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Old 12th Feb 2021, 4:34 pm   #1
fisherdoc
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Default British Candlestick help

I have a candlestick phone with no ringer box and completely unwired. I am not even sure which model it is as info seems to be scarce.
The head is labeled W-24 under that there is "4001" and "No 1." At the pivot on top one side says "235" and "W-24" the other side "No.2"
So I have NO idea what I have or if it is worth restoring or keeping as an ornament. I understand "bell sets" (subsets) are very difficult to find. Western Electric sets are very common.
ANY info would be MOST welcome!
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Old 12th Feb 2021, 5:57 pm   #2
ThePillenwerfer
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Default Re: British Candlestick help

According to the markings it's a No 2 made in 1924 by Western Electric.

However it looks different to the No 2 shown here: https://britishtelephones.com/t002.htm and the diagram here: http://www.samhallas.co.uk/repositor.../0000/N102.pdf

No doubt somebody who knows more than me will be along directly.

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Old 12th Feb 2021, 7:47 pm   #3
Pellseinydd
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Default Re: British Candlestick help

I have an original Telephone No 2 manufactured by British Insulated Helsby Cables in 1910 by its marking. The No 2 column and base was the standard 'candlestick' pattern but without provision for a dial.

Had never been restored when I acquired it many years ago - so info that the Tele No2 was introduced in 1911 isn't correct. It was known as a Tele No 2 before 1909 as the GPO introduced numbering of telephone instruments just before the introduction of the GPO's 1909 book of subs app circuit diagrams.

IT certainly isn't a Tele No 2 as they didn't have provision for a dial on the base. Many No 2's were rebuilt as Tele 150's the version with a dial but the '2' was usually stamped out and replaced with '150' . The dial on it is an early one either a No 8 (if it only has four terminals on it) or an early No 10 (five terminals) with the small dial centre label.

Also the inset inside the No 1Transmitter doesn't look original. I suspect it is very likely to be a 'bitsa' telephone

A photograph of the receiver rest might give a clue. Plus the terminal layout. Might give more of a clue.

Ian J
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Old 12th Feb 2021, 10:06 pm   #4
fisherdoc
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Default Re: British Candlestick help

Unfortunately the entire transmitter has been gutted and a modern element is stuffed in the head being supported by crumpled paper! The receiver is entirely incorrect it is some kind of modern junk.
Taking all this into account I wonder if it is worth restoring or just keep it as a decoration. Or maybe ebay to someone who has the guts.
It appears that parts and such for these British phones are like non-existent!
So only the phone base, stem, and empty head are original and the hook switch. Thanks! - AL
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Old 12th Feb 2021, 10:14 pm   #5
fisherdoc
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Default Re: British Candlestick help

here are some more pics - looks like the dial has 5 terms one screw missing. It was VERY stiff till I lubricated it now it moves like butter.
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Old 13th Feb 2021, 7:26 pm   #6
IOWPhoneGuy
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Default Re: British Candlestick help

This is marked as a 1924 GPO tele 2 which was the CB type without a dial mount. However, its configured as a GPO 150, so the body has been changed. The GPO often rebuilt 2s into 150s, but they always remarked the head, crossing out the "No. 2" and stamping "150" nearby. Your head and transmitter have matching numbers, which is a good thing.

It has been heavily messed with but certainly not beyond restoration, at least not in the UK where parts are fairly available.

The transmitter is a 1924 solid-back GPO type 1 by Western Electric/STC (changed hands in 1924 so could be either). It would originally have been black-oxide & lacquered or painted black. My best guess from the photos is painted. It's been brassed, as has the pivot (defintely was blacked if GPO though some export models were nickel plated) :-( The internals have been replaced. They could be replaced if desired. I have a working set I could put in but its common to fit an electronic transmitter for better sound as the solid-backs were, to say the least, not great.

The dial is a later (1952) stainless dial 10 that's had a black painted finger wheel fitted. The finger stop is cetainly a stainless one painted black, probably to match the finger wheel when it was fitted. Its got an earlier, ?1930?, north-american alpha-numeric number ring fitted, quite possibly from Canada. The dial label is the early small type, which went out around 1930 so should not be on a 1952 dial! All that could be sorted. If it had a dial at all, that is, as many 150s were built as CB and only had a dial fitted much later.

The cords are all wrong: far to late, and the cord entry grommet is missing.

All that said, this its in fairly typical state for the phones I get and restore. As such its very restorable if you have access to the parts, which is likely to be your main problem. Personally, as it has matching numbers, I'd restore it to a GPO tele 2, without a dial but with correct tranmitter internalshttps://www.***********/photos/947319...in/dateposted/.

Chris.
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