Identify "occasional" table wiring. - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

G3VKM_Roger · 14th Sep 2023, 8:54 am

Hi All,

Can anyone ID the device in the two photos attached? I'm told it was found at an auction and was described as an occasional table. My guess are a game of some sort or a bell system?

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Cheers

Roger

D.Finney · 14th Sep 2023, 9:13 am

Part of an internal telephone system?

Silicon · 14th Sep 2023, 10:39 am

There appears to be titles or drawing numbers on those schematics but the picture resolution is too low for anyone to read them.

Do you have a magnifying glass?

G3VKM_Roger · 14th Sep 2023, 11:40 am

I'll try and post some better pix, the two I posted on the VMARS Groups.io forum are a lot better and bigger. How do I get jpeg files of over 2Mb to appear here?

Part of an internal telephone system seems to be a popular suggestion.

Cheers

Roger

G3VKM_Roger · 14th Sep 2023, 3:52 pm

Someone on the VMARS forum gave me this info and a search on Google shows the table and circuit diagrams.

Quote

I have a long standing interest in vintage telephones and I wonder if this could be an Electrophone table? Before radio broadcasting one could subscribe to the Electrophone service and listen to live theatre shows via a telephone line. The following from Bob Freshwater's web page (the NT in the name suggests this equipment was taken over from the National Telephone Company by the Post Office):

The 1928 GPO Rate Book describes the following equipment:-

Tables, Electrophone, NT No. 10
A small wooden table that is C.B. but convertible to LB. It comes equipped for 4 headsets but is expandable to 8.

The table comprises of the following component parts:-
1 x Bobbin, Resistance 70ohm.
1 x Clip No. 10.
1 x Coil, Induction No. 3 or No. 14.
1 x Condenser, M.C. No. 30.
1 x Cord, Instrument No. 351.
2 x Cords, Instrument No. 419.
5 x Hooks No. 17.
1 x Plug No. 406.
2 x Receivers, Headgear No. 3B.
2 x Receivers NT No. 5.
1 x Transmitter No. 17.
A Hook No. 17 would be supplied for each Receiver NT No. 5.

Unquote

Cheers

Roger

Nickthedentist · 14th Sep 2023, 4:01 pm

That’s it! Amazing!

ms660 · 14th Sep 2023, 4:54 pm

Some Electrophone stuff here:

https://www.britishtelephones.com/electrophone.htm

Lawrence.

G3VKM_Roger · 14th Sep 2023, 8:51 pm

Thanks all,

I think we can close the topic now.

Cheers/73s all.

Roger

14th Sep 2023, 8:54 am	#1
G3VKM_Roger Heptode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Southeast Norfolk, UK. Posts: 769	Identify "occasional" table wiring. Hi All, Can anyone ID the device in the two photos attached? I'm told it was found at an auction and was described as an occasional table. My guess are a game of some sort or a bell system? [ATTACH][/ATTACH] Cheers Roger Attached Thumbnails

14th Sep 2023, 9:13 am	#2
D.Finney Pentode Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Wigan, Greater Manchester, UK. Posts: 146	Re: Identify "occasional" table wiring. Part of an internal telephone system?

14th Sep 2023, 10:39 am	#3
Silicon Octode Join Date: Jun 2007 Location: Coulsdon, London, UK. Posts: 1,993	Re: Identify "occasional" table wiring. There appears to be titles or drawing numbers on those schematics but the picture resolution is too low for anyone to read them. Do you have a magnifying glass?

14th Sep 2023, 11:40 am	#4
G3VKM_Roger Heptode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Southeast Norfolk, UK. Posts: 769	Re: Identify "occasional" table wiring. I'll try and post some better pix, the two I posted on the VMARS Groups.io forum are a lot better and bigger. How do I get jpeg files of over 2Mb to appear here? Part of an internal telephone system seems to be a popular suggestion. Cheers Roger Last edited by G3VKM_Roger; 14th Sep 2023 at 11:44 am. Reason: Rq for advice

14th Sep 2023, 3:52 pm	#5
G3VKM_Roger Heptode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Southeast Norfolk, UK. Posts: 769	Re: Identify "occasional" table wiring. Someone on the VMARS forum gave me this info and a search on Google shows the table and circuit diagrams. Quote I have a long standing interest in vintage telephones and I wonder if this could be an Electrophone table? Before radio broadcasting one could subscribe to the Electrophone service and listen to live theatre shows via a telephone line. The following from Bob Freshwater's web page (the NT in the name suggests this equipment was taken over from the National Telephone Company by the Post Office): The 1928 GPO Rate Book describes the following equipment:- Tables, Electrophone, NT No. 10 A small wooden table that is C.B. but convertible to LB. It comes equipped for 4 headsets but is expandable to 8. The table comprises of the following component parts:- 1 x Bobbin, Resistance 70ohm. 1 x Clip No. 10. 1 x Coil, Induction No. 3 or No. 14. 1 x Condenser, M.C. No. 30. 1 x Cord, Instrument No. 351. 2 x Cords, Instrument No. 419. 5 x Hooks No. 17. 1 x Plug No. 406. 2 x Receivers, Headgear No. 3B. 2 x Receivers NT No. 5. 1 x Transmitter No. 17. A Hook No. 17 would be supplied for each Receiver NT No. 5. Unquote Cheers Roger

14th Sep 2023, 4:01 pm	#6
Nickthedentist Dekatron Join Date: Jan 2005 Location: Oxford, UK. Posts: 17,560	Re: Identify "occasional" table wiring. That’s it! Amazing!

14th Sep 2023, 4:54 pm	#7
ms660 Dekatron Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cornwall, UK. Posts: 13,448	Re: Identify "occasional" table wiring. Some Electrophone stuff here: https://www.britishtelephones.com/electrophone.htm Lawrence.

14th Sep 2023, 8:51 pm	#8
G3VKM_Roger Heptode Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Southeast Norfolk, UK. Posts: 769	Re: Identify "occasional" table wiring. Thanks all, I think we can close the topic now. Cheers/73s all. Roger