Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Collector's Corner => Topic started by: wds on August 05, 2022, 01:10:50 PM

Title: Eiffel Tower
Post by: wds on August 05, 2022, 01:10:50 PM
Bought this Eiffel tower and thought I got a pretty good deal even if it was brassed out.  After it came in the mail, I quickly figured out that it was not brassed out after all, but is either gold plated or brass plated.  Can't tell if the copper paint is original, but my initial thoughts are that the copper is not original.  Does anyone know if these came with the gold plating option?  Any thoughts?
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: Doug Rose on August 05, 2022, 02:34:49 PM
Hey Dave....I watched it until the end and could not pull the trigger. Great looking set.

Didn't it have a dial with it on a WE Stick base?

It is sharp looking....Doug
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: wds on August 05, 2022, 06:49:42 PM
Yes, a dial mounted on an AE candlestick base.  Don't plan on keeping the dial.
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: poplar1 on August 06, 2022, 03:01:57 AM
Ebay link please?

Arthur Seifert sold some non-dial phones (mainly from Denmark?), with a WE or AE candlestick dial base added, in the 60s-70s.
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: tubaman on August 06, 2022, 07:23:54 AM
It's a nice looking phone for sure.
As far as I know these had the handset, cradle, bells etc either in black for the UK GPO version (which this is one is not) or nickel. The frame is always black painted as far as I know - either plain (GPO) or with transfers (Ericsson).
The GPO didn't generally have any brass parts on show as they would tarnish.
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: Etienne on August 07, 2022, 05:03:26 AM
As far as I know, European telephones made before the 1970's never left factory with brass or copper finishes. Either black or nickel in all cases when made of metal.- except of course ivory paint in some cases.
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: FABphones on August 07, 2022, 05:16:09 AM
I have seen many of these, always Black, some with Decals.

This one in gold looks like it has been painted and brassed. Cords look new too.

I'd look under a strong lens for any evidence of original finish, but due to every part being different it was likely stripped down.

No hard evidence to say it's original or otherwise. Just looks a bit garish to my eye. It will still display well though.

Link to auction please.
:)

*Some of these are much later versions, removed from their bases and sold on.

Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: Doug Rose on August 07, 2022, 08:50:18 AM
https://www.ebay.com/itm/304574417385?
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: Doug Rose on August 07, 2022, 09:09:39 AM
Although the Brass or gold plating was superb, the copper paint is what bothered me. It was done great and well worth the price spent. I would have kept it together with the dial as I bet it worked!!...Doug
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: FABphones on August 07, 2022, 09:55:47 AM
Thanks for auction link.

Now I look more closely, besides the coating, I see paddle spreaders, possibly a small turret, and four terminals. All on the one phone.

The rattlecan coating underneath shows missed areas so I now doubt this was thoroughly stripped down for repainting.

The additional ensemble, no, I can see why that would be better off removed.

For comparison:
https://www.nostalgietelefon.de/Eiffel/06Skeletons%20lo-res.pdf

Hope this comes good for you (maybe a later version 1900's AC130,140 although yours has a cut off button), but looking at those auction photos I do have a bit of a yikes thing going on.
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: wds on August 07, 2022, 10:37:10 AM
Yikes!  thanks for the microscopic analysis of this phone!

Plans are to restore the phone to black and gold, and enjoy.
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: FABphones on August 07, 2022, 11:08:51 AM
Quote from: wds on August 07, 2022, 10:37:10 AM...Plans are to restore the phone to black and gold... 

Keep us up to date. Looking forward to finding out more as you progress.

 :)
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: Doug Rose on August 07, 2022, 02:22:51 PM
Quote from: wds on August 07, 2022, 10:37:10 AMYikes!  thanks for the microscopic analysis of this phone!

Dave not your ordinary phone. You got it at a great price. I think it looks great just the way it is. The Brass or Gold Plating is superb. My vote, I would leave as is an enjoy.

Did you hook it up to dial tone and see if it worked with the dial on it?...Doug
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: wds on August 07, 2022, 03:13:51 PM
Not yet.  I did test the magneto and it works.  I will clean it up this week and test everything.
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: Doug Rose on August 08, 2022, 08:28:22 AM
Here is a similar set...Doug

https://www.ebay.com/itm/334526083426
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: FABphones on August 08, 2022, 09:28:26 AM
It's looking like somebody did a few of these adaptations. They haven't painted over the manufacturer name on that one:
kjøbenhavns telefon aktieselskab

KTAS. Denmark.
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: Doug Rose on August 08, 2022, 10:30:10 AM
They are such cool sets. It took me a long time to get mine at a decent price...Doug
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: FABphones on August 08, 2022, 11:13:46 AM
They certainly are a handsome phone.

Quote from: Doug Rose on August 08, 2022, 10:30:10 AM...It took me a long time to get mine at a decent price...

If you still haven't found the correct handset for it let us (EU) members know you are looking. They come up for sale more frequently in this part of the world. Shipping and taxes of course will likely cost you more than the handset.
:(
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: Doug Rose on August 08, 2022, 12:53:16 PM
Quote from: FABphones on August 08, 2022, 11:13:46 AMThey certainly are a handsome phone.

If you still haven't found the correct handset for it let us (EU) members know you are looking. They come up for sale more frequently in this part of the world. Shipping and taxes of course will likely cost you more than the handset.
:(
CJ..I cannot find my post on this, but I thought everyone thought it was the correct handset. Either way, I am very happy with it....Doug
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: tubaman on August 08, 2022, 02:26:01 PM
Quote from: Doug Rose on August 08, 2022, 12:53:16 PMCJ..I cannot find my post on this...

It was this one Doug - http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=24036
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: Doug Rose on August 08, 2022, 02:38:51 PM
Quote from: tubaman on August 08, 2022, 02:26:01 PMIt was this one Doug - http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=24036
thanks Tubaman....I do appreciate it....Doug
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: wds on August 13, 2022, 11:31:01 AM
Still a work in progress, but I think I like the black and gold better than the copper. 
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: Doug Rose on August 13, 2022, 01:23:17 PM
Fantastic job Dave!!!
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: countryman on August 13, 2022, 02:10:57 PM
A huge improvement! Is it new paint or did you just remove the copper?
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: wds on August 13, 2022, 03:03:25 PM
there was another layer of gray under the copper, so I mostly painted new black. 
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: RDPipes on August 13, 2022, 04:52:07 PM
Looks a 100% better sir!
Title: Re: Eiffel Tower
Post by: tubaman on August 14, 2022, 03:51:13 AM
Nice job - a massive improvement!