Subsets for AT&T apartment phones.

[Greg G.]

I didn't know where to put this question, this was the closet I could find.

Simple question for the more knowledgeable, what subsets do I need for apartment phones?  I have two, one with a dial and one without.

Another question for those who have refurbished and working apartment phones, what do you do with the buttons on the side of the lower part?  Do you just leave them?

[SUnset2]

As far as I know, the "apartment phones" were based on a subset, and contain a ringer, induction coil and capacitor.  The early ones were sidetone, and the later ones were anti-sidetone.

As far as the buttons on the side go, wire the one marked Janitor to a buzzer in the janitor's office, and the one marked Door to your electric door latch, to open the door remotely.  Or just connect them to a local buzzer with a low voltage power supply.  Or just don't hook them up at all.

[TelePlay]

From the TCI library:

WE subset-for-553-apartment-phone

[Greg G.]

Thank you all!  Nice looking phone.  Mine don't have the switch in the front.

[Greg G.]

As far as I know, the "apartment phones" were based on a subset, and contain a ringer, induction coil and capacitor.  The early ones were sidetone, and the later ones were anti-sidetone.

How do I tell if it's sidetone or anti-sidetone?  Both of them have the plate on the mouth piece says it's AT&T. Will either one of those matter?

[TelePlay]

Without pictures of your phone, inside front and back and outside, we don't know what your phone is or if it's even the same as what's shown in the above wiring diagrams, much less side tone or anti-side tone if it indeed has a coil and condenser.

Please post images.

[poplar1]

The model number should be stamped inside the phone. 553 is sidetone; 653 is anti-sidetone. Also, the hookswitch in a sidetone 553 has 3 contact springs. The 653 has 4 contact springs.

[Greg G.]

I think I found it in the bottom part, H-1542?

The diagram says it needs an H-1542 subset.  The upper part diagram says it's 553A sidetone.  Correct?

[HarrySmith]

Actually it is printed on the right side of the diagram, 553A. This is assuming the diagram is original 

[Greg G.]

[Greg G.]

More pics.

[TelePlay]

Based on the 533 wiring diagram and the 3 leaves of the hook switch, I's say it is a side tone phone.

Do you have it hooked up and working?

[Greg G.]

Based on the 533 wiring diagram and the 3 leaves of the hook switch, I's say it is a side tone phone.

Do you have it hooked up and working?

I don't have it hooked up. I learned that the smaller box IS the subset, silly me!  How would I hook it up to the only outlet for the land line?  I'm not sure if some of the wires need to be hooked up.

[Greg G.]

Upper part of phone.

[Greg G.]

Upper part where dial should be (there's no dial in this one).