Fun project with the kids - need guidance

[Ohliuw]

As we are trying to get our kids educated about the times when people were creative and hard working, we decided to do a little fun project - we want to connect 3-4 old crank wooden phones to a small switchboard that will be a DIY.

I already got 2 phones - one JYSDK and one Northern Electric.

They seem to have all the internals, but obviously need to be cleaned and restored.

What's the best starting point for the phones? Also a guide for basic switchboard?

[dsk]

Welcome!
The simplest switchboard may be a field telephone exchange. 
Maybe this thread may be of interest?

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=21824.0

[Ohliuw]

Thanks.

These are the 2 phones we have thus far

the jydsk is hard to crank - I guess  it needs to be cleaned and lubed?

The Northern electric makes weird sound. I guess the same - clean and lube (grease?)?

[Ohliuw]

Welcome!
The simplest switchboard may be a field telephone exchange. 
Maybe this thread may be of interest?

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=21824.0

I found only this one within 100 miles - I guess it would work, but seems really heavy and bulky? Any idea how much it would weigh?

[poplar1]

Could weigh 400 pounds if it has all the internal parts. However, many of these have been gutted, and are for looks only.

Also, it appears that there are single cords rather than cord pairs. This would indicate that it might be for an answering service or for taking orders -- not for connecting two phones together.

For connecting magneto phones to a switchboard, you need a magneto switchboard, which has drops rather than lights.

Simplist thing would be to connect several magneto phones (also called "local battery" phones) together, as if on an old party line, without a switchboard. Or get a field phone switchboard, as others have suggested.

[Ohliuw]

...For connecting magneto phones to a switchboard, you need a magneto switchboard, which has drops rather than lights.

Simplist thing would be to connect several magneto phones (also called "local battery" phones) together, as if on an old party line, without a switchboard. Or get a field phone switchboard, as others have suggested.

Thanks. I only found a couple on eBay, would these work?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225529165905
https://www.ebay.com/itm/256099804270
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266189640200

Also, there are some military form Eastern Europe, would these work?

Any other places to buy?

Thanks

[Ohliuw]

Bad luck. The Bell exchange looked promising and I was planning my trip to PA, but when I contacted the guy on eBay, he said that he had sold it elsewhere...

Not much to be found.

Was looking at these two types that are available - can any of them be adapted to work with magneto phones?

1. https://www.britishtelephones.com/sa8120.htm

2. https://www.ebay.com/itm/314331499105

[poplar1]

Thanks. I only found a couple on eBay, would these work?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/225529165905
https://www.ebay.com/itm/256099804270
https://www.ebay.com/itm/266189640200

1. No
2. Maybe
3. No

#1 has 5 drops in upper corner for the 5 trunks (outside lines). But it is for "common battery" phones (pick up the receiver to signal the switchboard  attendant). There is a version of this that has all drops for both the "trunks' (outside lines) and the PBX "lines" (phones with hand generator and batteries).

#2

#3 Alarm panel, not a switchboard

[poplar1]

Was looking at these two types that are available - can any of them be adapted to work with magneto phones?

1. https://www.britishtelephones.com/sa8120.htm

2. https://www.ebay.com/itm/314331499105

Of these last two, #1 is the attendant console that goes with a large British electromechanical system for rotary dial phones.
#2 is an intercom.

[Ohliuw]

1. No
2. Maybe
3. No

#1 has 5 drops in upper corner for the 5 trunks (outside lines). But it is for "common battery" phones (pick up the receiver to signal the switchboard  attendant). There is a version of this that has all drops for both the "trunks' (outside lines) and the PBX "lines" (phones with hand generator and batteries).

#2

#3 Alarm panel, not a switchboard

Excuse my ignorance (total newbie to antique phones), but basically what you are saying for #1 is that the what's circled in red on the image below (I guess relays?) is compatible with magneto phones, but the blue part is for dial phones? Does it mean that I could theoretically replace the blue ones with the red type, and it would work for magneto phones, or there is more to that?

I think the switch you refer to is discussed here :

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=12328.0

Any idea where I can find one on the east coast Canada/US? My search for field magneto switchboard doesn't yield many results at all...

[Ohliuw]

Of these last two, #1 is the attendant console that goes with a large British electromechanical system for rotary dial phones.
#2 is an intercom.

These KTAS DF switchboards seem to popup at auctions in Europe for dirt cheap - in this particular one, it was sold as a lot with a magneto phone (same as the one I have). They should work, no?

https://m.lauritz.com/da/auktion/omstillingscentral-k-t-a-s-vaegtelefon-fra-jysk-telefon-sam/i4137991/

This is how it looks inside:
https://frankfurt.apollo.olxcdn.com/v1/files/nottx8caehu13-BG/image;s=2250x4000

[dsk]

Your phones need some oil, do not use any kind of synthetic oil! Oil for sewing machines, bikes or weapons are usually OK.
Start with getting the phones working. you do not need any exchange with only a few phones.
The maximum on one line I have hard about was 16!  It was on an island in northern Norway.  They called the other party with ring signals like Morse alphabet.  A battery in each phone, 2 wires, and that is all that is needed.  About all receivers will do if one is missing (pictures).

[FABphones]

...this particular one...

This is how it looks inside...

Interesting thread but could you please attach screenshots of the items you are discussing to your posts. For example the first link on your post above shows several items.

When links go dead without attached images it destroys the thread as future readers will be unable to see what items were being discussed.

Thanks.

[Ohliuw]

Interesting thread but could you please attach screenshots of the items you are discussing to your posts. For example the first link on your post above shows several items.

When links go dead without attached images it destroys the thread as future readers will be unable to see what items were being discussed.

Thanks.

Will do later on. I just couldn't figure out how to do it on my phone. Will do it in a PC.

[Ohliuw]

Your phones need some oil, do not use any kind of synthetic oil! Oil for sewing machines, bikes or weapons are usually OK.
Start with getting the phones working. you do not need any exchange with only a few phones.
The maximum on one line I have hard about was 16!  It was on an island in northern Norway.  They called the other party with ring signals like Morse alphabet.  A battery in each phone, 2 wires, and that is all that is needed.  About all receivers will do if one is missing (pictures).

Thanks, having them wired together is the backup plan but still prefer the "operator"

I usually use the 3in1 motor oil available in America for oiling old mechanisms. It's the oil of choice in jukebox communities.

Since you are in Norway, do you have any info in the KTAS exchange? My research shows it's from the 1920s, but I am not sure if this is true