Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Talk => Wooden Phones => Topic started by: Sargeguy on November 19, 2012, 06:27:56 PM

Title: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on November 19, 2012, 06:27:56 PM
I've started this thread to provide examples of fake or reproduction wooden wall phones.
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on November 19, 2012, 06:44:48 PM
Two reproductions on eBay, I believe these are by PHONECO:

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-KUsL5CQ6Oxc/UKrFCTtnl-I/AAAAAAAAYz0/ouPPnHc-e58/s512/%2524%2528KGrHqJ%252C%2521q%2521FBZQt%252B%2529FIBQodY%252Bj2lw%257E%257E60_3.JPG)

://www.ebay.com/itm/121023943257 (//http://://www.ebay.com/itm/121023943257)

(https://lh3.googleusercontent.com/-SnKteoxjHHI/UKrFCSZb7eI/AAAAAAAAYzw/gQwidlZaDAc/s912/%2524%2528KGrHqZ%252C%2521ogFBvNMg%252Bh6BQqcPN5kHw%257E%257E60_57.JPG)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/160921595472 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/160921595472)

What to look out for:
-These reproductions have a tag, usually above the bells, that says "Bell Telephone Company" in Hawthorn script.  Real examples have WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY CHICAGO NEW YORK or similar on the decal, which is located towards the bottom of the cover ringer box.
-Spacers separating the box from the backboard
-Cloverleaf shaped foot for the transmitter bracket
-Odd hanger above the transmitter arm
-hook holding the battery box closed.  Real ones open from the top or are removed altogether to change the batteries.
-Modern magneto
-Transmitter with no tag
-Non-WE transmitter
-The ridge on the writing shelf is a separate piece
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on November 19, 2012, 06:56:57 PM
Here is a discussion of a TYPE 85 which can best be described as a "problematic restoration" ::)

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7916.0 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7916.0)
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: wds on November 19, 2012, 08:59:56 PM
Great post.  I was actually watching the first one.  I knew the receiver wasn't right, but i thought it might be a GPO.  Nice to know it's a Phoneco before I bought it.  I can usually tell a repro candlestick a mile away, but the wood phones are a little harder to identify.
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: poplar1 on November 19, 2012, 09:23:40 PM
No wires going to the "battery box" below the writing shelf.

Even at phone shows I have seen other wooden phones that have  a magneto subset as the only old parts. New backboard, new shelf, repro transmitters, etc. They often have no wires--or routed out slots for the wires--on the  back of the phone.
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: rdelius on November 19, 2012, 09:57:08 PM
At least these have old but modified Bell Telephone Mfg (belgium)wood. These cabinets had a handset with a bakelite cradle on the top box.The seperate rec and tx arm were added
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: SimpleJim on January 24, 2013, 02:58:34 PM
Check this out
and wooden telephones

link removed
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Babybearjs on February 04, 2013, 01:33:20 AM
OK, what about this:
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: twocvbloke on February 04, 2013, 06:48:09 AM
Quote from: Babybearjs on February 04, 2013, 01:33:20 AM
OK, what about this:

Handy for when you can't possibly lift your arm to look at your watch I suppose... :D
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Owain on February 04, 2013, 07:47:36 AM
Quote from: Babybearjs on February 04, 2013, 01:33:20 AM
OK, what about this:

Flogging and hanging offence, that one.
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Owain on February 04, 2013, 08:31:52 AM
Here's another of similar ilk

http://www.ebay.co.uk/itm/150990818115

including the 'origina' handset.

Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on February 05, 2013, 06:57:31 PM
(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-seV6gsjQQgQ/URGc6RD28bI/AAAAAAAAZG8/Odo1UydxhjU/s640/644733152_o.jpg)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/300857569000 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/300857569000)

Another fine example of the PHONECO reproduction wood wall phone.  It has the characteristic Belgian footed ringer box, brassed out and reproduction parts.  It also has one bidder.
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on March 05, 2013, 06:03:56 PM
Another PHONECO special:
(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-j_aJU7hHE4U/UTZ8fwNSiqI/AAAAAAAAZbA/lJMp9C2RkhQ/s692/%24%28KGrHqN%2C%21hkFDwGgTL%2CGBRNU%29TyPh%21~~60_57.JPG)

http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-ANTIQUE-BELL-TELEPHONE-MFG-COMPANY-WITH-THE-WORKS-/321084271783?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac21d2ca7 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/RARE-ANTIQUE-BELL-TELEPHONE-MFG-COMPANY-WITH-THE-WORKS-/321084271783?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item4ac21d2ca7)
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on March 16, 2013, 07:08:51 PM
...and another:

http://www.ebay.com/itm/140934381498 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/140934381498)
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on March 16, 2013, 07:12:30 PM
This one has a real WE top box, but that's about it.  Everything else is either repro or wrong
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: rdelius on March 16, 2013, 08:59:08 PM
Belgium backboard and battery box
Title: Re: Western Electric?
Post by: poplar1 on April 08, 2013, 08:51:20 PM
fake 1317 "This telephone has no internal works"
--note the finger joints (not)

"Antique Western Electric Oak Wall Telephone Case Cathedral Top Note Desk"

http://www.ebay.com/itm/151020934609 ( dead link 03-09-21 )

Title: Re: Western Electric?
Post by: poplar1 on April 08, 2013, 08:55:46 PM
fake 51AL and  fake 150G---nothing Western Electric on either one
Title: Re: Western Electric?
Post by: poplar1 on April 08, 2013, 09:08:29 PM
fake 2-box---all new wood other than the top box---don't see anything Western Electric
Title: Re: Western Electric?
Post by: rdelius on April 08, 2013, 10:04:08 PM
#4 looks like a GPO set,Next to  last posting is old wood but Bell Telephone Mfg belgium (backboard and battery compartment.Ebay needs to stop key word spamming example Kellogg telephone not Western Electric. I get enough bad hits to sift through anyway
Title: Re: Western Electric?
Post by: wds on April 08, 2013, 10:08:38 PM
It's great that you're showing these examples of fake wood phones.  I know I've watched a couple of these phones on Ebay, not realizing that they were fakes.  After I've purchased and worked on a few more wood phones I'll be better able to tell the difference, but in the meantime it's scary to think that I might fall victim to one of these phones.  Thanks for the education!
Title: Re: Western Electric?
Post by: Bill on April 09, 2013, 12:43:32 PM
Here is a variant from our local Craigslist, at http://phoenix.craigslist.org/evl/atq/3722285597.html ( dead link 03-09-21 )

The ad is titled "wenstern antique telephone - $1"
The text of the ad describes it as
OLD VINTAGE ANTIQUE WENSTERN ELECTRIC WOOD WALL MOUNT UP TELEPHONE $ 150 obo

It is not old
It is not vintage.
It is not antique.
It is not "Wenstern Electric"
It is not "Western Electric"
It may be wood (most likely pressboard)
It is not $1

Other than that, a pretty nice item. Hurry! Send your money right away!

Bill

Title: Re: Western Electric?
Post by: poplar1 on April 09, 2013, 01:07:58 PM
Actually, it *is* Western Electric or their later name AT&T Technologies. Model 2951. WE bought the oak boxes from a company in Indiana IIRC  and added WE parts. They sold for about $279.

I talked to the owner of that company one time; he had left over oak boxes and said he could sell me some that had not been cut for the dial opening.

http://paul-f.com/weDesignLine.html
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on August 23, 2013, 10:06:18 PM
Antique Western Electric Wooden Wall Phone .Cool Old Phone / Displays Great!

http://www.ebay.com/itm/4612331817 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/4612331817) ( dead link 03-09-21 )

Displays Great if your display is "How to make a phone from PhoneCo replica parts"

There is a real Western Electric transmitter faceplate and the replica receiver is fairly valuable.  The box is not WE.  That lightning arrestor is a tip-off, as is the round thing on the side.  Also the lack of Western Electric markings and dates stamped into the side.  WE never used metal tags on three box telephones, they always have stamped logos.  If they used metal tags it was really late, and only on magneto or ringer boxes and those tags were very small.
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: poplar1 on August 23, 2013, 10:44:17 PM
http://www.ebay.com/itm/300953049111
works better.

Here's a revealing shot of the inside: repro hookswitch and an air gap between the transmitter and the rest of the phone.
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on August 24, 2013, 08:26:07 AM
I didn't even get as far as the insides! 

The vast majority of WE two boxers did not use brackets to mount ringer bells
The magneto has been repainted and had a fake sticker added.
ALthough "pony" phones were made from three-boxers, they were removed from the backboard in the process.
WE Two boxers almost always used a #5 or #10 arm to mount the transmitter
WE battery boxes were not held on with latches in that manner
The lip on the writing shelf is created by gluing two parts of wood together.  They routered a groove into the shelf and glued the lip into it.  Real examples used multiple pieces but the lip is always carved from the lower part of the shelf, not glued on.
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: rdelius on August 24, 2013, 11:28:09 AM
Another BTM (Belgium) battery box and backboard
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: wds on August 24, 2013, 12:04:26 PM
I'll have to admit that I was attracted to this one.  I guess I was attracted to all the glitter - much like the women I dated.  Glad I didn't fall for this one!
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: wds on August 24, 2013, 12:06:29 PM
Someone made the mistake I almost made.  BIN for $325
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on August 31, 2013, 10:40:49 PM
$391 dollars!!! Yikes! I did not warn about this sooner because I thought it was an obvious piece of junk.  Someone got burned!  Here are some recent sales (last year or so) that are more indicative of the true value of a WE 2-boxer:

As removed-from-service 240 with 7-digit transmitter and OST receiver and it cost me $400.

(https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-47zM0knLRII/UImoOPRO2uI/AAAAAAAAYpU/CwowAd5RS-o/s640/WE%2520240%2520_006.JPG)

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7824.0 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7824.0)

I bought an intact version of what this is supposed to be for $305.

(https://lh6.googleusercontent.com/-GkaivflWI5g/UJMGstLQsmI/AAAAAAAAYro/ngSImqbqXjA/s512/%2524T2eC16NHJF8E9nnC6IONBQiGWvcZ1%2521%257E%257E60_57.JPG)

My New England Telephone 2-boxer with beveled transmitter was $500.  

(https://lh5.googleusercontent.com/-ueF_QRT9HXk/UKVpTzhUGSI/AAAAAAAAYxA/4kssGNPXZp0/s576/DSC_0219.JPG)

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7925.0 (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7925.0)

THESE WERE ALL PURCHASED OFF OF EBAY!!!

There are bargains to be had or nice phones to be bought for top dollar.  Educate yourself and don't throw your money away on junk!
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on September 13, 2013, 07:40:44 PM
FRANKENPHONE:

http://www.ebay.com/itm261286274849 (http://www.ebay.com/itm261286274849)

A mishmash of old parts and reproduction.  Looking at it gives me a headache

Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: zaphod01 on September 13, 2013, 09:14:17 PM
I was just looking at that and trying to figure out what the h*ll it was...

www.ebay.com/itm/261286274849

Gray Paystation stuff is bring big bucks now days.

Might be some salvageable parts...
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: HarrySmith on September 25, 2013, 09:55:52 PM
What a mess! What could the electric motor under the dial possibly be for? The Gray part may be worth what it sold for though.
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: poplar1 on September 25, 2013, 10:29:39 PM
I think it's a newer hand generator rather than a motor.
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: rdelius on September 25, 2013, 10:32:06 PM
Not an electric motor but a magnito.Recognise this set from COT. It was easier to sell a set with a magnito added for  the novilty .Somebody got this for a fraction of what it sold for origionaly.Most of the parts were old but never used togather.
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on September 19, 2014, 05:30:03 PM
STROMBERG and CARLSON???

ANTIQUE STROMBERG CARLSON DOUBLE ISLAND OAK WOOD WORKING WALL PHONE TELEPHONE (http://www.ebay.com/itm/ANTIQUE-STROMBERG-CARLSON-DOUBLE-ISLAND-OAK-WOOD-WORKING-WALL-PHONE-TELEPHONE-/281444669193?pt=LH_DefaultDomain_0&hash=item418768d709)
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: rdelius on September 20, 2014, 11:10:33 AM
Some of the earliest SC receivers were marked Stromberg and Carlson.This set has a American Electric hook.Arm does not look SC either
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on September 20, 2014, 06:15:54 PM
QuoteSome of the earliest SC receivers were marked Stromberg and Carlson.

I think that was when they were in Switzerland? ;D

The backboard, writing shelf and bottom box look very crude. 
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: Sargeguy on March 13, 2018, 07:22:38 PM
https://www.ebay.com/itm/222880154682?rmvSB=true (https://www.ebay.com/itm/222880154682?rmvSB=true)
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: dsk on December 20, 2020, 08:57:37 AM
In Norway, only one model has been made:Tastafon Telemark:(http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?action=dlattach;topic=24597.0;attach=228984;image)

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=24597.msg243944#msg243944
Title: Re: Examples of Reproduction Wall Phones
Post by: countryman on December 20, 2020, 09:43:14 AM
It's German counterpart is the model "Spessart", or DFeAp 392.
(Spessart is a mountain range, DFeAp = Design-Fernsprech-Apparat):
https://www.deutsches-telefon-museum.eu/Design%20-%20Gesamt.htm (https://www.deutsches-telefon-museum.eu/Design%20-%20Gesamt.htm)

You find a model "Oslo" on the linked website as well, but that's a desk phone  ::)