I recently acquired this phone and want to learn more about what I have.
There is no ID plate on the top.
From the look of the insides, I'm assuming this could be a more modern reproduction of a vintage AE phone that is setup for home use. Any idea how old it is? What exact model it might be?
I haven't tried to access the inside of the coin vault yet. Being as it doesn't have a key hole, it there an easy way for me to open that area? I can hear coins in there when I move the phone.IMG_15071.jpg IMG_15061.jpgIMG_15051.jpgIMG_15171.jpgIMG_15141.jpgIMG_15151.jpg
Welcome to the forum. Interesting conversion. I would hazard a guess it was done by Phoneco but I could be wrong. Not sure about that vault door, I would probably remove the screws from the rear and take the vault out to see inside.
I was thinking along those same lines too Harry.
I have a similar AE which came with the same style vault door. A later replacement held on via a spring to rear. Try a strong magnet or plastic tool to see if it can be gently encouraged to fall forwards. That is how mine was removed.
Surprised you can hear coins.
Keep us up to date - with photos - as this progresses.
Thanks for sharing.
:)
Sounds like it is likely a Phoneco repro. Here's there catalog with a similar phone: https://archive.org/details/OldTelephonesPhonecoIncNovember1997/page/n13/mode/1up
Quote from: FABphones on June 24, 2022, 11:42:40 AMI have a similar AE which came with the same style vault door. A later replacement held on via a spring to rear. Try a strong magnet or plastic tool to see if it can be gently encouraged to fall forwards. That is how mine was removed.
The door is not magnetic.
I used a suction cup to gain access to the coin stash and ended up with $8.15!
289281742_10166840582205355_8368263472515225204_n.jpg
Quote from: Pixelhead on June 24, 2022, 12:22:09 PM...and ended up with $8.15!
Excellent! :D
Same spring as mine.
If you do a CRPF search you will find several examples of PhoneCo refurb phones, here is one:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=15616
Does it work?