What magneto is this?

[Bill]

I pulled this out of a mangled 317-BA wood wall phone, which Meyer suggests should have a 48A (5-bar) magneto. I can't find any markings at all except "TEL. CO. PROPERTY" stamped on the bottom in green ink.

Bill

[kleenax]

I pulled this out of a mangled 317-BA wood wall phone, which Meyer suggests should have a 48A (5-bar) magneto. I can't find any markings at all except "TEL. CO. PROPERTY" stamped on the bottom in green ink.

Bill

Yep, really mangled Bill, and ALL of the magnets are missing!  Looks like a (former) 5-bar Northern Electric to me, but could very well be Western Electric. Unfortunately, it's pretty much junk without the magnets.

[wds]

Actually I think the magnets are down inside that box.  I have a couple of those and they work quite well.

[Phonesrfun]

Actually I think the magnets are down inside that box.  I have a couple of those and they work quite well.

I go with the missing magnet theory.

[wds]

Give it a crank and check the voltage.

[Phonesrfun]

Actually I think the magnets are down inside that box.  I have a couple of those and they work quite well.

WDS:

Do you have a photo of the ones you are talking about?  I really think there is only room for the armature in that assembly in the photo.

[DavePEI]

Actually I think the magnets are down inside that box.  I have a couple of those and they work quite well.

WDS:

Do you have a photo of the ones you are talking about?  I really think there is only room for the armature in that assembly in the photo.

Unquestionably a standard 48A but missing its magnets and clamps. They are U-shaped magnets that clamp over and around the top of the assembly. Junk unless you can find a matched set of magnets and two clamps. These were made before the advent af Alnico magnets and the resultant smaller magnetos made possible by them.

Dave

[wds]

Crap, your right.      I was thinking of the magneto's like the picture below.  That one is either a 50A or 48A. 

[AE_Collector]

No room for magnets in that one so they threw them away and just hoped that no one would notice....

Terry

[DavePEI]

Crap, your right.     I was thinking of the magneto's like the picture below.  That one is either a 50A or 48A.  

48A - the 48A had three holes in the bottom clamp - the 50A only two....

[Bill]

Someone stole the magnets??  Well, that explains why I didn't recognize it.

I guess I need to part out this 317 - or maybe sell it as-is to a fancy-home decorator.

Many thanks for the help, everyone. This was making me nuts.

Bill

[AE_Collector]

Or convert it into a radio?

That's what happens when "us" as kids get access to an old phone, we swipe the magnets to play with!

Terry