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Restoring a British Ericsson handset

Started by grepnile, June 22, 2022, 07:21:31 AM

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grepnile

I want to restore a British Ericsson handset of the type that the GPO
used on No 16 skeleton telephones (actually belongs to a No 59 wall
telephone of I'd guess 1912-17). Photos suggest they were japanned
No 16 photo
and mine has the remains of it, very dull and uneven as if one or two
layers have peeled off in most places.

First, what is the current thinking about whether and how much to
restore?  I'd like to restore but want to be reasonably sure that the
new finish will be a convincing replacement even if not necessarily
using original materials.  It seems a fairly rare model, so that
suggests leaving as is might be recommended - or at least, not doing
anything that won't look 100%.

I have read some tips on removing japanning and have fair hopes of
doing that without major problems.

The earpiece (black bakelite or ebonite) is in reasonable condition
and I plan to leave it as it is.  The trumpet is in good condition
(later replacement?).

The handle (oddly enough without the usual cutout switch) is brown
ebonite and could maybe benefit from a polish.  Its body is grooved so
it maybe can't be buffed.  Do people have advice on this?  I assume it
was always brown and has not somehow faded.

Now, I'd much prefer not to disassemble the handle.  I don't know how
practical that is but there are some original cotton-covered wires that
run through it and I don't want to risk damaging them.  Ditto
the screw mounting of the mica terminal strip in the microphone housing
which seems fragile.

That means I'd have to mask off the handle and spray or maybe paint
thin coats of some sort of black lacquer that imitates japanning but
doesn't need baking.

I'd welcome your comments, both on the general approach and on
practical techniques.

FABphones

Could you add a few photos, showing various angles.
 :)
A collector of  'Monochrome Phones with Sepia Tones'   ...and a Duck!
***********
Vintage Phones - 10% man made, 90% Tribble
*************

FABphones

Handset for comparison (from my No16).
A collector of  'Monochrome Phones with Sepia Tones'   ...and a Duck!
***********
Vintage Phones - 10% man made, 90% Tribble
*************

grepnile

I only have the photos I attached to another post:


The phone is not with me but I'll take many more photos when I can.

The style (housings attached directly to the rods, cylindrical transmitter housing) is different from the classic handset and I'd guess later.

countryman

I had good results with bitumen paint: http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=14198.msg242290#msg242290
Black Jack and Mipa Bitumenlack are apparently very similar products.
You might even try to polish the almost dry paint with a soft rag moistened with denatured alcohol to blend it in better. But better do own trials first to see if you like the results.

FABphones

I quite like all the phone as it is. Just needs a delicate clean (plenty of threads on CRPF to help you).

The patina is in keeping with it's age.

 :)
A collector of  'Monochrome Phones with Sepia Tones'   ...and a Duck!
***********
Vintage Phones - 10% man made, 90% Tribble
*************

grepnile

Thanks both.

I'll have a think about what to do.  My concern is that the transmitter housing is in two parts and one pushes onto the other, secured by a bayonet and screw fixing. I expect real japanning was hard enough to withstand that but I wonder if any paint or lacquer is tough enough not to peel.

The photos show the wood carefully cleaned and lightly sanded for a thin coat of suitable varnish.  I'll see if I can improve the remains of the japanning.  As I've said, if I restore I'd want it to be a pretty convincing result, or as suggested, I might do better to leave as is.  Any thoughts about the brown ebonite?

FABphones

Quote...Any thoughts about the brown ebonite?

Usually for ebonite a 'cut and polish' is effective:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=22964
but that won't really be an option for your handset due to the grooves.

You may want to try a black boot polish. Apply carefully as there are a lot of nooks and crannies for the paste to build up in. I would use two or three old toothbrushes, one to apply, the others to remove and buff.

Try a small less visible area first as a test patch.

*Old toothbrushes are good for getting into those hard to reach areas on the rest of the phone too, eg, around the hinges and into corners.
A collector of  'Monochrome Phones with Sepia Tones'   ...and a Duck!
***********
Vintage Phones - 10% man made, 90% Tribble
*************

grepnile

Thanks once again.

It'll be a week or two before I can do proper work on it, and I have some things to try - on an 'inconspicuous area', as they say.  I'll report back on any results.