Wires and Wiring

[Nathaniel House]

Hi, I am new and did search these questions but maybe I didn't do it correctly...so apologies if I am breaking protocol here.  1)  I have an old 300 with a cloth cord that I cut and the wires inside are so flimsy they are hard to attach to a fork terminal.  See pic.  Any advice?  2) The fork terminals that were there had barbs that could be crimped but I could not find those types of fork terminals.  Any source? 3) I have a 3 wire 500 phone that I attached the green and yellow to green (as I saw advised elsewhere on this site) and red to red. The phone rings and receives but it does not dial out. Any advice?  All of this is being connected to an internal KCE FX-207 exchange.  Last questions:  4) What is the easiest to work with suitable gauge phone wire (for routing in the house/ basement) and what is the best source? 5) What is the easiest way to connect those RJ11 terminals? I have a crimper but it is not intuitive.  Sorry if this is not appropriate for this Board.  I just bought a yet-to-be-delivered book on phone restoration so I hope to be less needy in the future....thanks all!

[Key2871]

Hello and welcome. Line cords that are old can be difficult to get onto terminals. So do your best after you loosen the screw. If you want nice reproduction cords there are several places to get them from.
One that comes to mind is old phone works. There is more info here somewhere.
You can also get spade ends there for most small gauge wires.
As for wiring in the house all the new wire is 22 gauge cat 6 is the norm these days where cat 3 was the norm years ago. Quad wire, or four conductor might be hard to find where cat 6 or 6e is eight conductor, or four pair.
Hope this helps you some.

[rdelius]

I would not attempt to put a modular connector on the old cord but put a modular jack on the old cord and use a modular cord as a jumper to a wall jack

[Key2871]

Oh I missed that. I agree don't try to moularize and old line cord. Chances are it won't work out.

[HarrySmith]

Here is a topic on connecting blocks. http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=21298.msg217240#msg217240. Just add these to the original line cords. No need to cut or try to add modular ends. Also as mentioned there are a few suppliers that have reproduction cords and correct piercing spade lugs.
Check out our vendors topic here http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?board=26.0.

[SUnset2]

These lugs work for the large wire on 302s, etc.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/100x-Vintage-Cloth-Cord-Cable-Wire-Piercing-Spade-Lug-Telephone-Cord-Phone-Radio/254209208476

For the small wire on newer sets:
https://www.ebay.com/itm/Vintage-Antique-Spade-Terminal-Small-Vinyl-Piercing-Pack-of-100-21213/122099224490

A cheap but usable crimp tool is the HS-202B from Amazon.

If you need to put a modular plug on a old style cable, use something like this:
http://www.oldphoneshop.com/products/telephone-adapter-jack-spaded-cord-to-modular.html

[Babybearjs]

another good source for spade terminals is Digikey.com  I'm always buying from them!