GPO 232 - Common Faults and things to look out for.

[LTTGSecretary]

Morning,

I have recently been eying up a GPO 232 in a local antique shop which appears, externally, to be in good condition and is priced reasonably. It is of local origin, which is of added interest to me personally.

It appears to have not had anything done in the way of conversion work - The original cloth cable to the wall has simply been cut at the end. I would be planning to replace the cable with something a little bit more modern, preferably pre-wired with a BT plug!

That aside, if I were to buy it I'd like to have some idea of what to expect in the way of problems. I've bought instruments blind before and they've usually been better than expected, but I am worried I may've just been lucky! I'm wondering what common faults tend to arise with 232s that it would be good to bear in mind, especially if negotiating a price?

Thanks in advance!

- Dan

[Roger Ramjet]

Hi Dan,

Setting aside the components which can be fixed, the main thing with bakelite is that if the original high gloss finish is no longer there then it is impossible to restore it back. This may not matter to anyone other than a purist but worth noting in any price negotiation.

Rog

[Nickthedentist]

Is the 232 one that needs an external "bellset" to actually function? Often mounted in the hallway, coated with a dozen layers of paint, and left behind when a redundant phone is recovered. Note that it's more than "just a bell". If this isn't supplied, you could explain that you'd need to source one separately to make it work.
https://www.britishtelephones.com/t232.htm
https://www.britishtelephones.com/bellset.htm
https://www.britishtelephones.com/bellst26.htm

The dial sticking is often a problem with any old phone, and can sometimes be used to negotiate a discount. But a stripdown, clean and light lubrication in the right places would solve that.

EDIT: After more reading, I've remembered that it's actually the identical-looking 162 which needs an external bell and ASTIC (coil) to work. I think the 232 only needs a bell and a capacitor which is easy to workaround. You could rob one from a tatty, 1970s 700-series phone, for example.
https://www.britishtelephones.com/t162.htm

[LTTGSecretary]

Hi all,

Sounds like I might not be able to negotiate on those points - the Bakerlite is in good condition and it's one of those instruments with the bellset mounted directly beneath it. The dial doesn't appear to be sticking either!

Although I may not be able to get a lower price, it does at least mean it's in reasonable condition! What's the going rate for a good, unrestored, 232 these days?

[Nickthedentist]

Not sure, but either way, it sounds like you need to ask what the price of a 232 with matching bellset 26 is.

[LTTGSecretary]

Yes, that's fair! I've looked at eBay but obviously that's not always the best indicator.

[Nickthedentist]

But the "sold" prices are a realistic indicator of what the vendor might achieve if they were to list it there.

[Dave Moll]

In the absence of the bellset (which can be mounted underneath, given the correct screws) the only function that will be missing is the ringing on incoming calls.

Unlike the pillar (candlestick) telephone, which relies on the bellset to provide the transmission circuitry, the 232 contains all the circuitry except an internal ringer.

If you consider the asking price to be reasonable, I would encourage you to go for it.

Instructions for wiring a BT plug are available at https://www.britishtelephones.com/pstconv1.htm#232.

[LTTGSecretary]

I caved and it is now back home. I've wired in a new cord which has successfully seen me send and receive calls via a LiGo Bluewave, but having an issue where the 'phone doesn't ring upon receiving a call. I imagine this is probably common and there's probably something I've not done so I'll trawl through the forum to try and find a solution!

Incidentally, the bellset is a No.25.

[Dave Moll]

Bellset 25 is intended for use with telephone 162, which does need an external anti-sidetone induction coil, whereas a 232 doesn't. How do you have the bellset and telephone wired at present? To use just the bell and series capacitor in a bellset 25, the terminals to use are T/L2 and E (according to diagram N525), which should be connected across the incoming line (normally red and white wires of the line cord).

[LTTGSecretary]

Ah, I've now realised it's a 162 I'm dealing with - I've just noticed the markings indicating as such!

I don't intend taking it apart again tonight, so can't confirm how it's wired, but hopefully that clarifies something?

[Dave Moll]

Lucky chap! They're much rarer than 232s, especially complete with BS25.

The appropriate wiring instructions for 162 are, unsurprisingly, at https://www.britishtelephones.com/pstconv1.htm#162.

You might also find diagram N262 useful.

[VintageTel]

May I ask what you paid Dan?

[Roger Ramjet]

Originally Posted by VintageTel

May I ask what you paid Dan?

A specialist vintage & modern telephone stockist has a Pyramid phone which is similar.

Price £189.00

I saw some in a Brighton antiques shop 10 x years ago & they were over £200.00

Rog

[LTTGSecretary]

£80!

No more progress to report yet.

[Roger Ramjet]

Originally Posted by LTTGSecretary

£80!

No more progress to report yet.

Bargain !

Rog

[LTTGSecretary]

Months, and a house move, later...

Finally got round to taking a photo!

Haven't done anymore to it, so it's still not ringing when calls are received but is ringing out the pulses when dialling, which it probably shouldn't do.

[Pellseinydd]

Originally Posted by LTTGSecretary

Months, and a house move, later...

Finally got round to taking a photo!

Haven't done anymore to it, so it's still not ringing when calls are received but is ringing out the pulses when dialling, which it probably shouldn't do.

Have you checked that it is all wired up correctly?

Should be wired up as per GPO diagram N4200.

That diagram covers both the 'Candlestick' Telephone No 150 and the Bakelite 'pyramid' TelephoneNo 162 with either a wooden Bellset No 1 or the later Bakelite Bellset No 25.

Ian J.
CNet 0352 2979

[Roger Ramjet]

Hi Dan,

You need to get it polished & the bell working, this being the best feature.

Basic connection for modern style plug in line cord:-

White goes to Terminal 1
Blue goes to Terminal 2
Red goes to Terminal 3
Green is spare

I don't have any info on internal straps so this is only a long shot.

Good luck !

Rog

[Roger Ramjet]

Originally Posted by Roger Ramjet

Hi Dan,

You need to get it polished & the bell working, this being the best feature.

Basic connection for modern style plug in line cord:-

White goes to Terminal 1
Blue goes to Terminal 2
Red goes to Terminal 3
Green is spare

I don't have any info on internal straps so this is only a long shot.

Good luck !

Rog

Sorry I forgot it had morphed into a Tele 162 so ignore above. I don't have any data on a 162 but if the bell wires are connected across the Blue & White of the line cord, it should ring.

Rog