Hey guys,
Finally found my first Western Electric 302! Got it off Craigslist and it seems to be mostly original. Phone is generally dated 3-52 throughout. I think it cleaned up great and the cloth cord just makes it look right.
One issue was that someone tried to quiet the ringer with tape on the bells, still must have been too loud so they removed the clapper. >:( When this wasn't quiet enough they finally moved the ringer wire :o
I had a 47 ringer with brass bells I installed, but it bugs me that I had to pull out the 52 ringer. Has anyone replaced a clapper?
Don
Wish I had another ringer for ya but,I don't.
As far as changing the clapper I don't think that's possible, its a shame people that haven't a clue
what there doing get their fingers into things where they shouldn't be.
Maybe some one else here has the right dated ringer for you.
Quote from: Don_18 on February 04, 2023, 05:42:34 PMHas anyone replaced a clapper?
The original clapper was a crimped-on 5/16" round metal disk.
5/16 round brass balls are available on eBay and from other uses (some lamp pull chains come with a 3/8" brass ball on the end as a weight - these would have a hole drilled in them).
If you have the equipment to drill a hole (the clapper rod diameter) in the center of a brass ball, 3/8" would probably be best so after drilling, the ball could be put on a drill and filed or sanded down to 5/16".
The ball, after placing it on the clapper rod, could be soldered or 2-part epoxy glued into place.
Or, you could just get another B1A ringer for $20 to $40 on eBay.
It's a hobby with several ways to resolve this problem by throwing time and money at the fix.
If it is too loud, all you have to do is loosen the left-hand bell and rotate it until it moves closer to the clapper, then retighten it. The bells are drilled off-center.
Mike
Yeah, I was thinking about prying open the crimp on the good ringer, or driving out the pivot pivot point on the assembly and swapping them.
TelePlay - I really like the idea of a brass ball, l'll give that a shot.
Don
Hi Don, welcome to CRPF.
Image attached showing B1A example complete with clapper.
Keep us up to date with your progress.
:)
Fixed!
I had a half dead 500 that donated the clapper, just had to ream out the hole hair. The hardest part was getting the arm straightened out and aligned with the gongs. Loctite 603 Bearing Retainer Compound is holding it all together. Seems to be working fine so far.
Don
Nice work Don.............Welcome to the Forum!......Doug
Its a good job . I certainly couldn't have done better.
Thank you! :D
Interesting that the were still making these new in 1952 when the 500 came out in 1949. Is this a very late one?
Nice job, and welcome to the forum!
As a Norwegian, I may look at the phones in another way, and by my opinion the 302 will work better on a long (bad?) line than the 500, just because of a small loss in the automatic compensation part of the 500 circuit. Even the dial circuit makes less resistance during the pulses, that makes a difference in some cases. I have an really old exchange, and telephones that not will short the line completely work fine internal, but not in the trunk. All my non WE phones work well (Except the 1911 Siemens phone). The 500 and the 202 does not work on the trunk, and of-course not the push button phones :)
Quote from: Don_18 on February 05, 2023, 11:24:59 PMThank you! :D
Welcome . Don . and welcome here on this forum , the best in the world .
Welcome to the forum. You have found the best forum on the net.
A warning, Phoneitis is a progressive, incurable disease. I hope you have not caught it yet. Next you will be wanting all the different colors or the different models of 300 series (there are quite a few) or maybe you will want another brand like Automatic Electric or you could get bit by the tool bug and want to collect telephone tools. In the advanced stages you will be constructing another building to house your collection or maybe building your own central office! If you want proof just look at the collections topic ;D
Seriously, nice work on the 302, Congrats.
The 302 is my favorite style of the Western Electric. It's such a demure looking phone with a relatively small foot print. I love your solution to the ringer problem, very creative thought.
Quote from: HarrySmith on February 06, 2023, 12:58:35 PMWelcome to the forum. You have found the best forum on the net.
A warning, Phoneitis is a progressive, incurable disease. I hope you have not caught it yet...
Thanks Harry, it is satisfying to bring bring it back to life. I have already gained a ton of knowledge from this site and its great to see how helpful everyone is.
Unfortunately, I think it is already too late for me! The 302 bumped a 5302 off the end table and my '56 500 set will be up to bat next. There is also a PBX hiding in the basement that needs to get mounted and wired. ;D
Quote from: HowardPgh on February 06, 2023, 03:37:36 PMThe 302 is my favorite style of the Western Electric. It's such a demure looking phone with a relatively small foot print. I love your solution to the ringer problem, very creative thought.
Thanks! I get lucky every now and then :)
Quote from: Don_18 on February 06, 2023, 08:39:33 PMUnfortunately, I think it is already too late for me! The 302 bumped a 5302 off the end table and my '56 500 set will be up to bat next. There is also a PBX hiding in the basement that needs to get mounted and wired. ;D
Chronic Phonitis without a doubt. There is no known cure I'm afraid but you can ease the symptoms by getting more phones.
;D
Oh well. I guess I was too late. Tubaman is correct, more phones will make it easier to tolerate ;D
Even though they started mass-producing the 500 in 1950, they kept making the 302 into 55, and kept making the components and the F type handset well into the 70s.
Mike
I have a good ringer for $15.00 + shipping.
Mike
I also like the looks of a 302 & the fact you can buy what looks like a junk 302 & plug it in & it will usually work. I know I have way too many black ones boxed in the garage, I just can't say no to a good deal on one. Just wait until you start spending money on the colored ones😁
Well, I found another $20 302. This one was way more of a project, but it cleaned up nice enough. Handset cord was really dry and just fell apart, so it was replaced with a reproduction. Little bit of sanding and it was shiny again, its far from perfect, but I'm happy with the results.
They kept making the 300 series phones into 1955. The 500 may have been announced in 49, but they didn't actually start making them in any quantity until later 1950.
Mike
Quote from: MMikeJBenN27 on April 24, 2023, 10:40:07 PMThey kept making the 300 series phones into 1955. The 500 may have been announced in 49, but they didn't actually start making them in any quantity until later 1950.
Mike
Yeah, my earliest 500 is a '53, still looking for an older one :)
I have one for early 51!
Mike
Great job!
Mike
Beautiful restoration Don. came out really nice.