Author Topic: Bought at local antique mall. (Read 1249 times)

Zombie Dave · « **on:** March 07, 2018, 09:08:50 PM »

Western Electric 1983 I believe. I'm really excited to enjoy this one. Landline is getting hooked up Sunday and I'll be on the lookout for more phones.

Pourme · « **Reply #1 on:** March 08, 2018, 07:11:46 AM »

Welcome to the forum, Dave! You may have a condition called "Phineitis". Very common in these parts. We can help you cope with it here.

Benny

Zombie Dave · « **Reply #2 on:** March 08, 2018, 10:58:27 AM »

I believe you are correct in that diagnoses. I'm currently looking for the cheapest way to add a landline so that I can hear them ring. Cancelled my appointment for Sunday to explore other options if there are any.

zenithchromacolor · « **Reply #3 on:** March 08, 2018, 07:59:55 PM »

I use a home internet-based phone service from Callcentric that costs only $3.90 a month and offers 120 minutes of outgoing calls and a pay per minute service for incoming calls. I have a Grandstream HT-502 gateway that allows me to make calls with a rotary phone. The downside is that all phones must be connected to the gateway, so it requires some wiring work if you want them spread around the house.

Jim Stettler · « **Reply #4 on:** March 08, 2018, 08:17:37 PM »

Quote from: Zombie Dave on March 08, 2018, 10:58:27 AM

I believe you are correct in that diagnoses. I'm currently looking for the cheapest way to add a landline so that I can hear them ring. Cancelled my appointment for Sunday to explore other options if there are any.

x link is a bluetooth gateway to your smart phone. It supports rotary and will let you make and receive calls on your old phone.
Here is an link from amazon. You can get some better deals on ebay.
https://www.amazon.com/Xtreme-Technologies-BT-Bluetooth-Gateway/dp/B00135XU7Q/ref=sr_1_3?ie=UTF8&qid=1520558072

Jim S.

Zombie Dave · « **Reply #5 on:** March 09, 2018, 09:50:36 AM »

All good information. Thank you for replying. That xlink might be the way I go down the road. Ended up with plugging it in to the back of a modem that I picked up at our cable store (Cox).

I actually was able to hear it ring! Sadly, I couldn't hear anything. No dial tone, voice... etc. Fiddling around with the different jacks ( I'm not sure what the correct term is. ), found the one where the handset goes into the phone to be the problem. I was able to hear after moving it a little. It's broken and lose.

I'll be learning how to replace that and where to get replacement parts.

LarryInMichigan · « **Reply #6 on:** March 09, 2018, 10:04:03 AM »

Is the handset connector in the phone broken, or is the little plastic tab broken off of the connector on the end of the handset cord?

Larry

Babybearjs · « **Reply #7 on:** March 09, 2018, 10:59:05 AM »

welcome to the forum.... what part of the country are you in?? with landlines you have basically 2 easy options.... the local phone company, or cable.... cell service too but I don't know much about that...

jsowers · « **Reply #8 on:** March 09, 2018, 01:30:50 PM »

An ivory handset cord shouldn't be hard to find at your local Home Depot or mom and pop hardware store. You're lucky it's ivory. The other colors you won't find anywhere but an online retailer or auction site.

If you would rather restore your current handset cord, you may be able to find a crimper that has different inserts and clear modular plugs for handset and line cords. The plugs are different, with the handset cord plugs being smaller. Look for crimpers in those hardware stores or if you have an electronics retailer nearby, that would be a great place to try. Online you may be able to find some pretty good deals. Here is one on eBay that's just $6.49 including the shipping. As long as you're not going to use it a lot, it's fine to get a cheap one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/232669959090

Zombie Dave · « **Reply #9 on:** March 09, 2018, 04:20:06 PM »

Quote from: LarryInMichigan on March 09, 2018, 10:04:03 AM

Is the handset connector in the phone broken, or is the little plastic tab broken off of the connector on the end of the handset cord?

Larry

The jacks ( I believe that's what they're called ) 616D and 623D both need replaced as they have tabs broken off and are loose as well as the one in the handset.
After messing with the phone for a better part of the morning, I've figured out that by putting a little downward pressure on the clear finger dial, between the number 7 and 8 it'll work! By " work " I mean I can now hear the dial tone. I'm baffled. Lol

Zombie Dave · « **Reply #10 on:** March 15, 2018, 01:56:05 PM »

Quote from: jsowers on March 09, 2018, 01:30:50 PM

An ivory handset cord shouldn't be hard to find at your local Home Depot or mom and pop hardware store. You're lucky it's ivory. The other colors you won't find anywhere but an online retailer or auction site.

If you would rather restore your current handset cord, you may be able to find a crimper that has different inserts and clear modular plugs for handset and line cords. The plugs are different, with the handset cord plugs being smaller. Look for crimpers in those hardware stores or if you have an electronics retailer nearby, that would be a great place to try. Online you may be able to find some pretty good deals. Here is one on eBay that's just $6.49 including the shipping. As long as you're not going to use it a lot, it's fine to get a cheap one.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/232669959090

I'll have to get that just to have.

HarrySmith · « **Reply #11 on:** March 15, 2018, 03:03:26 PM »

Quote from: Zombie Dave on March 09, 2018, 04:20:06 PM

The jacks ( I believe that's what they're called ) 616D and 623D both need replaced as they have tabs broken off and are loose as well as the one in the handset.
After messing with the phone for a better part of the morning, I've figured out that by putting a little downward pressure on the clear finger dial, between the number 7 and 8 it'll work! By " work " I mean I can now hear the dial tone. I'm baffled. Lol

There must be something going on with the back of the dial. Have you cleaned and checked the contacts in the switch pileup? A picture of the back of the dial may help identify something amiss.

Zombie Dave · « **Reply #12 on:** March 15, 2018, 03:12:30 PM »

Quote from: HarrySmith on March 15, 2018, 03:03:26 PM

There must be something going on with the back of the dial. Have you cleaned and checked the contacts in the switch pileup? A picture of the back of the dial may help identify something amiss.

I've removed the dial mechanism and pulled off the plastic cover.
I haven't read up on how to clean the connection points on the switch pileup, if that's what I think you're talking about.

HarrySmith · « **Reply #13 on:** March 15, 2018, 03:20:21 PM »

Yes, you can clean them by passing a piece of stiff paper between them, like a business card. It looks a little gunked up, may need a good cleaning. There are topics here about cleaning dials. I always send my problem dials to Steve Hilsz. He will clean & calibrate any dial for $6.00. Always does excellent work!

Zombie Dave · « **Reply #14 on:** March 15, 2018, 03:32:27 PM »

Quote from: HarrySmith on March 15, 2018, 03:20:21 PM

Yes, you can clean them by passing a piece of stiff paper between them, like a business card. It looks a little gunked up, may need a good cleaning. There are topics here about cleaning dials. I always send my problem dials to Steve Hilsz. He will clean & calibrate any dial for $6.00. Always does excellent work!

I've been on Facebook far too long. I keep wanting to like posts. I took a screenshot of his name for future use.

If your visit to the Classic Rotary Phones Forum was enjoyable or helpful, you may tell us by making a small donation. The donation can be made safely via PayPal and will help to off-set the costs of the Forum operation. Thank you!