LUCKY ANTIQUES FAIR FIND (BTMC "Kettle" phone)

[oldmoley2]

Just picked up this little beauty at a local small town antiques fair here in the UK. Didn't pay a great deal for it, and on plugging it into my home line, everything works perfectly! I've seen these before, but am not too familiar with them. Can anyone more knowledgeable fill me in on any details please?

[unbeldi]

This forum has several discussions about the "tea kettle", or just "kettle" phone, for example HERE, recently.

This is very nice.

[19and41]

Mighty pretty, first I've seen in red!

[HarrySmith]

I can't give you any info on it but it sure is nice!

[Matilo Telephones]

Nice find. Paint job seems nice. They did not paint over the metal plate with the RTT logo.

The red is a repaint, as this model originally only came in black and (rare!) white. There are also white repainted phones available. The original white ones have white logo's on the front, the repainted ones black logos.

Is there any writing on the bottom?

[oldmoley2]

Many thanks for your kind comments. Arwin - I've had a look at the base of the phone, but there is no writing at all. I'll probably have a look inside the phone to see whether there is any further evidence there, and will report back.

[LarryInMichigan]

Is that a French handset on that phone?  The Belgian kettle that I bought a few months ago had an incorrect French handset on it.  I moved the handset to a French phone.

Larry

[oldmoley2]

Would appear to be so, Larry. The handset is marked "Ericsson Colombes", which I think makes it a wrong 'un. I'll have to keep my eyes open for a more appropriate handset for it. Someone has also fitted a modern transmitter (rather badly) which will also need to go. That said, it works well, and shows 100% modulation on my analyzer.

[LarryInMichigan]

Would appear to be so, Larry. The handset is marked "Ericsson Colombes", which I think makes it a wrong 'un. I'll have to keep my eyes open for a more appropriate handset for it. Someone has also fitted a modern transmitter (rather badly) which will also need to go. That said, it works well, and shows 100% modulation on my analyzer.

Mine came with the same type of handset (forum link) also with inappropriate transmitter and receiver.  Perhaps they came from the same refurbisher.

Larry

[Matilo Telephones]

RTT used a copy of the F1 handset as their standard handset. The only differences between the regular F1 and the Belgian one are its insides and the seems on the outside.

So an F1 handset would be a good place holder, until you find the correct one.

[Greg G.]

Just picked up this little beauty at a local small town antiques fair .... Didn't pay a great deal for it, and on plugging it into my home line, everything works perfectly!

I love it when that happens!

[LarryInMichigan]

Just picked up this little beauty at a local small town antiques fair .... Didn't pay a great deal for it, and on plugging it into my home line, everything works perfectly!

I love it when that happens!

I love it even better when it happens to me

[HarrySmith]

Please keep us up to date on the restoration. Lots of pictures, please. Should clean up real nice!