Help with wiring some old phones - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Kernow666 · 19th Jun 2012, 12:59 pm

Hello everyone

I have inherited some old dial phones and was wanting to convert them so I can use them around the house

The first one has - red white green wires coming out into a rectangle junction box

The second one has - red white blue green wires coming out with a large ( like a headphone jack ) plug on the end

The third one has - white brown blue red wires coming out and has black plastic plug on the end

Just wanting to know of this is a straightforward wire job

I have a wire with BT plug on end and colours are black white red yellow

Hopefully someone can answer my question for me

Kind regards

Christopher

Station X · 19th Jun 2012, 1:01 pm

It would help if you could tell us what model phones you have. It should be mmarked on the base plate, something like 706F or 332.

Kernow666 · 19th Jun 2012, 1:33 pm

Ok sorry about that

Phone 1 - GEC Tel/10k/ATT

Phone 2 - GEC Tel/2k/ATT

Phone 3 - Telart viareggio ( think its Spanish or Italian )

Hope this helps

julie_m · 19th Jun 2012, 1:48 pm

Unfortunately, converting phones to plug-and-socket operation is not quite as simple as matching wire colours. Sometimes the phone circuit needs modifying slightly, to reduce the ringing current and/or to use an external capacitor to separate the AC ringing and DC speech circuits. (The good news is, this vary rarely requires any soldering). So we really need pictures.

Also, the colour coding for BT plug leads is anything but standardised. Can you see what order the wires go in, starting from the "latch" end of the BT plug? You should be able to see the inner insulation through the slot just behind the gold contacts, though you may need a bright light and a magnifying glass.

It's generally better to provide too much information than not enough. At least we can ignore something we didn't need.

mkmagna · 19th Jun 2012, 3:50 pm

The TEL/2K & TEL/10K are externally similar to the standard GPO 706 introduced in 1959.

This is a good place to start for rewiring and to identify the differences between your GEC models and the standard 706:

http://www.britishtelephones.com/t706.htm

This link shows the GEC models in detail:

http://www.britishtelephones.com/gec/tel2k.htm

19th Jun 2012, 12:59 pm	#1
Kernow666 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2	Help with wiring some old phones Hello everyone I have inherited some old dial phones and was wanting to convert them so I can use them around the house The first one has - red white green wires coming out into a rectangle junction box The second one has - red white blue green wires coming out with a large ( like a headphone jack ) plug on the end The third one has - white brown blue red wires coming out and has black plastic plug on the end Just wanting to know of this is a straightforward wire job I have a wire with BT plug on end and colours are black white red yellow Hopefully someone can answer my question for me Kind regards Christopher

19th Jun 2012, 1:01 pm	#2
Station X Moderator Join Date: Jan 2003 Location: Ipswich, Suffolk, IP4, UK. Posts: 21,289	Re: Help with wiring some old phones It would help if you could tell us what model phones you have. It should be mmarked on the base plate, something like 706F or 332. __________________ Graham. Forum Moderator Reach for your meter before you reach for your soldering iron.

19th Jun 2012, 1:33 pm	#3
Kernow666 Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Jun 2012 Location: Cornwall Posts: 2	Re: Help with wiring some old phones Ok sorry about that Phone 1 - GEC Tel/10k/ATT Phone 2 - GEC Tel/2k/ATT Phone 3 - Telart viareggio ( think its Spanish or Italian ) Hope this helps

19th Jun 2012, 1:48 pm	#4
julie_m Dekatron Join Date: May 2008 Location: Derby, UK. Posts: 7,735	Re: Help with wiring some old phones Unfortunately, converting phones to plug-and-socket operation is not quite as simple as matching wire colours. Sometimes the phone circuit needs modifying slightly, to reduce the ringing current and/or to use an external capacitor to separate the AC ringing and DC speech circuits. (The good news is, this vary rarely requires any soldering). So we really need pictures. Also, the colour coding for BT plug leads is anything but standardised. Can you see what order the wires go in, starting from the "latch" end of the BT plug? You should be able to see the inner insulation through the slot just behind the gold contacts, though you may need a bright light and a magnifying glass. It's generally better to provide too much information than not enough. At least we can ignore something we didn't need. __________________ If I have seen further than others, it is because I was standing on a pile of failed experiments.

19th Jun 2012, 3:50 pm	#5
mkmagna Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Mar 2012 Location: Milton Keynes Posts: 23	The TEL/2K & TEL/10K are externally similar to the standard GPO 706 introduced in 1959. This is a good place to start for rewiring and to identify the differences between your GEC models and the standard 706: http://www.britishtelephones.com/t706.htm This link shows the GEC models in detail: http://www.britishtelephones.com/gec/tel2k.htm