Author Topic: FrankenPhones AKA the Kludge of the Month Award (Read 44452 times)

HowardPgh · « **Reply #75 on:** October 15, 2012, 03:46:35 PM »

I didn't think a W.E. dial would fit an AE40. Seems to be too much stuff on the back of the W.E. dial.
Howard

AE_Collector · « **Reply #76 on:** October 15, 2012, 07:26:15 PM »

I have never tried but an AE40 is fairly roomy at that point so I would think that it would fit.

Terry

AE_Collector · « **Reply #77 on:** December 22, 2012, 11:39:35 PM »

We don't have a "Kludge" Topic...do we?? How about this one? Now it may not be badly done but seeing a Dial Phone that also has a Magneto usually spells "Kludge" for me. I think we talked about a similar phone on ebaY a month or two ago.

Any other good Kludge's out there that need to be in the spotlight?

Terry

http://www.ebay.com/itm/290832306688

Vintage Automatic Electric Company Chicago Rotary Dial Wall Phone Telephone Wood

US $59.95

stub · « **Reply #78 on:** December 23, 2012, 12:25:07 AM »

Terry,
I didn't know they made a AE 40 in wood.

Prototype

I guess he had to loose the bar magnets to make room for the dial and induction coil.

stub

AE_Collector · « **Reply #79 on:** December 23, 2012, 12:28:41 AM »

AE 40 in wood was what I was thinking as well! Then throw in some plastic insulate wire and all that is missing are some tie wraps!

Terry

stub · « **Reply #80 on:** December 23, 2012, 12:39:22 AM »

" Phone is very clean and no restoration has been done to decrease its value."
Nice way to mount a dial!!! stub

LarryInMichigan · « **Reply #81 on:** December 23, 2012, 06:00:04 AM »

All that it's missing is a light bulb socket and lamp shade on top.

Larry

DavePEI · « **Reply #82 on:** December 23, 2012, 07:18:58 AM »

Quote from: LarryInMichigan on December 23, 2012, 06:00:04 AM

All that it's missing is a light bulb socket and lamp shade on top.

Larry

And the beads and toll painting.

Dave

Brinybay · « **Reply #83 on:** December 24, 2012, 01:20:18 AM »

How about this one? Really just a chopped wood wall phone: http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=7989.msg87689#msg87689

newskeeto · « **Reply #84 on:** December 24, 2012, 02:22:10 AM »

I own a pretty good one.

Feast your eyes on this masterpiece: http://tinyurl.com/bwelpfd

AE_Collector · « **Reply #85 on:** December 24, 2012, 11:04:52 AM »

That is one from October, November and December meeting the one a month frequency of this award. Now until I read newskeeto's post it hadn't occurred to me that Kludge and Frankenphone are likely one and the same.

Terry

Dan/Panther · « **Reply #86 on:** December 24, 2012, 01:43:38 PM »

I think you guys miss the point of the device, it's actually a very rare prototype, that AE was developing. When there was no longer a need for the Crank and Magneto, AE figured that people would start to develop rather large left hands from holding the much heavier Receiver/Transmitter combination. So AE decided to attach an adjustable spring to the crank, so you could exercise your right hand and arm to match your left arm. The main flaw to the system was, the coffee cup and doodle pad were making up the difference in arm strength so it never caught on.
Very few remain, and are very rare. The spring was adjustable for greater tension.
D/P

AE_Collector · « **Reply #87 on:** December 24, 2012, 05:22:33 PM »

Well AE wasn't overly well versed in Magneto phones since they grew out of the Strowger Automatic Exchange Company. I guess they had to experiment with Magneto's even on their dial phones!

Terry

zaphod01 · « **Reply #88 on:** February 10, 2013, 11:50:12 AM »

I'm new to collecting and occasionally something shows up on ebay that's baffling. Anyone know what this is? Listing number is 390540112317.

I didn't really think much of it until somebody with 2,400+ feedback bid on it.

jsowers · « **Reply #89 on:** February 10, 2013, 12:11:14 PM »

It looks like a Frankenphone to me, so your first instinct was correct. It's a WE or ITT 500 with an AE SpaceMaker swivel dial grafted onto it. The handset cord is plugged into the jack for the mounting cord. It would be good for parts if you needed a SpaceMaker dial. Quite an odd looking phone.

In case you haven't heard the term, a Frankenphone is something that's assembled from various and sundry parts that weren't meant to be together. Like the doctor who built the monster of the same name.

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!