Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Candlestick Phones => Topic started by: shortrackskater on August 04, 2020, 07:43:42 PM

Title: Well what did I buy? Stromberg-Carlson brass
Post by: shortrackskater on August 04, 2020, 07:43:42 PM
I bought this yesterday off Craigslist.
I just don't know enough to spot true originality, but some of this appears original to me. Both receiver and transmitters have been replaced with stuff from the 80's and had newspaper stuffed behind the transmitter!
The box has a generator, ringer and network in it, and some kind of toggle switch crudely cut to poke out. From what I know, I think this probably was just a ringer with the generator and not the network. I didn't look for a date on that yet. The box is "tongue and groove."
I paid $65 for everything.
Title: Re: Well what did I buy? Stromberg-Carlson brass
Post by: rdelius on August 04, 2020, 08:36:55 PM
Your hookswitch appears to be missing Is the bottom cover missing also?. The receiver is an earlier type, it might be older than the stick. I do not think the price is bad though
Title: Re: Well what did I buy? Stromberg-Carlson brass
Post by: shortrackskater on August 04, 2020, 10:07:15 PM
I do have the bottom cover. I'm not sure what type of hookswitch goes in there, or if there's a reproduction I can get?
Funny they just SAT the network in there! It looks 80's as well. It appears there was a metal baffle cut out of the receiver housing where the speaker was stuffed in.
I'm not sure if its worth trying to return it to original or just polish it up, rewire it and leave the parts as is? I'd do a better job of installing the network of course but it's sort of nice it fits in the ringer.
Title: Re: Well what did I buy? Stromberg-Carlson brass
Post by: rdelius on August 04, 2020, 10:38:51 PM
No reproduction of the switch is available that I know of. A long rod with a split ball goes down the hollow  shaft and rests  on a lever that moves the contact blades. Someone might have a photo. I would try to neaten up what was done and use it.
Title: Re: Well what did I buy? Stromberg-Carlson brass
Post by: FABphones on August 05, 2020, 02:22:11 AM
Is there a date on the newspaper, or any clue to it's age? Might give you an idea when the changes were done.
Title: Re: Well what did I buy? Stromberg-Carlson brass
Post by: shortrackskater on August 05, 2020, 11:35:25 AM
Quote from: FABphones on August 05, 2020, 02:22:11 AM
Is there a date on the newspaper, or any clue to it's age? Might give you an idea when the changes were done.

Yes dates on newspaper were 1980, same as the date of the transmitter and speaker and probably the network.
I have a spare deskphone hook switch and it nearly fits in the bottom of this candlestick. I think if I drill one hole it it, the rod will actually go through properly to work.
I'll have to search here on the forum and see if I can find a similar phone. I'm curious when it was made.
Title: Re: Well what did I buy? Stromberg-Carlson brass
Post by: shortrackskater on August 07, 2020, 09:19:38 PM
More questions.
The main "tube" on the receiver is not metal. It feels like plastic or perhaps bakelite? Anyone know more on what that should be made of?
And does anyone ballpark dates for the phone and the ringer box/magneto? (Do I call that a generator or magneto?)
Thanks!
Title: Re: Well what did I buy? Stromberg-Carlson brass
Post by: rdelius on August 07, 2020, 11:06:57 PM
The handle might be composition (similar to 78rpm records,hard rubber (brownish) or bakelite on later production. The telephone could be from the late 00s to as late as the 30s . Generator or magneto  both are used. That receiver might be earlier than the telephone it is on
Title: Re: Well what did I buy? Stromberg-Carlson brass
Post by: shortrackskater on August 08, 2020, 12:29:45 AM
Quote from: rdelius on August 07, 2020, 11:06:57 PM
The handle might be composition (similar to 78rpm records,hard rubber (brownish) or bakelite on later production. The telephone could be from the late 00s to as late as the 30s . Generator or magneto  both are used. That receiver might be earlier than the telephone it is on

Thanks for the information. :)
Title: Re: Well what did I buy? Stromberg-Carlson brass
Post by: shortrackskater on August 17, 2020, 07:01:31 PM
I decided this candlestick phone was beyond my ability to restore.
So I sold it on eBay and kept the ringer/magneto for a future phone.
In my listing, I described the phone best as I could and added numerous photos. After a 3 second "bidding war" it sold for $102. The three bidders all had phone collector names, which basically showed me this phone was more original than not.
Thank you again all for the information.
I'd still like an "original" WE candlestick phone one of these days but it's difficult to determine what's original and what's not.  :-\