Belgian AE80 Look-Alike

[LarryInMichigan]

Continuing with the theme of European phones, I just received this Belgian ATEA model:
ebay link. The phone is a very pleasant dark gray color, and aside from being a bit dirty, is in excellent condition.  It is amazingly lightweight.  There are dates of 1961 and 1962 inside.  I do not know what the model number or name is where this model was used.  The receiver capsule has the AUSO logo on it.

Larry

[Matilo Telephones]

Aha, nice find! It was called the A66.
http://www.kulentuur.be/ateamuseum/atea_op_internet/telefoons_jan/1966_a66.htm

I only know it from pictures. I hope one day to inspect one up close. With a screw driver. :-)

[LarryInMichigan]

I gave the A66 a good cleaning and polishing today.  A few spot needed light sanding.  There were some marks from where the cords had probably been in contact with the plastic for an extended period of time.  I spotted another 1962 date stamp or two. 

This phone is a real headache to assemble.  Most of the parts (hook switch, coil, terminals, etc.) are mounted to an assembly which is held to the shell by two screws which enter from the outside below the grip under the cradle (as seen in the last picture above).  The dial bezel is held to the dial by two screws, and the dial and back cover are held to the inside of the shell by two screws are clips.  The dial wires are soldered on both ends.  Since everything is connected to everything else, I had to try to carefully balance everything while trying to insert and tighten the screws and trying to position the clips properly.  The phone works now, but has a bit of a cheap sound to it.  I don't expect that a great number of these were sold in the USA.

Larry

[Matilo Telephones]

A bit of a common theme on ATEA telephones. The shell is often difficult to separate from the base plate because of the wiring and components inside the shell.

And fasteners and screws in awkward positions.

It looks great now, Larry.

[LM Ericsson]

It is a very nice shade of gray.