years experience if I'm not even 30 years old?

Whoops!  Sorry TandR; I got you mixed up with another member of the board.  That's what happens at my age...

The $15-20 dial fee including shipping sounds very reasonable to me, as the dials are the one thing that I'm not yet comfortable with.

For those of use who want to tackle the dials ourselves, it would also be great if someone would write a tutorial with good pictures of each of the major dials.
I know there is tons of info here on how to refurbish dials, but it's sort of scattered around the forum and it would be really great to get some of it consolidated into some good clear tutorials.

[BDM]

TR, check your PM.