Black Metal WE 302 With Original Paint

[bingster]

The 226 exchange (CAnal 6 or otherwise) was probably found in many places throughout the country. 

[Craig T]

Bingster,

I think I understand, yes I was/am that lost  

226 comes after the area code now a days, for example Marquette today could be 906-226-XXXX

The area code is unique and the next numbers could be the same in many places. Am I on the mark now?


Dennis here are the dates of the components you asked about

Transmitter 6/46
Receiver 6/46
Handset (no idea where the date would be)
Ringer 6/46
Condenser 6/46
Bells 41A 41B
Base 6/46
Case (no actual date only says H-1, someone must have cleaned it off already  

[bingster]

226 comes after the area code now a days, for example Marquette today could be 906-226-XXXX

The area code is unique and the next numbers could be the same in many places. Am I on the mark now?

Exactly.  When area codes came in, exchanges didn't change.  You'd only find a given exchange once in each area code, but it was possible for each area code to have the same exchange in it.  For reference, here are the different parts of a phone number (301-345-6172 for example):

301 = area code
345 = exchange
6172 = station number

[dencins]

226 comes after the area code now a days, for example Marquette today could be 906-226-XXXX

The area code is unique and the next numbers could be the same in many places. Am I on the mark now?

Exactly.  When area codes came in, exchanges didn't change.  You'd only find a given exchange once in each area code, but it was possible for each area code to have the same exchange in it.  For reference, here are the different parts of a phone number (301-345-6172 for example):

301 = area code
345 = exchange
6172 = station number

I am trying to remember how I made long distance calls before area codes (yes, I am that old but unfortunately that is probably why I can not remember).  I thought I called the operator and gave her the number I was calling but I do not recall giving her any more information like town or state.  If exchanges (CA6-, etc.) were duplicated I do not know how she knew where I was calling unless I told her the state and do not remember doing it.  

I know I did not make many long distance calls since they were very expensive.

Dennis

[bingster]

After you called the long distance operator, you'd have to give her the number, city, and state.

[Craig T]

Some April Fool's Day. Came down this morning and my phone was tagged! No idea who got me!    


Here is the final turnout. I spent a lot of hours on this phone. I cleaned almost every little piece inside and out. I have never spent so much time or care on a single phone.

The phone is in its original state, paint, feet, and all.

[JorgeAmely]

Very nice job Craig (A.K.A. El Guapo).

I like the way you fixed the handset cord.

[Craig T]

Thanks Jorge  

I cannot tuck anymore cord into the handset, so it is a good thing the fraying was not a single coil longer.

The handset cord looks washed out to me. I would like to dye it to tell you the truth. Then again it will just end up a slightly different shade than the line cord again. For now I will leave it as is. I was thinking it might show better with a reproduction cord? Do you think so?

[Dennis Markham]

Great job, Craig.  That is a very nice looking telephone.  The cord looks great!

[Craig T]

Thank you Dennis, I am very happy with the turnout on my first metal 302. The failure on the crack repair kind of botched my first attempt at a 302 restoration.

The inside took me twice as long maybe more than the outside. There are a lot of screws and pieces to shine in the 302. Here is a look. I even managed to keep the wires pretty professional looking.

[Netdewt]

This looks excellent. Did you take each part out of the inside to clean, then reassemble? I want to do this but it makes me nervous I'll end up with a box full of parts and no phone.

I hope I can get a nice shine out of my handset like yours. It's so dull compared to the rest of the phone.

[Craig T]

Thanks Netdewt, I did take everything out to shine it up. I recommend you

take pictures of everything inside before starting. I was given that pearl of wisdom from several other members here, it has helped me out of quite a few jams.

The handset was not bad to start with again. I cannot get a worn out one to come back this nice. Bakelite handsets are harder to shine in general, I have seen good results with Brasso and Simichrome too. I would like to hear if anyone has tried the Glazit stuff with any success.

This soft black 500 I fixed up had a bad handset on it. Look close at the after pictures and you can see it is still washed out looking. A bakelite handset that is in decent shape to start with helps quite a bit.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=2147.0

[Jim Stettler]

Black shoe polish will bring back the color on worn handsets. I have used a silicon based polish in the past.

I havn't used glazit in years, but I was impressed at the efforts vs results with glazit.
From a resell standpoint (to the public)  glazit (spray on, wipe off ) increased the resell value of old phones by at least $20-30+ . For -5 min. of labor.

JMO,
Jim

[Craig T]

How was the glayzit for staying on the handset Jim? Like say if it was one in use versus one on display. Would glazit be more for a display phone or could it be used without rub-off too?

Does it still show the fine wood flour grains in the handset like the shoe polish does?

[Jim Stettler]

Craig,
It is sold for telephone shine. I only used it on phones I was selling in an antique mall. I never expermented to see how long the shine stayed. Obviously a display phone would shine longer than a daily work-horse. I was impressed enough by glazit to recomend it as a finishing product.
Jim

Not all shoe polish is equal. They have many different bases. I selected silivcon as a durable shine, however I never compared it to the other bases.