Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Identification, Repair & Restoration => Telephone Tools, Workshops, Tool Identification and Other => Topic started by: Doug Rose on December 27, 2021, 08:58:51 AM

Title: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: Doug Rose on December 27, 2021, 08:58:51 AM
I was lucky to find this on the cheap, these are really hard to come by especially in this really nice condition....Doug


https://www.ebay.com/itm/224755407927
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: HarrySmith on December 27, 2021, 11:49:50 AM
I had that tool on my watch list. Lucky for you I was busy and forgot to check it. If I had you probably would not have gotten it that cheap! Good price for a handy tool.
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: Doug Rose on December 27, 2021, 01:46:25 PM
Harry.....must have been a different auction as this was a BIN for $25 and it just came on. I was very lucky, right place right time...Doug
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: HarrySmith on December 27, 2021, 04:37:59 PM
It was the same tool & same seller. They must have changed it?! There were no bids when I put it on to watch.
I even got a notice from eBay it was no longer available.
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: Doug Rose on December 27, 2021, 05:07:47 PM
Harry....then I was really lucky!...Doug
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: FABphones on December 27, 2021, 07:06:15 PM
Quote from: HarrySmith on December 27, 2021, 04:37:59 PM
It was the same tool & same seller. They must have changed it?...

Possibly the seller placed the listing then edited later to add the $25 buy it now. Best Offer was also enabled.

Start time: Thursday, 23-Dec-21   13:47:37 UTC
End time:   Thursday, 23-Dec-21   15:02:15 UTC

16 page views.
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: Doug Rose on December 27, 2021, 08:26:12 PM
Thanks CJ
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: oldguy on December 27, 2021, 11:40:05 PM
What does that tool do Doug?
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: Doug Rose on December 28, 2021, 08:31:28 AM
Hey Gary.....it removes the spit cup from E1 handset. The pins fit in the holes on the E1. It is a must have. My pins were in need to be replaced so this was a much needed piece. A set just sold on eBay for $305. They are tough to find....Doug
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: HarrySmith on December 28, 2021, 08:38:43 AM
I had that set on watch too. WOW! Over $300! Way too much for me.
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: tubaman on December 28, 2021, 12:33:33 PM
$300 is ridiculous and must be 'collectable value' as you could make your own tools for the job for way less than that.
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: poplar1 on December 28, 2021, 02:26:28 PM
BSP reference:
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: poplar1 on December 28, 2021, 02:32:02 PM
Note that by 1954, at least, the 439A tool was not required -- just one or two 438As. (Paragraph 2.06)

The 514B tool (not the 438A or 439A) was used to loosen the transmitter cap or receiver cap for all types of handsets.
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: HarrySmith on December 28, 2021, 02:50:56 PM
Quote from: tubaman on December 28, 2021, 12:33:33 PM
$300 is ridiculous and must be 'collectable value' as you could make your own tools for the job for way less than that.

Yes, you are correct. IIRC there is a topic on here somewhere with specific details on making a great tool with the pins. I have a couple of strap wrenches which have worked fine for me.
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: Doug Rose on December 28, 2021, 02:52:16 PM
David....I have never seen a 514B tool. I do have a NOS 514A, the cloth grip is as hard as a piece of cement.

I still use a 438A to remove spit cups and loosen the rings. It is a much needed tool for me.

Strap wrenches work fine for F1s etc, but I have had no luck on E1s with them..Doug
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: poplar1 on December 28, 2021, 02:55:13 PM
Quote from: Doug Rose on December 28, 2021, 02:52:16 PM
I have never seen a 514B tool. I do have a NOS 514A, the cloth grip is as hard as a piece of cement.

I still use a 438A to remove spit cups and loosen the rings. It is a much needed tool for me.

Strap wrenches work fine for F1s etc, but I have had no luck on E1s with them..Doug

514A is for F-type handsets only.
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: Doug Rose on December 28, 2021, 04:23:44 PM
David....I also have a NOS 514C with a leather strap! It looks like a 514B but has leather strap instead of cloth?...Doug
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: kleenax on December 29, 2021, 10:42:40 AM
As an aside to this thread, I used to sell these NICE little strap wrenches about 10 years ago.

They are for installing those "automatic flush valves" on urinals manufactured by Sloan. I had an Industrial Plumber friend that gave me an entire shoebox full of them. The valves are polished chrome, and this wrench was created to install them without scratches.

I initially asked him to find me a strap wrench that I could utilize to "surgically" remove those stubborn (chrome-plated) threaded collars on Stromberg-Carlson candlesticks that are used to hold the upper transmitter assembly. They're only about 1" in diameter, so most strap wrenches were too big to use.

These worked wonderfully, and the strap is made of serrated, KEVLAR-reinforced rubber, so it grips GREAT! You can still find them sometimes on eBay, but if you have someone you know that works in commercial plumbing, they may have a few. They honestly throw them away because there is one packed in the box with EVERY one of those auto-flushing valves!
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: Doug Rose on December 29, 2021, 11:53:36 AM
this are by far the worst, I have broken two trying to remove an F1 Handset cap...Doug
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: HarrySmith on December 29, 2021, 05:05:38 PM
I have the same "Sloan" strap wrenches, I use them on all handsets that are stuck. Never failed yet!
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: Doug Rose on December 30, 2021, 09:49:52 AM
I purchased two of the Sloan straps from Ray and still have them. They work like a champ!...Doug
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: HarrySmith on December 30, 2021, 11:14:56 AM
That must be where I got them from also.
Title: Re: Western Electric Bell System 438a Handset Repair Tool
Post by: kleenax on December 30, 2021, 10:00:34 PM
Quote from: HarrySmith on December 30, 2021, 11:14:56 AM
That must be where I got them from also.
Yea, I swear I sold one (at least) to just about every-other-collector out there!  ;-)