Western Electrric Desktop Phone...With extra parts?

[John S]

Morning!

Bought some phones yesterday on Craigslist.  I opened one of the phones up and found some interesting things inside.  This is the second time I found this inside.  I am wondering if all the phone at once had this extra bulb inside and were phased out.  I think its cool that all those years the parts inside have lasted.  Check out the pics...

John

[Sargeguy]

That is a 306.  The tube was used on longer lines to improve transmission or something.  It should have a mounting code of H5.  Check www.paul-f.com for more info. 

[poplar1]

Used for selective ringing of 4 parties.

[George Knighton]

My Ivory 302 (or at least I thought it was a 302 when I bought it) gave me a similar surprise!

But it works great, and had evidently been re-wired to operate like a regular (non party line) phone before I got it.

Although I've received explanations of the gas tube operation and how the phone was set up for longer loops, nobody's ever explained how the harmonic modification to the one bell helped with anything.

I don't know if it's to provide some kind of "deluxe" sound, or if there were four different modifications for the four different phone numbers...or what.

[George Knighton]

Here is the inside of mine.


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[John S]

I am having trouble getting mine to ring...George did you have the same problem?  How does it sound when it rings?  Just curious since the ringer is not your usual ringer inside. 

John

[George Knighton]

I am having trouble getting mine to ring...George did you have the same problem?  How does it sound when it rings?  Just curious since the ringer is not your usual ringer inside. 

John

Somebody very kindly had it all set up to ring properly before I bought it.  I'll see if I can get a recording of the ring; however, something that has always puzzled me is how the harmonic modification worked.  This one doesn't sound all that different to me.

[George Knighton]

Here is the ringer.  I'm sorry but while I was recording Sarah very helpfully asked if it was me ringing the line.

[Sargeguy]

It can be done, just disconnect the tube (but leave it in place) and wire it like a 302

[George Knighton]

It can be done, just disconnect the tube (but leave it in place) and wire it like a 302

By any chance do you know what it is that the bell insert was supposed to do? 

[John S]

George, it does sound the same as other ringers.  I will work on mine to get it to ring.  I will wire it like a regular 302 and see what happens.  Will report back....Thank you all for your help.....


John.....

[HowardPgh]

I don't think you can just wire it like a regular 302 unless it has the 2 section (4 wire) capacitor. I think the sets with the tube have a single section (2 wire) capacitor for the talk circuit.
Ringing part = yellow & slate wires.
Talking part =  red & black wires.
Somebody on this forum knows how to make it work with the tube. ( I read it somewhere)
George's phone in the picture has a capacitor instead of the tube.