How do you take the bakelite back plate off, Automatic Electric Wall

[phonetech87]

Hi;
I have been trying to take the bakelite backplate off of this Automatic Electric wall phone and I am having a hell of a time. I dont want to break the back plate. The screws are completely loose yet teh plate is not sliding off.

Any tips or tricks to help me out is appreciated.

Thanks
Ben

[rdelius]

That telephone is an AE type 35 set. Unscrew the 2 large screws on the front and unscrew the coller around the hookswitch plunger.The cover should come off. Do not mess with any of the screws on the back

[phonetech87]

Ingenious....
Da Daaa

Thank You
Ben

[Jack Ryan]

Did you verify that it is an AE 35? I can't tell from straight on front pictures.

It looks like it used to have a hook latch - does it have a straight line ringer?

Thanks

Jack

[phonetech87]

Hi Jack. Sorry but for some reason your reply ended up on my spam file.
What do I look for to see if it has a straight line ringer?

[Jack Ryan]

Hi Jack. Sorry but for some reason your reply ended up on my spam file.
What do I look for to see if it has a straight line ringer?

A picture of the side (vents or not) will tell if the case is AE 35 or not.
A picture of the insides will tell if the base is AE 35 or not and the type of ringer.

A straight line ringer has the clapper on a pivot, a frequency ringer uses a flat spring instead.

Jack

[paul-f]

What do I look for to see if it has a straight line ringer?

The ringer model number and frequency may be marked on the unit. Catalog info on the 35 and ringers is found in AE catalogs including 4055-A:
https://www.telephonecollectors.info/index.php/search?q=ae+catalog+4055-a

The ringer info is on page 39.

[phonetech87]

Here is a photo of my AE50 at the top and the AE35, one I was referring to in my question, at the bottom. You can see the vents on the top phone and the bottom (the one I needed to take apart) has no vents.

I like to thank everyone for their comments.

Ben