[Herald1360]

If there's no induction coil, presumably there's line current through the receiver when the phone is off hook. Won't the dial anti tinkle contacts remove this current at commencement of dialling and switch it back as the dial reaches its stop, thus causing the loud clicks experienced?

Maybe a couple of inverse parallel diodes (perhaps in series with a capacitor) across the receiver might reduce the ear'ole bashing effects by limiting the signal volatge. You could try silicon, schottky or germanium depending on desired clipping level.

I'm not a telephone expert, so this may be nonsense......