Federal Shorty

[wds]

I recently purchased a Federal Candlestick complete with the correct mouthpiece and Shorty receiver.  Although I'm happy with the phone, I suspect that the receiver might be a repro.  Does anyone have a shorty they can compare with these pictures?  Since I don't have another one, I don't have anything to compare with.  If this one is original, it must have spent the last 75 years in a museum.  Not a scratch on it.  I paid pretty good for this phone, so if this turns out to be a repro - then back it goes.  The mouthpiece appears to be a repro, but since those are so hard to find I'll let that one slide. 

[teka-bb]

I've posted a picture:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=5167.0

[teka-bb]

Can you post a picture of your phone?

[wds]

Thanks for posting the picture!  Two Federals.  The one on the right had been fitted with a nice mercedes dial.  The one on the left is in excellent shape - original paint, and the mouthpiece and receiver look like new.  The receiver does match Remco's picture exactly - the cap is definitely bakelite and the shell is nice and heavy, but I can't tell for sure that it's also bakelite.  I guess it's a keeper!

[teka-bb]

Hi Dave,

I would keep it if I were you  A very nice phone.

[GG]

Oh, it's gotta be a repro.  But that's OK, I'll offer $150 if you want to cut your losses:-)

Seriously though:  That receiver element looks like a DC receiver.  Instead of having permanent magnets, it would use the line current in a series circuit to energize the magnet coils.  The way to tell is to hold a non-magnetized screwdriver to various parts and see if it sticks when the phone is and isn't hooked up to a line.  If there are permanent magnets, it needs to be hooked up through a coil or capacitor circuit.  If not, then it can be hooked up in a series circuit, which, depending on your PBX or central office line, may even have low enough sidetone to be perfectly usable. 

[wds]

Thanks for the info.  The receiver must be a DC - I noticed right off that there wasn't any magnetism to it.  I've been looking for a Federal Shorty for a long time, but every time one came up, it seemed to go for way too much money for my budget.  I think I will keep this one...........