302 on CL

[Netdewt]

"Old rotary dial telephone. Center cap missing from dial face. $10.00 Cash only."
"It's either Bakelite or plastic.  Made in Canada by Northern Electric.  It's in pretty good shape (aside from the missing 'center' piece on the dial) but does need to be cleaned."

2.5 hrs from my house... I'd probably have to get it mailed. Northern Electric? Is that right?

[LarryInMichigan]

It looks like a reasonable deal, except for the 2.5 hour drive part.  Ont of the feet apparently needs to be recovered.  Replacement dial centers are not hard to find.  Steve Hilsz may have the.  It could certainly be a Northern Electric.  They made the same 302s that WE made.

Larry

[bwanna]

even w/shipping cost.. a good deal. what the heck...may a day trip to go pick it up. stop at all the antique stores & flea markets along the way

[Netdewt]

I sent the check! Let's hope he's honest and that my wife doesn't beat me with it when it comes in the mail!

[Jim Stettler]

I sent the check! Let's hope he's honest and that my wife doesn't beat me with it when it comes in the mail!

You will eventually learn to have phones shipped to work or grab them before you wife sees it.

I try to grab it before the wife sees it. once it is in the phone room it blends in.
Jim

[AET]

I do this with my Dad, or he'll yell at me for wasting my money on phones (even though I haven't bought any in months) Once they're in my room, they just are able to hide well.

I sent the check! Let's hope he's honest and that my wife doesn't beat me with it when it comes in the mail!

You will eventually learn to have phones shipped to work or grab them before you wife sees it.

I try to grab it before the wife sees it. once it is in the phone room it blends in.
Jim

[Kenny C]

nobody on my dresser! 

[Netdewt]

Got the phone today! It seems to be in pretty good condition. A few little scuffs on the plastic base, but they look buffable to me. There is one big crack on the back right corner, but it looks like no pieces have chipped off. The dial is slower than my 500 and 554, but it looks to be in working order. The line cord is cut, so I'll have to do some monkeying to see if it actually works. F1 handset is all bakelite and it has no cracks or scuffs, just some fading. I'll need to replace the suede on the feet, but all the hardware is present.

Sources for suede, cloth cords? How to glue the crack?

It is dated 11-54. I didn't know they made them that late!?

[AET]

I have 6 500's and an AE80 on my dresser.

nobody on my dresser! 

[Netdewt]

It works! Sort of... it dials and talks perfectly, but does not ring.

It desperately needs a bath because it smells strongly of smoke. Probably 50 year old smoke? I'm a little nervous to take it apart though because of how the cover is wired to the base. I'm sure you guys will help me put it back together if I screw up though.

[Dennis Markham]

Draw diagrams as you disassemble.  You'll be glad you did.  Pictures are nice, but a diagram works good too.  Make notes.

[LarryInMichigan]

Netdewt,

Take some pictures of the wires on the dial and hook switch and then remove them from the shell.  I always spray the shell, handset, and other exterior parts of phones with foaming tile cleaner.  On most phones, the foaming cleaner quickly changes color from white to dark brown as it dissolves the dirt, nicotine, and other filth on the phone.  After the foam has had a couple of minutes to simmer, I brush the grooves and crevices with an old tooth brush.  On really dirty phones, two or three iterations may be needed.  I usually soak the cords in a bowl with some sort of cleaning solution.

Once you have the shell clean, you may be amazed at how good it will look with a bit of polishing.


Larry

[Netdewt]

I spent some time with it and took it apart slowly. Also took pictures beforehand. I'll wash the cover and glue the crack tonight. How to you guys wash the electronic parts? Just a wipe down? Will I need to calibrate anything if I take the fingerwheel off of the dial?

[bellsystemproperty]

It works! Sort of... it dials and talks perfectly, but does not ring.

It desperately needs a bath because it smells strongly of smoke. Probably 50 year old smoke? I'm a little nervous to take it apart though because of how the cover is wired to the base. I'm sure you guys will help me put it back together if I screw up though.

My 302 on the inside smells like dog poop. I'm not kidding, that's what it actually smells like, and it's pretty strong too. Luckily I can't smell it at all when it has the cover on, so it's not much of an issue.

[Netdewt]

It works! Sort of... it dials and talks perfectly, but does not ring.

It desperately needs a bath because it smells strongly of smoke. Probably 50 year old smoke? I'm a little nervous to take it apart though because of how the cover is wired to the base. I'm sure you guys will help me put it back together if I screw up though.

My 302 on the inside smells like dog poop. I'm not kidding, that's what it actually smells like, and it's pretty strong too. Luckily I can't smell it at all when it has the cover on, so it's not much of an issue.

LOL. For real.

Mine smells pretty bad. I'm hoping a good wipedown will help.