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Restoration of a Western Electric 317S

Started by allnumbedup, December 12, 2024, 02:57:18 PM

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allnumbedup

I wanted to complete the story of the WE 317s I purchased for it's unusual transmitter. I orginally posted in the 'solid back transmitter' thread and did not want to clog it up further:

317S with D12758 Transmitter

I restored the 317s after deciding to remove the unusual transmitter because the phone already was not original and had a replacement Kellogg receiver and--as noted by rdelius-- replacement short arm by Kellogg as well.  I left this short arm on as found as I had no WE replacement.  I shined the original Balkelite and black paint. Then, I removed paint splatter, applied analine dye to the wood, paste waxed without stripping for a lightly shiny finish.  I photocopied an orignal WE "dated inside rectangle" decal and made a new water slide one.  I added a marked WE bulldog transmitter, a WE reciever with worn markings, and an old repro receiver cord. Of note, the previous holes on the front would suggest this phone originally had a WE transmitter arm with a rectangular base. Also, the screwhead in the middle of the inside schematic suggests to me that the angle of the writing shelf was changed too so it might have been updated from a long transmitter arm at some point.

I used the information here to rewire the phone to work:
LB to CB

I have not done this before so can't say for sure it is all kosher but i can endorse that it works and did not mess up the orginal wiring for the next guy or gal. I believe the wiring as found followed the original schematic and the capacitor and coil were working. I used the L1 and condensor terminals for tip and ring. I attached a DSL filter dongle with an RJ11 jack to allow connection to a station cord with modular connections onto these terminals.  (I do not think the DSL filter serves a purpose but was a well made connector I had available to use by adding spade terminals.)  I then jumped the one LB terminal located on the inside shelf along the back of the upper compartment to COND terminal in order to power the transmitter with line voltage and without a battery.  The other LB terminal I jumped to the L1 terminal I used previously without changing the existing wiring. I left the magneto connected so that the ringer rings on cranking AND on an incoming call.  I know it may be  inadvisable but--- on hook with the case closed--- I can't map how the voltage would reach internal components or a person.  As wired, the phone works but there is a 12 second delay in ending a call if the other end doesn't hang up. I think this may have to do with the capacitor or coil holding open the line for a time.

The phone is now making a voyage via international priority mail to Switzerland after selling it on Etsy.
Analog Phones for a Digital World

HarrySmith

Nice job. Looks great. You "made" a water slide decal for it? How did you accomplish that? Inquiring minds want to know!
Harry Smith
ATCA 4434
TCI

"There is no try,
there is only
do or do not"

allnumbedup

Harry: I bought a pack of 'water-slide decal" printer paper on amazon.  Then I took a WE oak ringer box with a nice decal, laid it on my scanner and scanned it. Then I printed the scan on the label paper.  Used Krylon clear spray paint to coat the label three times per label package instructions. Once it dried, I cut it out and soaked it in water then slid/laid it on the finished wood. (I watched a youtube video first.) Next time I would photoshop out the wood background on the label to heighten the contrast on the final product.
Analog Phones for a Digital World

TelePlay

#3
For reference, Old Phone Works in Canada sells several different water slide decals. This is one WE decal they are selling.

Photoshop is always an option to creating a decal or cleaning up a scan of an existing decal.

One can Google "clear water slide decals" to find options, many from Amazon, or eBay.

The best part, the satisfying part of this hobby is creating our devising ways to reproduce something from raw materials that one doesn't have to complete a project.