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Old 14th Nov 2021, 6:57 pm   #1
RichInTx
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Default US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Hi UK Guys -

I just got two Bakelite Phones, one is a US and one is Australian. The Australian seems to be working okay, though my line only support Tone (plus the rotary dial number are backwards - perhaps that is a UK thing too).

Anyways I hope to get some suggestions.

1. Line 1 rings, Line 2 doesn't.
2. Picking up either Line 1 or 2 opens the circuit.
3. Volume I'd say is like 10%, if that.
4. I can hear myself in the receiver do no one can hear me on the other side.

My first problem was the wire from base to head set was in awful shape, so I put in standard US line in for testing. That brought the headset alive but just barely.

After removing the old cord from the headset, the head set internal seem "okay" but that is just me looking at it. Hopefully the photos help.
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Old 14th Nov 2021, 7:23 pm   #2
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Quote:
Originally Posted by RichInTx View Post
Hi UK Guys -

I just got two Bakelite Phones, one is a US and one is Australian. The Australian seems to be working okay, though my line only support Tone (plus the rotary dial number are backwards - perhaps that is a UK thing too).

Anyways I hope to get some suggestions.

1. Line 1 rings, Line 2 doesn't.
2. Picking up either Line 1 or 2 opens the circuit.
3. Volume I'd say is like 10%, if that.
4. I can hear myself in the receiver do no one can hear me on the other side.

My first problem was the wire from base to head set was in awful shape, so I put in standard US line in for testing. That brought the headset alive but just barely.

After removing the old cord from the headset, the head set internal seem "okay" but that is just me looking at it. Hopefully the photos help.
New Zealand had the numbers (clockwise) 0,1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9 as opposed to the usual 0,9,8,7,6,5,4,3,2,1 as used in the UK and USA. The NZ dial was identical to the UK dial except for the layout of the digits. The NZ 'reverse' order was also used in Oslo, Norway. Sweden used (clockwise) 1,2,3,4,5,6,7,8,9,0 which is truly 'reversed'. On the NZ/Oslo dials the digit '5' sent 5 pulses and the '0' sent ten pulses - same as the 'standard' UK US dial so not truly 'reverse.
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Old 14th Nov 2021, 7:30 pm   #3
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Ah, thank you Pellseinydd on that information on how the numbers are laid out on the rotary dial!

Hopefully the rest of my Bakelite phone is similar enough to a UK one during the same period for the volume level.

I also have a pre-1930's wall phone. It also works but it does require the battery to be in to hear/talk - otherwise volume is very low and no one can hear you on the other side.

So that got me thinking, perhaps there isn't enough juice in my line to drive this phone. But then I disregarded that idea because the Australian phone works (though perhaps it is really just a New Zealand phone and not actually Australian?).
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Old 14th Nov 2021, 7:55 pm   #4
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Actually, I just sorted it out...

I connected L1 (Blk) & L2 (Red) up to my phone lines. Perfect volume on both ends for me and the test caller. However, no incoming ringing. So then I connected GND up to L2 (Red) and sorted out ringing too. Nothing seemed to blow up or or emit sparks... all other phones on the circuit are still operational too.

Now if I can find some suitable Black 4 conductor wire to properly replace the headset to base wiring..... I'd be surprised if I can find the inside 4 wire the correct color code too.

Perhaps L1 and L2 aren't lines 1 & 2?
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Old 14th Nov 2021, 9:35 pm   #5
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Thumbs up Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Heck, I even found good replacement cords at Old Phone Shop Store
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Old 15th Nov 2021, 1:06 am   #6
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

I can't edit my 1st post but since posting I have found inside by the dialer the manufacturer markings & model number.

A.E Model 24, so an Automatic Electric. Though before this I thought it might have been a AE34.
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Old 15th Nov 2021, 8:03 am   #7
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Not sure if your phone is the AE40, or even the earlier AE34
I guess the AE34
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/f...80868#msg80868

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/f...88410#msg88410

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Old 15th Nov 2021, 12:41 pm   #8
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

It's for sure a AE34, that is inside and part of the bakelite near the dialer. Kind of like it was branded into the bakelite while it was still forming?
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Old 15th Nov 2021, 6:46 pm   #9
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Here are some photos of the one sold as an Australian but I guess that isn't the case and it is New Zealand phone?

Telephone No. 312 (MK 3A).

Interesting that there seems to be a Red X on the schematic on the base.

This phone rings nicely and conversation is clear for caller and receiver. Just a darn shame there is a big hole in the side of the bakelite
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Old 15th Nov 2021, 7:44 pm   #10
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

If it's a 312, shouldn't the button be labelled "call exchange", or did Aotearoa/New Zealand use model numbers differently from the GPO? Certainly, the paster diagram looks like the shared service wiring of a GPO 312.
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Old 16th Nov 2021, 2:50 pm   #11
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

I guess it is really a 330? I found this phone for sell on Vintage Telephone, BRITISH GPO BAKELITE 330 'RECALL' TELEPHONE

But I didn't find "330" on my phone anywhere.

I hope at some point I could find a donor / for parts phone to replace my shell. Though I am not holding out on finding one. I expect it isn't worth what that would cost me - then actually getting it to me unbroken in shipping.
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Old 16th Nov 2021, 3:19 pm   #12
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Any chance of unscrewing the thre bolts holding the workings into the case and exposing the other side of the workings? If there is a metal rectifier (a sort of stripy cylinder for want of a better description) on the area below the dial, this would confirm the chassis to belong to a 312, otherwise you may be correct that the 'phone is a 330 or similar with a base from a 312 and a dial for Aotearoa/New Zealand.

Incidentally, if this 'phone is used with a Dialgizmo, this can be configured to give the correct MF tones for the digits dialled.
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Old 16th Nov 2021, 3:32 pm   #13
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

I suppose I could give that a go. for the sake of "what's there".

Yep, I already have one of those ordered to test with between this phone and my AE34. Along with replacement headset cord and other bits and bobs for the AE34. I paid to much for that Pulse to Tone thingy off Amazon before finding Old Shop Phone. I would have likely saved ~20 dollars in lower price and combined shipping for my other stuff that I got from that online store. Seems I can help but throw away cash! LOL
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Old 16th Nov 2021, 3:40 pm   #14
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

That was easy to get apart for some photos. I hope I got the image you wanted to see...
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Old 16th Nov 2021, 4:18 pm   #15
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Yes, those images confirm that the innards don't match the paster diagram on the base, so a 330 seems the most likely. N diagram N430 shows how this is wired, including the button for earth recall.
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Old 16th Nov 2021, 4:41 pm   #16
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Interesting, thank you for your help.

The dial insert you seen in my photo was behind another one. The one that was on top had penciled Church something or the other. When my daughter first saw it on the table she said, "I want this Jesus phone". But when she was cleaning the plastic cover she liked the "hidden" insert better (but still calls it her Jesus phone). So it seems the phone was in some NZ church (or that is what I assume).

When I hooked it up the 1st time and got a dial tone, I did ask if I could speak to Jesus but no one answered by that name.
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Old 16th Nov 2021, 6:22 pm   #17
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Dialgizmo is the only converter I have found so far that converts NZ (=Oslo) -dials to touch tones with ease.

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Old 16th Nov 2021, 6:36 pm   #18
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

That is the one that the Old Shop Phone sells, the one from Amazon that I got (Oldphoneworks seller) does not seem to be that one. I fear I am in for some disappointment.

My daughter is planning on taking her phone to her moms. Though it took me like forever to explain she wouldn't really be able to use it because mom doesn't have a Land/IP line! I guess she though these phones magically work anywhere LOL
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Old 16th Nov 2021, 7:45 pm   #19
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

Looking at the specification for the current offering from oldphoneworks, named Rotatone EXT, it does say "Configurable for non-standard dial layouts (Sweden, New Zealand)" (and the image looks suspiciously similar to the Dialgizmo), so you may be OK.

I know the original offering from oldphoneworks is inferior to the Dialgizmo as I have examples of both.
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Old 22nd Nov 2021, 8:21 pm   #20
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Default Re: US Bakelite Phone - Low Volume / No Transmision

I got my Oldphoneworks thingy, came from Canada via Amazon. It works, just plugged it up to my A34 and dialed out!

Inside the wall mount RJ-12 box, it has dip switches but no instructions on what they do or how to set it up for different dials - like for my GPO 330. I actually ordered Dialgizmo but it seems that is coming from Australia! Dear lord that is going to take FOREVER to get to me in Texas.
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