Time-O-Phone Telephone Timer Watch

[SUnset2]

Here is an unusual telephone accessory.  It is a Time-O-Phone telephone watch.  I got it on Ebay. 

It mounts on the dial of the telephone.  It fits a Western Electric dial well, but is too loose on an Automatic Electric dial.  It is designed with a lever on the finger stop, so that when you dial the telephone, it winds the watch.  The button on the bottom resets the call timer, so you can see when you are getting close to 3 minutes. 

It is made in Switzerland, though the movement is a cheaper type, with only one jewel bearing.  The movement is made by Sperina.  The case is aluminum.  Based on a web search, Rensie appears to have been a distributor of watches from various movement suppliers.

[tubaman]

A very nice find!

[RDPipes]

I was watching this and was going to bid but, had too many irons in the fire as usual,
I'm glad it ended up going to you sir. I must keep my eye out for another one.

[AL_as_needed]

That is really neat, a classy phone add-on for sure.

[Westrex]

Dude that's a cool addition to a Western Electric. I suppose it could be an alternative to calling the telephone number for the time (202/762-1401).

[SUnset2]

Dude that's a cool addition to a Western Electric. I suppose it could be an alternative to calling the telephone number for the time (202/762-1401).

When I got it, the nut on the back was loose, and the winding mechanism didn't work. The watch also wasn't running. I fixed the back so the gears meshed, and added a bit of light oil to the pivots, as if it were a dial. It keeps reasonable time, within a couple minutes a day, but wouldn't replace the time number.

BTW, In Seattle, the time number was TIme 4-1111, though the last 4 digits could be any numbers.

[Westrex]

Here's my version  . Made with a Western Electric 500, cardboard, some tape, and a watch.

[tubaman]

Here's my version  . Made with a Western Electric 500, cardboard, some tape, and a watch.

I think with slightly more careful trimming of the cardboard you'd never know the difference.   

[countryman]

Interesting that it (the original one) is made in Switzerland, I have never seen one in Europe.

[HarrySmith]

Yes, if you trim the cardboard and the watch case it would look fine. After doing that you might try it in an open fingerwheel. It may fit in there perfectly 

[Westrex]

I might make an improved version  . Now, where did I put those scissors...

[Robert Gift]

Dude that's a cool addition to a Western Electric. I suppose it could be an alternative to calling the telephone number for the time (202/762-1401).

For a good time, call  (303) 499-9111
(Actually, the best.   National Bureau of Standards and Time)