Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Flea Market/Yard Sale/Antique Store/Thrift Store Finds => Topic started by: AE_Collector on February 03, 2018, 11:59:38 AM

Title: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 03, 2018, 11:59:38 AM
I know nothing about these but it looks like I may have just bought this for $50 Cdn, $40 US on Facebook Marketplace and think I have figured out how to get it picked up and deleivered to me.

Any input would be appreciated.

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 03, 2018, 12:01:39 PM
Could it be this one?

http://www.telephonecollecting.org/Bobs%20phones/Pages/Skeletal/Skeletal.htm

A Skeletal topic here on CRPF from Remco with links:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=2115.0

Did they make a lot of different versions of these over the years or what!

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: Ed Morris on February 03, 2018, 07:18:46 PM
I have seen phones that look like yours on eBay for hundreds of dollars.  Looks like you might have made a good buy.
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 05, 2018, 04:40:11 PM
Well, phase one is complete. The phone was picked up by my daughters friend who lives quite close to the seller. It is no more than 70-80 miles from me but you have to take a ferry there and back. Must be in an island then, right. Nope...on the coast of BC that close to Vancouver but "you can't get there from here" (without a ferry ride)!

No new pictures. It will arrive here this coming weekend.

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: Doug Rose on February 05, 2018, 04:53:11 PM
Terry.....home run! ...Doug
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 05, 2018, 05:32:56 PM
Another comment I got via email was that the block on the end of the cord sells for much more than I paid for the phone. Hoping that all is in reasonable condition when it arrives!

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: Doug Rose on February 10, 2018, 08:11:55 PM
Terry....did you get it yet?
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 11, 2018, 12:02:46 AM
Tomorrow afternoon! But We will be heading to my daughters for her birthday dinner out so may be Monday before I can post some better pictures.

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: Doug Rose on February 11, 2018, 08:49:11 AM
I am excited....for you!!!
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: Pourme on February 11, 2018, 09:45:00 AM
~

Love to watch y'all buy really cool phones for those of us that can't....

Can't wait to see the pics, Terry!
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 11, 2018, 12:57:56 PM
I rarely "score" or "Hit a Home Run". Don't watch eBay very closely anymore and don't scour the other online auction sites, CL or ETSY. Rarely hit garage sales or flea markets anymore so at least I know WHY I rarely find much.

Just happened to come across this one on FB Marketplace shortly after it was posted and while I know virtually nothing of this type of phone I have seen enough comments over the years to suspect that as long as it weren't a modern reproduction it is definitely worth $50+. So, I sent the "Still Available" question which wasn't answered until the next day.

Hoping it's not missing to many bits and pieces!

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 11, 2018, 05:55:30 PM
It has been delivered to my younger daughter but we are out visiting older daughter on her birthday. A couple more pictures.
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: teka-bb on February 11, 2018, 07:39:50 PM
Nice find Terry,

Be aware that you should not lift these phones by the cradle. Always support them from the bottom.

The round black piece is made from relatively soft wood and attached to the deck by just a few wood screws.
They get torn out of  the wood easily because of the weight of the phone. When that happens is usually breaks the wires going to the coil inside the black round piece.
Repairing those wires is very difficult.

It also looks like the handset might be missing something. Maybe you can take a few more photos?
Phones made by Ericsson usually have a serial number stamped into them. There is a list that enables you to date the phone by the serial number.
On this type of phone it is usually on the side of the deck.





Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: rdelius on February 11, 2018, 08:19:24 PM
Some had a funnel type curved mouthpiece and some had a dome with slots underneith
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 11, 2018, 09:50:57 PM
Thanks guys...I'm assuming at minimum some sort of mouthpiece is missing from it though I still haven't seen it myself other than the pictures I've posted. I'm guessing these have a fair weight to them so being careful how to pick it up seems like very good advice.

I did search and found the web sure with serial numbers so am looking forward to seeing what I can find out from that web site.

Something completely new to me so it is somewhat exciting waiting for it to arrive! I'll post better pictures tomorrow.

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: rdelius on February 12, 2018, 10:20:28 AM
AS I noted, Some have no external mouthpiece (horn) but have a mushroom dome with slots under the dome
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 12, 2018, 10:29:22 AM
So the possibility exists that there isn't something missing from the handset. There haven't been any pictures that really show what is going on there. I'll go get it before long.

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 13, 2018, 11:32:21 PM
Okay! It has landed in my photo studio which of course gets converted into the laundry room on a regular basis.

Obviously a portion of the transmitter is missing but that seems likely to be the only major part that has wandered off. Two brass gizmos that are a part of the lightning arrestor block seem to be missing as well. The cord from block to the phone looks suitable to tie up a boat!

I'm still not really certain (not even remotely) what I've got here. Initially the only thing I could find was  "C T Co." stamped on the back of the receiver end of the handset. And of course a handset could easliy have been swapped out. As I got better light and took these pictures I unearthed another "C T Co." on the Magneto and finally another "C T Co." on the Ringer along with 1000 ohms. So....it looks like I've got a "C T Co." something or other! Reading on the Bobs Old Phones web site ...

http://www.telephonecollecting.org/Bobs%20phones/Pages/Skeletal/Skeletal.htm

...gives lots of info including that many companies made these and many or even all of the parts on these phones assembled by other companies were made by Ericsson and usually not branded Ericsson.

One statement on this web site says the early handsets had a knurled brass ring that holds the Bakelite disc to the receiver and soon after it changed to an all Bakelite cap. Mine has the knurled brass ring with separate Bakelite disc.

Elsewhere it is mentioned that in about 1900 the Ringer connections changed to two brass bars rather than the actual Ringer wire leads, Mine has the brass bars. So, after 1900.

AC110 & AC120 models have the lightning arrester on the ebonite deck but AC130 & AC140 models it is moved to the connecting block which is what I have. There is no direct implication that 110/120 model production ceased as 130/140 production began, different companies may have ordered one model rather than the other.

I am able to read the serial number, it is 1204231. The second to last digit, the 3 is hardest to read...it may be a 6 not a 3. But, this makes little difference, they were numbered sequentially and 1914 began with s/n 1202076 and 1915 began with s/n 1279176. So, mine would have been made very early in 1914. BUT, that's if it IS an Ericsson serial number...it may not be an Ericsson Phone and I have no idea whether serial numbering was controlled by Ericsson or was stamped in the deck by Ericsson if they supplied that part.

I'm sure someone will have more info for me. It is encouraging to see that it appears that no major Parts have been replaced with other brands, just need to determine what "C T Co." is!

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 13, 2018, 11:34:01 PM
You can see the "C T Co." stamped beneath the handset cord leads in the second picture of this post and again on the bottom of the Ringer in the fourth picture in this post. It is also on the back of the receiver but I didn't get a picture of that.

The fancy piece of metal on the opposite end to the Magneto Crank appears bent outwards somewhat. It has an area that appears to line up with the end of the armature(?).

The lady I bought it from had a comment in her listing that it had been used in Washington State. I wondered how she knew that and could see that there was writing in the number card window though I couldn't read it in her pictures. I thought maybe someone had written a 10 digit phone number there with an Area Cidecsuch as 206 from WA State. NOPE! Check the number written there! Many things that people assume about phones such as phones without dials being "Extensions" and numbers that are just a few digits long being some of the very first phone lines ever!

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: rdelius on February 14, 2018, 12:05:23 AM
That handset had a dome over the hole. .It might be easier to locate the faceplate with  Ericsson markings and the funnel mouthpiece
Possibly the find of the year.
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 14, 2018, 12:18:43 AM
Okay, you think this one was the domed version that you mentioned. The part that is there doesn't seem correct for the more common mounting plate/cover for the funnel shaped mouthpiece. I saw some reference to this in the Bobs Old Phobes webpage. I'll go look for that part again.

Here's the link to the web site I'm referring to:
http://www.telephonecollecting.org/Bobs%20phones/Pages/Skeletal/Skeletal.htm

Terry

Here is what the Cord mounting black should look like (from Bob's Old Phones). I am missing two brass bits from the block but amazingly all the rest of the terminals are still with it. Some were loose and partly undone.
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: rdelius on February 14, 2018, 12:57:29 AM
None of the photos show the domed  mouthpiece it also appears that the carbon diaphram and carbon grasnules are missing.This is a later handset. 3 screws hold the faceplate. older have 2 and they go all the through .The part you need is not rare.You are missing the ringer cut out on the magnito.Somebody most likely removed it so it would ring when cranked. It shortsd out the ringer when turned.This  set had a low impeidence  series ringer..I had some of the rosette nuts someware.
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 14, 2018, 01:56:17 AM
Yeah there is nothing inside the transmitter cavity. I was wondering if there was another little piece missing off the armature of the crank. The 130/140 models were supposed to have the Ringer shorting feature when cranking. So far I haven't got the bells to ring from the Magneto though. Will get the Meter out in the morning.

I'm hoping maybe Remco has some idea what  "C T Co." might be.

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: rdelius on February 14, 2018, 09:15:49 AM
Make sure that the contact that is connected to the chassis is resting aganst the generator shaft
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: Doug Rose on February 14, 2018, 09:25:03 AM
Outstanding Terry!!! I second Robbie....find of the year!!...Doug
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 14, 2018, 10:50:39 AM
Quote from: rdelius on February 14, 2018, 09:15:49 AM
Make sure that the contact that is connected to the chassis is resting aganst the generator shaft

The big decorative metal end piece? Looks like it either should be up tight against the end of the shaft always or maybe just touching as the shaft is rotated if the shaft pushes out a little when rotated. I don't detect any forward motion there though (to apply the short across the bells). Hope nothing is open, I will check and see what happens if I move the decorative piece of metal against the shaft.

It has been fun exploring and investigating! Where would we be without the internet!

Terry

Looks as though it should be touching!
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: dsk on February 14, 2018, 12:16:12 PM
The Cord mounting block was made with and without lightning arrester. It should work without. The missing parts here (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=19762.0;attach=179468;image)


was probably a centrifugal switch (missing on mine too) A direct contact will work, but you will loose some signal due to the generator/inductor allways will be in the circuit.

The transmitter was originally a felt ring around that carbon block holding the granulate between that block and the metal membrane/diaphragm on top of this.  Battery voltage was 3V.


dsk


Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: dsk on February 14, 2018, 12:20:59 PM
A little bit older version is her in this add https://www.finn.no/bap/forsale/ad.html?finnkode=113854566 (https://www.finn.no/bap/forsale/ad.html?finnkode=113854566), Someone is willing to pay up to a little more than $5700 for it, so I guess you did a good bargin.  ;D
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 14, 2018, 12:35:38 PM
That one is certainly a step higher than mine dsk! But, it is amazing what the asking price is for some of these as well as what they sell for. Two recently in eBay sold in the US $2000/$2500 range.

Do you have the complete transmitter assembly on yours? Can you take a picture or two or is in scary to take apart?

So a little inserted piece is missing between Magneto shaft and the metal plate....I think that is what Robbie indicated as well. These are likely made from unobtainium. Will look for a picture of that online.

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: dsk on February 14, 2018, 12:40:59 PM
I do not want to open that transmitter, it is actually working quite well. I am sure we may find pictures somewhere.

dsk
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 14, 2018, 12:46:51 PM
Okay, understood. It has the horn/funnel on it? What would that part properly be called? Similar over here gets called Spit Cup.

Terry
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: dsk on February 14, 2018, 01:21:47 PM
The handset of mine looks pretty like this: https://goo.gl/d41h6a (https://goo.gl/d41h6a)  Looks like this not have any centrifugal switch either.


dsk


PS look here: https://goo.gl/XGy3Vu !!!!!!!!!!!!!!
DS
Title: Re: Ericsson AC130 Skeletal Magneto Desk Telephone
Post by: AE_Collector on February 15, 2018, 02:09:33 AM
Okay, checking why I have no bells when cranking the Magneto.

1st Picture: I readjusted the metal piece on the outer end of the Magneto shaft so it is touching. I think this is how it should be now. See first picture. There is a wire under one of the screws that hold this metal piece to the deck so it is supposed to conduct for some purpose.

2nd Picture: Not certain what went on during this phones lifetime but I bet it was refurbished by someone, much of the black paint seems a bitveratically applied. Note the ends of the metal piece on one side compared to the other. One side is a little smaller like it was damaged and maybe filed down a little.

3rd Picture: Ohm meter out and Ringer looks open. Removed Ringer.

4th Picture: No laughing at my notes on the picture of the Ringer! One coil is about 540 ohms, the other coil is open. One terminal removed in the picture. It looks like it is my lucky day, the wire is broken off of the back of the terminal. Should be a comparatively easy fix then I will try ringing again.

Terry