Just what IS this thing inside my A/B 554 Wall Phone?

[Rotorman]

Most curious about that circular thing just to the left of the 425B network in my A/B 554 wall phone.  It has 2 blue wires seen in photo, and I measure 57 Ohms across them.  Too small to see in pic, but it says Bell System Western Electric on its cap.   I have no idea where the 2 wires should go on the network.  Phone presently gets a good dial tone, but does not ring.  If I know the other party is presently calling, I can pick up the handset and converse clearly.  I suspect it's something simple, but any clues on the blue wire device or non-ring issue appreciated. 

[TelePlay]

What is embossed on the end of the tube, around the brass screw?

[Rotorman]

It says Bell System Western Electric  Not for Sale on the round cap.  I see no other markings on it.  Reading over the "Bell Does Not Ring" corrective measures in Table A of the 554 BSP, they mention a capacitor possibly needed across A & K terminals, but I get 57 Ohms resistance from the blue wires, possibly ruling out a capacitor unless it's gone south.   

[Jim Stettler]

When I Google "western electric telephone buzzer" the only photo that comes up is of one of those.
Jim S.

[poplar1]

That is a 10 Volt AC buzzer, the same type used in multi-line sets. It is not original to the set, and will not work on standard ringing voltage (90 Volts AC)....the 554 is wired the same as a 500, with the ringer connected as follows:
         Red to L2
         Black to L1
         Slate to K
         Slate-Red to A

[Rotorman]

So what would be the purpose of a Western Electric buzzer inside the phone? 

[paul-f]

Low voltage buzzers were commonly used as signals on intercom lines in 1A2 or PBX-based systems.

Single line phones could be hooked up directly or with the use of a multi-line key, as shown with the 2554 below.

A simpler intercom signaling system could be built with simple pushbuttons.

Wiring examples can be found in the BSPs.

[AL_as_needed]

That's an interesting little extra. I like finding those little clues to a phone's previous life.  Rotarman; do you have any idea of the history of that phone?

[dsk]

The buzzer with with blue wires was made in several versions, Ericsson used some in smaller phones, those had pretty high DC resistance of at leas 3 k ohms.  And yes, I have seen them for 10-15V (as someone mentioned) to used in European intercoms.

dsk

[Rotorman]

Phone History?  A simple Gsale find.  Had sat for years before finding a round toit.  BTW....ringer never did come alive, and luckily I had a spare ringer I cannabalized from another similar but thoroughly beat up phone.  Phone now works well.   

[Babybearjs]

save the buzzer, these come in real handy for alot of things....like a doorbell for example. My back door bell stopped working for awhile and I used one of these in place of it while I trouble shot the circuit....