Stromberg Carlson oilcan Is it worth it?

[Pourme]

Is this what I need?

http://www.ebay.com/itm/201529079604?_trksid=p2060353.m1438.l2661&ssPageName=STRK%3AMEBIDX%3AIT  ( dead link 11/10/17 )

[rdelius]

That one might work .there 2 sizes of receivers and the handles will not interchange.The older ones will have Stromberg & Carlson instead of Stromberg-Carlson

[Pourme]

Thanks...That is interesting...

[Doug Rose]

I have been a customer of Dennis and would strongly recommend you send you stick to Dennis and let him do his magic. You will not be disappointed. Dennis re-nickeled my receiver for the same stick you have, matched it perfectly.  It doesn't get any better than Dennis' work. Nice phone....you got a steal!....Doug

[Pourme]

Thanks Doug...I am thrilled with my 1st stick! Sounds like I'm in need of Dennis's skills!

[dencins]

Thanks for the kind words from all but a few (more than a few) words about this phone.

If you are looking to restore this to original condition there are several internal obstacles:

1.  Receiver has been modified to use a newer (1954) element.  Compared to the old receiver style, the newer element will give clearer reception.  If an old style is wanted they show up from time to time on ebay but I would look for one that is intact and has the ear piece and handle.  From experience adjusting the old style can be a real challenge.
2.  Terminal block in the base has been removed.  It is possible to replicate this from insulating board.  You would need to "borrow" one from someone to make a pattern but it would only involve cutting to shape and drilling holes.
3.  No coil - this is a show stopper.  Extremely difficult if not impossible to replicate and even harder to find.
4.  Transmitter - newer element replaced old solid back element.  These transmitters show up from time to time on ebay but like the receiver the newer element will produce an improved signal.
5.  Optional - switch should be checked out.  It obviously works for on/off hook but the switch should have four blades that should be aligned.  This may not be an issue but there was no picture of the inside of the switch.  For info to look at the switch take the screw out of the screw cover and carefully slide it up high enough to see the blades.  There is a sheet of insulator under the cover that also needs to be carefully slid up or it breaks very easily.  You only need to lift the cover high enough to see the four blades (two on each side).  The switch gives a very brief time delay between the receiver and transmitter circuits closing so the receiver circuit uses a different blade than the transmitting circuit.  This is how S-C avoided the popping sound when the receiver was taken off hook.   

If you are only concerned about cosmetic parts, most parts look in reasonable condition.  The exceptions are:

1.  Holes and dents in the base.  The base is made from "spun" brass.  This process was to put a tube or disc in a lathe and spin it.  A wooden model in the shape of the part was pushed into it or the disc is pushed against it to form the part.  Here is a youtube video of a person making a "spun" brass lamp shade from a brass disc:

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=poOuENoLG-E

That process puts unusual stress on the metal and it can react in strange ways when heated.  You will find most "spun" brass bases have small cracks along the edge of the base that were caused by the base stress relieving over the years.  The safest way to do this would be to find a metalsmith who works with brass.  One approach to filling the holes would be copper phosphorus brazing which means that area of the base would need to be heated to about 1400 degrees F (glows cherry red - brass melts at about 1700 degrees F). I have no idea what 100 year old "spun" brass will do at that temperature.  Dents would need to be hammered out then the base would need to be ground, filed and sanded back to shape.

Two issue - first is to find a metalsmith (there are not many left).  Maybe someone who makes brass sculptures.  My experience with jewelers is they have small torches and can not generate enough heat for an object this size.  Second issue may be the cost.  When brazing I use MAPP gas as a heat source (propane does not create enough heat) but I have never brazed "spun" brass that I can remember.  I have soldered (under 840 degrees F) "spun" brass but that was for small cracks and would not be strong enough to fill the holes.   

2.  Base plate - the base plate is not from an Oilcan.  I am not sure where it was found but I suspect someone found a base plate cover that fit.  A woodworker should be able to make a replica.  It is just a circle with holes drilled to line up with threaded legs on the inside.  This should not be difficult for someone who works with wood.

You never mentioned if the phone rings.  The Oilcan used a separate ringer  Is there some type of buzzer in the base?

Sorry for the length of this.

Dennis Hallworth   

[dencins]

I believe the base on your phone was originally from a Kellogg Grabaphone.

Dennis Hallworth

[rdelius]

That is not a Kellogg base on the SC

[dencins]

That is not a Kellogg base on the SC

I will not argue.  It was just a guess based on the wiring diagram.

Dennis Hallworth

[Jack Ryan]

The circuit on the base looks like BTMC. The dial is from Denmark.

An interesting mix.

Jack

[dencins]

Thanks Jack.  I knew the base plate was not from the Oilcan but would never have figured where it actually came off.  Same for the dial.

Dennis Hallworth

[Pourme]

You should check out that TV that can be seen in the background. Is it a Philco Predicta?

That is what I was thinking! It doesn't look identical to the picture of the Predicta that you posted but very similar. I would think they may be worth quite a few $$$. Would be nice to know what they are asking for it.

And for the phone, first thing everyone wants to know is how the dial is attached. I woud definitely pay $125 to add it to my collection even if it is in rough shape.

Terry

Just a few short miles from the first one, I found another Predicta. This one a good bit cheaper than the first one.

[FABphones]

Came across this interesting thread from 2016.
Any update or new photos Benny?

[Pourme]

~

Thanks for asking.

My first stick is still my favorite stick. However, the holes drilled into the base, used to facilitate the added dial, stopped me from pressing on with Nickle platting it. I could find no way to fill the holes prior to platting, or to find a replacement piece at a reasonable cost was impossible.

In the end, sometime it is best to appreciate a phone and accept all the "scars" it has from a long life of service, not so much different from me, myself!

Although the addition of the dial no doubt added years of service to the phone, I choose to display the phone without the dial.

Below pic of phone as found with dial & display.

~

[FABphones]

Looks much better without that dial, and displays nicely as it is. It has a story behind it and without the dial addition it may not have made it this far.

It has a good home now. Great addition to the collection.

I still have my first candlestick (I have been collecting quite the while). Nothing as special as your Oilcan, mine a GPO 150 which I found in a cupboard of a place I moved into. All original and still residing in it's first residence complete with old dialcard. It initially didn't fare too well under my guardianship thanks to a couple of 'dodgy dealers' who between them robbed out the old small center #10 dial and innards. But that is another story which one day I will start a thread about.