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#81
Telephone Troubleshooting and Repair / Re: WE 554 won’t ring
Last post by keithi70 - April 18, 2024, 09:58:14 AMYes, the ringer was previously working with both the Ooma Telo and the Dialgizmo. I've tried moving the ringer slider to the right and left to see if it'll ring in any position and nope...nothing. Is there a chance the ringer might be stuck somehow? Is there a way to test it?
#82
Telephone Restoration Projects and Techniques / Re: What is this phone? And th...
Last post by HarrySmith - April 18, 2024, 08:11:14 AMJust to reiterate, you should try to avoid sending it to someone to restore it. Besides saving a lot of money there is always the possibility of the phone being damaged in shipping. See our eBay bad packing topic for examples. Also. it is only original once. I would get it working and simply clean it. Once it is working you can super glue the crack as already suggested.
#83
Vendors, Vendor Services: Offerings, Experiences and Feedback / Re: Im new here help with a fu...
Last post by HarrySmith - April 18, 2024, 08:01:06 AMYou can do it yourself. It is not that difficult. If I can do it anybody can. I had no experience with telephones when I started in the obsession.....errr...hobby. Plenty of people here willing to offer advice & help.
I need to warn you about Phoneitis. It is an incurable progressive disease. We all here have it. You will soon be looking for a different color or a different maker. It goes on from there.
I need to warn you about Phoneitis. It is an incurable progressive disease. We all here have it. You will soon be looking for a different color or a different maker. It goes on from there.
#84
New Member Introductions / Re: New member
Last post by HarrySmith - April 18, 2024, 07:57:34 AMHi EJ. Welcome to the forum. Your phone can be made to work with very little effort. The first thing we need is pictures to identify it. Here is a topic on posting photos:
https://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?board=84.0
https://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?board=84.0
#85
Telephone Troubleshooting and Repair / Re: WE 554 won’t ring
Last post by HarrySmith - April 18, 2024, 07:53:25 AMWas the ringer working previously with the Ooma & Dial Gizmo?
#86
Telephone Restoration Projects and Techniques / Re: What is this phone? And th...
Last post by countryman - April 18, 2024, 07:09:53 AMWhat RDPipes said.
Chances are good the phone would ring happily away if you connected it to an analog phone line. Dialing out may only work if the line still accepts pulse dialing. Be prepared that the transmitter (microphone capsule) might have degraded, resulting in low volume and noise on the other side of the line. Replacement capsules should be available. To unscrew the mouthpiece it may be required to push an awl or other small tool into the tiny hole on the side of the mouthpiece to unlock a spring mechanism.
The crack in the zamak shell is not an easy fix, I'd suggest to apply a small amount of super glue on the inside, then press the crack together e.g. with a strap wrench.
The phone in my avatar picture is a German W48 from the same period.
Chances are good the phone would ring happily away if you connected it to an analog phone line. Dialing out may only work if the line still accepts pulse dialing. Be prepared that the transmitter (microphone capsule) might have degraded, resulting in low volume and noise on the other side of the line. Replacement capsules should be available. To unscrew the mouthpiece it may be required to push an awl or other small tool into the tiny hole on the side of the mouthpiece to unlock a spring mechanism.
The crack in the zamak shell is not an easy fix, I'd suggest to apply a small amount of super glue on the inside, then press the crack together e.g. with a strap wrench.
The phone in my avatar picture is a German W48 from the same period.
#87
Telephone Restoration Projects and Techniques / Re: What is this phone? And th...
Last post by RDPipes - April 18, 2024, 06:31:12 AMQuote from: Elcjn4 on April 18, 2024, 04:23:55 AMOmgosh Thank you! Now I know where to start.. I don't know if I should send it off to be repaired. So it will work in my home ( or IF it would) or just leave it as is... I'd love to hear it ring a ding! I like the "earthing"button it makes me want to put people on hold.. HA! Is your pic a type of this phone too?
Hello and welcome. Restoring your phone to its former glory will take many hours and elbow grease and expertise just to restore it aesthetically, being there's a pretty bad crack in its case but, it can be done where it would be invisible. It shouldn't be much trouble getting it's insides cleaned up and back to working but, it could be an adventure not to mention costly to have all this done with the hopes of not having to replace faulty parts. I think it's best for you to learn how to work on these telephones and others yourself, because you'll not only gain irreplaceable knowledge but, gain money in your pocket from not paying someone else to restore the phone. There are many (as you can see) articles explaining techniques of repairing and restoring finishes etc. on the forum. It's an endless bank of information for anyone wanting to work on and collect telephones.
#88
Telephone Restoration Projects and Techniques / Re: What is this phone? And th...
Last post by Elcjn4 - April 18, 2024, 04:23:55 AMOmgosh Thank you! Now I know where to start.. I don't know if I should send it off to be repaired. So it will work in my home ( or IF it would) or just leave it as is... I'd love to hear it ring a ding! I like the "earthing"button it makes me want to put people on hold.. HA! Is your pic a type of this phone too?
#89
Auction Talk / Re: ATEA Model 51
Last post by Elcjn4 - April 18, 2024, 04:07:38 AM #90
Telephone Restoration Projects and Techniques / Re: What is this phone? And th...
Last post by countryman - April 18, 2024, 02:17:55 AMThis is a Belgian ATEA model 51: https://www.matilo.eu/the-phones/1926-1945-bakelite-ww2/atea-model-50-51/
The button is an earthing button. It connects one of the line wires to a third, earthed wire. This system was often used in European private branch exchanges, e.g. as a signal to toggle between inside and outside lines.
The Belgian telephone industry, located in Antwerp ("Anvers" in French, as seen on the label) stayed with this pre-war design for a while. A very similar type was also used by the Belgian state phone co. RTT. The quality of the instruments was good, while the look was quite conventional. When they were eventually decommissioned in the 1970ies, they were bought up by trading firms to be sold as "antique phones" in North America as well as parts of Europe. Often the black paint was stripped and the metal shell was copper plated for an even more "antique" look. This, and the neat metal handle of the RTT models brought them the nickname "Belgian Kettle"
Others were decorated with ornamental stickers reading "Bell mfg. co.", even if the were made by a competitor.
Your phone still has its original look what makes it somewhat rare on the international market.
The button is an earthing button. It connects one of the line wires to a third, earthed wire. This system was often used in European private branch exchanges, e.g. as a signal to toggle between inside and outside lines.
The Belgian telephone industry, located in Antwerp ("Anvers" in French, as seen on the label) stayed with this pre-war design for a while. A very similar type was also used by the Belgian state phone co. RTT. The quality of the instruments was good, while the look was quite conventional. When they were eventually decommissioned in the 1970ies, they were bought up by trading firms to be sold as "antique phones" in North America as well as parts of Europe. Often the black paint was stripped and the metal shell was copper plated for an even more "antique" look. This, and the neat metal handle of the RTT models brought them the nickname "Belgian Kettle"
Others were decorated with ornamental stickers reading "Bell mfg. co.", even if the were made by a competitor.
Your phone still has its original look what makes it somewhat rare on the international market.