Hi all - first post so please be gentle :)
I picked-up this phone on Ebay a couple of years ago and have finally got around to taking a decent look at it.
Having searched the internet I can't find any reference to one exactly like it.
I have found other two line AE phones but none in brown and none with this switch configuration.
The switches are 'LINE', 'HOLD2', 'HOLD1'
Any info would be greatly appreciated.
Also, the transmitter ring has some dents and I can't unscrew it - any advice on how to get it undone please?
A couple more photos for you.
That will be a very nice phone once it is restored. Congrats!
Quote from: HarrySmith on March 05, 2018, 01:17:40 PM
That will be a very nice phone once it is restored. Congrats!
Any thoughts on how to deal with the gold parts.
I have done some very gentle cleaning to get them to where they are but I don't want to risk rubbing off any of the original plating.
:)
Oh geez...another one (person who stumbles into coloured AE sets in hard to find models)! I'm just jealous...again! Welcome to the forum and thanks for starting with pictures!
The transmitter bands especially can be dented up and very hard to remove. Lots of advice around the forum, others will have ideas. Put in freezer, have a strap wrench to use on it etc. On the receiver end there is a tool to remove the centre but freeing the Bakelite pad but then you have a brass cap that also has very fine threads on it attavhingbit tge tge recriver handle.
Gold plating May be corroded off in places, hopefully not though. Phone is essentially an AE 1A with the switch base added making it an AE 31 I believe? There are several versions of bases with different switch configurations, likely denoted as 31A, 31B, 31C.
Looks like a March 2018 Find of the Month competitor for sure. Yeah, I know, you found it a couple of years ago but you just "refound it"!
Wonderful find!
Terry
Hi Terry,
Sorry to make you jealous.
I did have a suspicion that I'd found something quite unusual.
I probably shouldn't mention that it only cost me £40 !
I'll search around for other posts on the transmitter band.
The receiver cap does come undone with the brass band attached.
I haven't tried too hard to get the centre nut undone as I haven't got anything the right size to fit in it.
Thanks for the 'find of the month' suggestion, but I think it'd be a bit cheeky on something I've had a couple of years.
tubaman ,
Man me and Terry can't get a break anywhere ;D !! Great find !! Here's the best my camera will do . AE Catalog 4055 A , 1937 , pgs. 14 & 15 list information on your phone . I have one below in black with working ringer. Hope this helps. stub
left click on pics to enlarge
I would guess that that phone would get somewhere close to US$1000 in auction here.
Larry
Brilliant!
So now I just need the Black, Walnut (is my one Mahogany or Walnut?), Chinese Red, Old Ivory, Jade Green, Nile Green, Royal Blue, Orchid, and Maroon versions in each of Gold plate and Chromium trim to complete my collection!!
I'll start looking ;D ;D
Quote from: LarryInMichigan on March 05, 2018, 03:22:55 PM
I would guess that that phone would get somewhere close to US$1000 in auction here.
Larry
Eek!!
That definitely makes it the most valuable phone in my collection.
I'm a bit afraid to touch it now!! ;)
Quote from: tubaman on March 05, 2018, 03:31:21 PM
Eek!!
That definitely makes it the most valuable phone in my collection.
I'm a bit afraid to touch it now!! ;)
You should be...you aren't a Certified Collector. I am. Send the phone to me! ;) ;D
I saw your initial post, and knew AE Collector (Terry) would die a little inside when he read that you have a Mahogany one! Sure enough... ;)
1920s-1950s colored AE stuff is probably top end on the value scale of phone-related items. There are others, such as one-off sets and prototypes, but that's hard to group together.
Yeah this has been the worst forum I've ever been involved with. Over the years there has been one lucky collector after another showing up here pretending to not know what it is that they found at an antique store for $50, or no one else bid on eBay and it was snagged for $19.99. Mahogany 40's, walnut 34's, whole collections of coloured 40's, 50's, 34's, 32's found in rotting train cars in someone's back yard. I'm outa here! :)
But not until I see if tuba man can find any date codes on anything. If you see any stamped on numbers/letters on the base or any components get a picture of it. I might be able to help you narrow a date down from that. Don't see anything on the paparazzi label tha5bhelps though. This could go back as early as the late 1920's but there wasn't a replacement for multi line phones from AE until the AE 47 in about 1947 or so. And the 1A Set actually continued in production into the early 50's so the multi line base likely was continued at least until the late 1940's when the AE 47 became available.
What's the tuba story tubaman? I may have to change my handle to saxman. If you haven't noticed already, not too much is off topic around here.
Terry
Hi Terry,
I'll see if I can look for some date codes for you later today.
I do remember that from the original Ebay photos it wasn't clear that this was a Mahogany model - it looked almost black. I thought that as it has gold trim it was probably brown of some sort, but I didn't ask the question is case the seller confirmed it was brown on Ebay. Yes, I know that's rather naughty.
I now feel that posting anything about other phones in my collection is going to be somewhat of an anticlimax after this one!
As for the tubaman name - yes I do play one in both a concert band and a symphony orchestra.
It's a Boosey and Hawkes Imperial EEb model from around 1983. I also own a Cerveny BBb and a Boosey BBb sousaphone but they rarely get played now (regrettably).
:)
I should be careful what I say being that you are new here...of course I am joking about being indignant about everyone's great finds...I too have had my occasional bouts of good luck!
AE phones older than the model 40/50 seem to have less likelihood of locating date info but give it a try.
As you say, an AE with Gold trim is a pretty good indicator of a coloured phone but...Gold Matte was an available option on black Bakelite sets as well. Just like chrome trim was an option though chrome on black is really quite common whereas gold on black very rarely seen. And of course one has to be able to recognize polished brass bands versus the gold matte as well.
I toured England, Scotland and the Isle of Mann three times for a month each time in the 1970's (71, 74 & 77) including a week or longer in Germany in 1977 while I was a member of a 50 piece Concert, Marching and 16 piece Dance Band. On one visit, likely 1974 we toured Boosey and Hawkes factory near London. I still remember it quite well!
Terry
Terry,
Worry not sir, your comments were taken entirely as you intended. ;D
I've had a good scan for dates and can't find a thing.
The only numbered parts that I spotted were the receiver capsule coils that each have "D-28151" on them, but I suspect that is a part number.
I even took the dial out, which I suspect is not the original anyway being that it is black.
Would I be right in thinking that the most likely part to be dated is the only one I can't get to - ie the transmitter capsule?
Another question if I may - what should be on the base? Would it have had a rubber gasket type surround like the AE40? If so I assume finding hens teeth is easier!!
(I do have an AE40, but don't worry it's the standard black one - I still think its gorgeous though).
:)
James,
Yes it came with a black rubber gasket . You can e-mail Mr. Gary Golf and tell him what you have and see if he has one to fit your phone and if he will ship to you. Rubber gasket is reasonably priced but look out on your shipping. Enjoy your phone , LUCKY 8) gdgoff@gmail.com
AE was very lacking in date stamps . stub
Stub/Terry.....Is this a Bakelite or metal base? Is the cradle metal? I would strip off what is left of the Gold Matee and just polish the BROWN Bakelite. If the cradle is metal shine it up, hopefully Bakelite and you have very nice displayable Phone. Getting the gold back on would be much more expensive than the phone itself.
Even on one leg, that would have been on my workbench the next day ....Doug
Doug,
Bakelite on both phone and switch base and metal cradle. You better take it easy in that shop ! 8) stub
Would going to a chrome cradle and accents be an option? That may be an easier fix.
I have one that has the chrome but a little different switch set up.
Roody,
8) SWEET 8) You have been holding out on us!! Terry don't look !! stub
Quote from: stub on March 06, 2018, 04:28:46 PM
Doug,
Bakelite on both phone and switch base and metal cradle. You better take it easy in that shop ! 8) stub
thanks Stub.....being a good patient. So with it all being Bakelite, this could be stellar Phone in an afternoon's work....or less.....Doug
Quote from: Roody on March 06, 2018, 05:02:21 PM
Would going to a chrome cradle and accents be an option? That may be an easier fix.
I have one that has the chrome but a little different switch set up.
Quote from: stub on March 06, 2018, 05:06:41 PM
Roody,
8) SWEET 8) You have been holding out on us!! Terry don't look !! stub
Gary Zap has been a well known member of the Clubs for many years. Beautiful set.....Doug
Quote from: Doug Rose on March 06, 2018, 05:51:18 PM
Gary Zap has been a well known member of the Clubs for many years. Beautiful set.....Doug
Not to mention some of the finds he comes up with and shares with us here!
Quote from: Roody on March 06, 2018, 05:02:21 PM
Would going to a chrome cradle and accents be an option? That may be an easier fix.
I have one that has the chrome but a little different switch set up.
I think so. I know of a mahogany 1A that I hope to add to my collection one day but I've been working at it for years now. It is mahogany with gold trim. It originally seems likey to have had a matching mahogany cradle that was broken and replaced with a chromed metal cradle for some reason. Maybe a chrome one was on hand to get it working again...or wrong finish was ordered from AE?
I have speculated what to do if I am able to acquire it and my thought was to convert the bands and fingerwheel to chrome to match the cradle and then I can use the gold matte bands and fingerwheel on a 34 or 35 set even if it is just a black Bakelite Phone.
Terry
Terry - I know someone who could make good use of a gold fingerwheel ::)
Stub - Thanks - I'll email Gary and see how I get on.
As for the gold on my phone, I'm going to do some more gentle polishing as I really like the Brown/Gold look.
My phones only tend to get very lightly 'restored' (clean, light polish, cords if needed, dial lube etc).
I actually don't really mind if they look their age a bit (not too much though!).
:)
To the best of my knowledge Gary has two sizes of gasket rings made. The small one fits round base AE's such as the type 21 candlestick and 1A Cradlephone. The larger size fits both AE 34 and 40. I don't have any AE's with this extension base so I can't check to see if the larger size gasket would fit. Gary must know if it does or not.
The majority of the AE Dial fingerwheels are brass under the black paint. If you choose to just clean the metal work as much as possible without repeating anything I would look at stripping the fingerwheel to brass and matching it to the phone as much as possible. It was a workhorse Phone in an office somewhere and I like its war torn look! A big bonus having that excellent looking cloth covered cord on the base.
Does the plate around the three buttons appear to be removable? It almost looks like gold finish applied to the Bakelite.
Terry
Terry,
I'll get in touch with Gary and see what he has. If he has a gasket that's a bit long I'm sure it could easily be shortened.
The 11 way cord is in amazing shape with only a couple of rust marks on it - probably from contact with the base which has clearly been somewhere damp at some point.
It's got all of the spade ends intact and the tie cord too.
I'll investigate the switch-plate further. I've just tapped it with my finger nail and it sounds like metal.
:)
Gary has the gaskets made locally so could probably get a length of the material or have one custom made if it is a different size. I'm going to place money on a large ring for the AE40 being a perfect fit.
Terry
James,
The plate is removable . I can't remember if you can get it out by gently prying up one tab or both. Here's the 1st one I could reach to show a pic . I think I got a gasket from Gary a few years ago to fit this phone. The length of the gasket, installed , is 21 1/2 " . Be sure to tell Gary it is a AE -31-b Two-line Monophone . stub
Thanks for the pictures Stub!
Terry
stub,
Excellent - thank you.
:)
SO gorgeous. This model has evaded my collection so far. :(
How did you get on with the gold restoration?
Very very nice phone. :)
Quote from: FABphones on November 18, 2021, 11:08:01 AM
SO gorgeous. This model has evaded my collection so far. :(
How did you get on with the gold restoration?
Very very nice phone. :)
It is lovely and I feel very lucky to own it.
Other than a light clean I've not done anything to the gold for fear of making it worse.
I can happily live with it in its current well used but unrestored condition.
:)
Wow!
Just saw this post for the 1st time; cool!
I had never seen another colored AE Type 31 multi-Line when I found a bunch of them about 10 years ago. As I recall, I found Orchid, Ivory, Mahogany, Red, Blue, and Jade Green
Here is the Brown & Gold: before and after
@kleenax,
They are beautiful and look to have survived the ravages of time somewhat better than my one.
:)
This is what they looked like when I found them; not so nice!!