Telstar Dial Issues

[SunriseEarth]

I got a Telstar Design Line Phone from ShopGoodwill.   Sadly, the plastic case broke in half in transit due to poor packaging.  I was able to win my claim through PayPal over this issue, at least.

In any case, I did want to get it functional.  The phone is able to answer and receive calls, but the keypad doesn't work properly.   When you press the numbers, the dial tone just gets quieter.   Based on someone else's suggested, I tried switching the tip and ring wires.  However, the dial tone went away.  The keypad "worked" but was very loud through the handset and dialing did not actually initiate a call.

Is the dial bad on this?   Or is there something I might be overlooking?

[FABphones]

Do you have any photos? 

[SunriseEarth]

Do you have any photos? 

I'll take some pics when I open it up again.  That thing is a pain to open up.   Well, it's just a pain in general.   As far as I can tell, the wiring looks consistent with that in the diagram in 503-200-105, but it's always to good have more eyes on it. 

[Key2871]

The way you put it, dial tone going away when you switched polarity, sounds like a possible polarity guard issue.
I have had sets go quiet with bad polarity guard's before.
Have you opened your phone yet?