Coin box dials - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

trevwgb · 28th Feb 2016, 12:50 pm

Hi All
I have been trying to restore an Irish AB box with helpful info from forum members. However, the snooker seems to be finding a coin box dial, i.e. a number 11,13,20, 22 or 23 to swop for the standard dial on the phone I am using for the set up. After several months of regular looking on ebay no luck so far. Do these still exist, other than those still attached to the original equipment, or is this a lost cause?
Thanks
Regards
Trev

Pellseinydd · 28th Feb 2016, 4:16 pm

It is very much a case of waiting until one comes up. Occasionally a telephone with a coinbox dial such as a Tele 238 will come up but not be described as such - I saw a pyramid shaped Bakelite phone describe as 'Forked phone' for sale on eBay starting at £50.00. Photo was a bit fuzzy but I thought it was a Tele 238 with coinbox dial due to several features - black dial finger wheel, 'tubular' (not braided) cord to handset and a very thick plaited lead to the wall (sadly cut off in the middle). I gave it a bid of £75 as I reckoned it was worth that if I wasn't right but wasn't desperate to get it if it wasn't a Tele 238. I got it for £55 and when it arrived, I was correct, it was a Tele 238 with a coinbox dial that had been used with a wall mounted 'Renter's' coinbox but the tele being sat on a table rather than on a wall bracket hence the 7 way plaited 'rope' cord!. Just a case of keeping your eyes open and checking out for wrongly/mis-described dials/telephones. One will turn up so don't give up hope.

Pellseinydd · 28th Feb 2016, 4:43 pm

Forgot to mention - you never know what you'll find at one of the Telecoms Heritage Group's Swapmeets - next one is on Sunday 10th April 2016 at the Avoncroft Museum just off the M5 south of Birmingham - easily reached from most parts of the UK by motorway. Some-one is very likely to have a coinbox dial there.

Ian
CNet 0352 2345

steve102 · 28th Jul 2016, 2:27 pm

Hi Ian,

I’ve followed this thread with interest as I also have an Irish A/B box with the internal terminal strip and no bellset. I bought it at a NVCF over 20 years ago and it’s been in my loft ever since so I think it’s high time I made an attempt at getting it working!

I have a Tele 283 fitted with a Dial No 23 and a chassis from a Tele 332 which I’d like to mount inside the A/B box. Also I’ve obtained a length of 8 way trailer cable for connecting the box to the telephone.

I’d appreciate a wiring diagram or any help or advice you could give me to get the setup working.

Regards,
Steve

Pellseinydd · 28th Jul 2016, 8:16 pm

Steve,

I've PM'd you with some information that I'm working on. I've got plenty of info on A/B box connections literally hundreds of N diagrams for conncting A/B boxes many of which aren't on Sam Hallas N diagram list as I've been collecting the for years - the first N diagrams were 43 years old when I started - next year is the 'Centenary of the N Diagram' !!

28th Feb 2016, 12:50 pm	#1
trevwgb Tetrode Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Haywards Heath, West Sussex, UK. Posts: 81	Coin box dials Hi All I have been trying to restore an Irish AB box with helpful info from forum members. However, the snooker seems to be finding a coin box dial, i.e. a number 11,13,20, 22 or 23 to swop for the standard dial on the phone I am using for the set up. After several months of regular looking on ebay no luck so far. Do these still exist, other than those still attached to the original equipment, or is this a lost cause? Thanks Regards Trev

28th Feb 2016, 4:16 pm	#2
Pellseinydd Heptode Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Flintshire, UK. Posts: 707	Re: Coin box dials It is very much a case of waiting until one comes up. Occasionally a telephone with a coinbox dial such as a Tele 238 will come up but not be described as such - I saw a pyramid shaped Bakelite phone describe as 'Forked phone' for sale on eBay starting at £50.00. Photo was a bit fuzzy but I thought it was a Tele 238 with coinbox dial due to several features - black dial finger wheel, 'tubular' (not braided) cord to handset and a very thick plaited lead to the wall (sadly cut off in the middle). I gave it a bid of £75 as I reckoned it was worth that if I wasn't right but wasn't desperate to get it if it wasn't a Tele 238. I got it for £55 and when it arrived, I was correct, it was a Tele 238 with a coinbox dial that had been used with a wall mounted 'Renter's' coinbox but the tele being sat on a table rather than on a wall bracket hence the 7 way plaited 'rope' cord!. Just a case of keeping your eyes open and checking out for wrongly/mis-described dials/telephones. One will turn up so don't give up hope.

28th Feb 2016, 4:43 pm	#3
Pellseinydd Heptode Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Flintshire, UK. Posts: 707	Re: Coin box dials Forgot to mention - you never know what you'll find at one of the Telecoms Heritage Group's Swapmeets - next one is on Sunday 10th April 2016 at the Avoncroft Museum just off the M5 south of Birmingham - easily reached from most parts of the UK by motorway. Some-one is very likely to have a coinbox dial there. Ian CNet 0352 2345

28th Jul 2016, 2:27 pm	#4
steve102 Pentode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Derby, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 108	Re: Coin box dials Hi Ian, I’ve followed this thread with interest as I also have an Irish A/B box with the internal terminal strip and no bellset. I bought it at a NVCF over 20 years ago and it’s been in my loft ever since so I think it’s high time I made an attempt at getting it working! I have a Tele 283 fitted with a Dial No 23 and a chassis from a Tele 332 which I’d like to mount inside the A/B box. Also I’ve obtained a length of 8 way trailer cable for connecting the box to the telephone. I’d appreciate a wiring diagram or any help or advice you could give me to get the setup working. Regards, Steve

28th Jul 2016, 8:16 pm	#5
Pellseinydd Heptode Join Date: Jul 2007 Location: Flintshire, UK. Posts: 707	Re: Coin box dials Steve, I've PM'd you with some information that I'm working on. I've got plenty of info on A/B box connections literally hundreds of N diagrams for conncting A/B boxes many of which aren't on Sam Hallas N diagram list as I've been collecting the for years - the first N diagrams were 43 years old when I started - next year is the 'Centenary of the N Diagram' !!