Western Electric 295 A subset

[Doug Rose]

Sargeguy:

One thing to keep in mind about the 151AL.  It is an antisidetone phone, and the 295A was made before antisidetone induction coils were developed.  It uses a #20 induction coil that has the two windings instead of three windings on the antisidetone coil. 


The antisidetone phone will function as a sidetone phone when connected to the 295A, which is no big deal, it will work just fine.  You will hear your own voice in your own receiver a little louder than with an antisidetone subset. 

The 151AL will likely have 4 conductors in the deskset cord.  Red, Yellow, Green, and Black.  On Sidetone subsets like the 295A, you will only connect the Red, Yellow and Green.  There won't be a place for you to connect the Black wire.  Just put a piece of electrical tape over the spade tip of the black wire and let it hang loose.  Taping it makes sure it doesn't cause static by coming in contact with other things inside the subset.

Good News...I can't wait to see the finished phone. It will be  a great addition to your collection.....Doug

[Sargeguy]

Almost done.  Can anyone point me to the updated wiring schematic for this phone?  The TCI site does not seem to have it.

[Phonesrfun]

Sargeguy:

The schematic that we have been discussing should be ok.....

However, once you get the inside of the box wired, hooking it up to the line and phone would be as follows:

Connect the deskset to the three terminals on the left side of the box.  Connect the red wire to the terminal labeled 2.  Connect the green wire to number 4.  Connect the yellow wire to the one labeled L2.

On the right side, connect the red line cord wire to L1, and connect the green line cord wire to L2.

I hope that is the information you were looking for.

[Sargeguy]

Thanks.  I managed to find an authentic decal and new schematic for it:

http://tinyurl.com/24m4bfy
     ( deal link - no image attached when posted )

It looks like walnut so I will swap out the whole door.  and maybe the box as well.  But I will keep the ringer.
     ( dead link - no image attached when posted )

[bingster]

That's probably what I would do.  Just move the ringer, etc. into the new box.  It's in much nicer condition.

[Sargeguy]

Or maybe I will wait and see if I need the parts for this one:

http://tinyurl.com/2epd4an
     ( dead link - no image attached when posted )

[Doug Rose]

Or maybe I will wait and see if I need the parts for this one:

http://tinyurl.com/2epd4an

Beautiful phone! Have you seen a picture of the inside. Hopefully all it needs it the hookswitch....Doug

[Sargeguy]

No, I am hoping that the seller honestly didn't want to open it because he had no key and did not realize that you can unscrew it from the back.  He doesn't appear to be a phone guy so I took him at his word.  How hard are these hookswitches  to come by?

[bingster]

Here's a photo of the hookswitch this one takes:

http://www.telephonearchive.com/phones/we/we293a.html

Sweet phone, Sarge!

[Sargeguy]

Thanks.  Here iis one that Doug posted in the classifieds recently:

http://tinyurl.com/297tu3b

[Doug Rose]

Thanks.  Here iis one that Doug posted in the classifieds recently:

http://tinyurl.com/297tu3b

It was a labor of love. I was thrilled with the way it came out. Kenny supplied the hinges and the door lock. Look hard and you will see where the wood had split in the front door. I love these old phones....Doug

[Sargeguy]

Is that the same hookswitch as the 533 wall phone?

[Sargeguy]

The new subset box arrived today.  here are a few "before" pics:













I don't plan on a complete overhaul.  I am just going to clean it up and hit it with some Restor-Finish.  I want it to look aged but not too decrepit.  The paper labels are unvarnished so I need to be careful.