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Northern Electric N1317A Switchboard

Started by DavePEI, September 24, 2012, 11:27:05 AM

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DavePEI

Hi All:

Thanks to a tip from Sebbell who had noticed a listing on Kijiji for PEI, I am the new owner of this N1317A switchboard. It will take some work - needs wood clean-up and there are a couple of broken switches I will have to replace.

http://pei.kijiji.ca/c-buy-and-sell-art-collectibles-Early-1900s-switchboard-RARE-Antique-W0QQAdIdZ415992673 or

http://tinyurl.com/switchboardpei

I have just picked it up, and got home with the power out - it finally came back on so I can tell you about it.

I took a quick photo with the power out, so it isn't the best photo - perhaps the photos are better on Kijiji for now. I will post better photos as I clean it up.

I got it for a substantially discounted price - the fellow selling it is an Aliant employee who knew of the museum, but had never seen it. He wanted me to get it. Along with the board came a number of freebies, several subsets missing some parts,but all can be repaired, a toggle switch,  operator's headset, some protectors, outside bell, two battery holders for magneto sets, etc.

The 1317As were used by independent farm lines on the Island - they are only capable of 15 lines, one of which has a repeating coil, but are equipped with all the other amenities of the larger boards used on the Island Tel exchanges such as the N1240 I have. This one is outfitted for 10 lines.

Thanks for pointing this out, Sebbell. Incidentally, the gentleman just called me a few minutes ago to tell me though I really don't need them for display, he had 5 or 6 Uniphone #1s and #2s which he is going to donate to the museum. I will pick them up next time I am in town.

I told him I would likely use them for trading fodder  :)

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

DavePEI

#1
Here is a catalogue listing from the T-7 NE catalogue of the switches (keys) needed to rebuild this board, and a photo. One is missing, and the other two have had their knob end broken off.

Even if I can only find a similar switch, even with a different contact configuration, I can use the insert to repair the two I do have, as the bakelite portion removes by taking out one screw in the slot on the right, and the whole knob/actuator portion can be replaced.

This is an NE 272A switch.

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

AE_Collector

Do you think that these switches might have also been used in something else? If only it was the same as those little metal boxes with a key or two in them designed for use as ringer cutoff, exclusion etc.  Then you could hunt one of them down for cheap to replace the switches. Nothing like the switches in the 1240 or 555's etc I guess?

Terry

DavePEI

#3
Quote from: AE_collector on September 24, 2012, 11:38:52 PM
Do you think that these switches might have also been used in something else? If only it was the same as those little metal boxes with a key or two in them designed for use as ringer cutoff, exclusion etc.  Then you could hunt one of them down for cheap to replace the switches. Nothing like the switches in the 1240 or 555's etc I guess?

Terry
Hi Terry:

Two of the switches on a 1240 are the same - those with a turning action - the missing one may be a pull switch the same as also used on the 1240. Being as the other switch is missing, I can't really say. It is possible it was a type 92 switch.

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

DavePEI

#4
Quote from: DavePEI on September 24, 2012, 11:51:27 PM
I can't really say. It is possible it was a type 92 switch.

Dave
Looking at the specs, it is possible I could use a 92B switch as a direct replacement. It has the same contact configuration - the only difference is instead of turning, it would push in, or pull out and lock.

I may have a source of type 92Bs at least one, but hopefully all 3. I will know later today. I would prefer to replace with the original 272Aa, but it may become necessary.

The switch on the door is for the might alarm, the left hand one on the desk is for talk battery and listening in, and the one on the right hand side of the desk is so that you can use an external ring source instead if the magneto. If I can only find two switches, I could conceivable plug the right hand hole.

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

DavePEI

#5
Update:

While awaiting confirmation, it appears I have been able to find two 272As and one 92B to replace these switches. I could be speaking a bit too early, but it looks as though they have been found. I wish I had been able to find three 272As, but the 92B will do as the ring switch on the right of the desk.

I still need wiring information for the talk battery listen in switch on the left of the desk - when I got the board, is looks as though someone had been preparing to replace it, as all its wires had been unsoldered and were loose.

Today I was given some more phones by the fellow who had this - no charge. My incredible lucky streak of the past week continues. I am beginning to feel like a lottery winner must feel! One of the phones I was particularly pleased with:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7671.msg84726#msg84726

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

DavePEI

#6
Hi All:

Today I did an in-depth analysis of what I will have to do to the board.

In answer to my own questions about why the handset is mounted on the side of the board rather than the front as the NE catalogue showed for the N1317A, I discovered someone had gone to a lot of work to move it to the side, and in fact, that the board was originally a N1317 and had been updated at some point.

Curious, I removed the brown fiber board and buzzer from the back of the door. Under, I found the original mounting holes for a separate transmitter and receiver as was on the earlier version. You'd never know from the front, would you?  Someone had painstakingly cut a layer off the front and laminated a new veneer on it to cover the holes.

To the best of my knowledge, the only difference between the 1317 and 1317A was the update to a handset but normally, it was mounted on the front of the door rather than the side of the board.

I machined a new toggle button for the left hand toggle key (lever) on the board which was missing today, and cleaned up the very paint spotted handset and plug.

I am still looking for further documentation on the board. I do have the listings for the board from several NE catalogues. Below is the listing from the T6 1937 catalogue. You can double click on the picture to view it larger to read the text.

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

DavePEI

#7
I have received a PDF of drawings (at least partial) from Paul Simpson. Paul tells me it originally came from Paul Axman. Thank you, Pauls!

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

AE_Collector

Pretty cool Dave. Another GREAT find back on PEI.

Terry

DavePEI

Two keys have arrived for the board, and I have replaced two out of three. Now, comes the fun of tracing out the wiring for the one which was disconnected, and the other key with wires off... But it is on the way!

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001