Just given a phone! (Ericofon?)

[CanadianGuy]

So I was repairing this elderly couple's TV service, and the man is a (retired?) clock repairman/collector. I asked if he happened to have any old phones, as I like looking at them. He said he only has one, and that it's worth around $45 last time he checked. He didn't say what it was, or whether it was even here, so I left it at that.

When I was finishing up, I asked him again, and he went and got it from the basement. By the way his wife described it, I thought it might've been a candlestick, but didn't know what to expect. When I saw it, I forgot what the model was called. I was a little disappointed because I figured it wasn't that old, especially because it had a grey modular cord wrapped around it.

Anyway, as I'm leaving, he asks his wife how much she wants for it. I said wasn't looking to buy it, and can't afford it anyway. The lady says she was very happy with my work, so I could have it! I thanked them profusely and went on my way. It might not be worth a lot, but didn't expect it!

Anyway, here are a couple of pics. Any info or feedback on it would be great. Not that I want to sell it right away, just curious. Thanks!

Edit: Tried numerous ways to upload and it won't work. Imagine a light green Ericofon. Sorry

[LarryInMichigan]

The value of an Ericofon depends largely on the rarity of its color and style.  The world's authority on Ericofons is Richard Rose: http://ericofon.com/.

Larry

[jsowers]

Here's a light green Ericophon that sold recently with 13 bids for $118.70. It was a Touch-Tone version. You didn't say which type you had, rotary or tone. I think the tone ones are worth slightly more because they were made for a shorter time and people can still use them easily on a phone line today.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/172254625671

[CanadianGuy]

Same colour, but this one is rotary. I've found many variations of the dial on ericofon.com but it looks identical to this one:

http://www.supernormalobjects.com/product/ericofon-light-green

[LarryInMichigan]

Same colour, but this one is rotary. I've found many variations of the dial on ericofon.com but it looks identical to this one:

http://www.supernormalobjects.com/product/ericofon-light-green

That phone was made by Ericsson in Sweden.  The ones made by North Electric in Ohio have the number card in the center of the dial.

Larry

[CanadianGuy]

Thanks. That might explain their heavy accents! I haven't tested it out yet. I read that Swedish models may not have ringers.

Edit: nope, no ringer. Would've liked to hear what a Ericotone sounded like

[Jim Stettler]

The TT models {working} are very scarce. The TT pad breaks easily anymore. Just something to keep in mind.
JMO.
Jim S.
(added) there is a simple piece that breaks on the TT dials. Ray K. and Richard Rose were working to re-create this piece.

[dsk]

The Ericophones used in Norway was Swedish, and had a little buzzer in the phone.  The dial was like the one you showed, but numbers only. (reverse for Oslo). Sweden has their own dial numbering.

This picture is from the Norwegian Telemuseum: 
The buzzer could look like this:

dsk

[tipnring]

My daughter picked up one in a garage sale for $10.  Cleaned  up real nice, rotary dial , no ringer.

[Pourme]

Excellent buy....

Here's one on EBAY...... ASKING price $95.00

https://www.ebay.com/itm/222271374320

[HarrySmith]

I'm not the expert on these but I believe that light green is a hard to find color.

[CanadianGuy]

Thanks for all the feedback! I don't plan to sell it, as they gave it to me, and I'd feel guilty turning around and selling it. It's not my first choice for a rotary, but it's still neat!

[unbeldi]

My daughter picked up one in a garage sale for $10.  Cleaned  up real nice, rotary dial , no ringer.

I think the North Electric versions rang with a sharp buzzing sound played through the receiver.

[poplar1]

I think the North Electric versions rang with a sharp buzzing sound played through the receiver.

No, the North Electric Ericofon used an "Ericotone 700",  which was more like a tweeter. And yes, it sounded through the receiver.

Diagram on page 2 of manual:

http://pdfs.telephonearchive.com/gsps/ericofon_manual.pdf

[unbeldi]

No, the North Electric Ericofon used an "Ericotone 700",  which was more like a tweeter. And yes, it sounded through the receiver.

Diagram on page 2 of manual:

http://pdfs.telephonearchive.com/gsps/ericofon_manual.pdf

How is that different from my description ?

The key point is that it doesn't have a ringer because it uses the receiver.  Perhaps you didn't like my description of the sound it makes.