ATM 232-Like Mine 'Phone.

[ThePillenwerfer]

This is my latest purchase.

Despite looking as rough as ursine posterior it works.

All I've done to it so far is wash the bell cover so I can get that repaired. That will be the most challenging, and therefore interesting, part of the job.

I'll post up-dates as work proceeds.

[ThePillenwerfer]

A couple of points of interest have already arisen.

The ‘horns’ and T-bar seem to be made of plastic. I know there are reproductions available but these look like service replacements. Both have an impress mark that I’ve reproduced below.

Also for all that the induction coil looks like a No 21 it only has two windings: one of 35Ω and one of 1Ω. At least No 21s can be had without breaking the bank.

[els1967]

That's a pretty hefty chunk of the Bakelite gone, how are you going to fix that mate?

[ThePillenwerfer]

One part of the Bakelite was broken off but present. I've superglued that back and reinforced the join with fibreglass. I've also bridged the other gap with fibreglass and tomorrow will start applying car body filler.

I've found that other Bakelite parts, like the mouthpiece and earpiece, also have Birkby moulding marks.

[els1967]

Looking forward to seeing the results. I've had some degree of success mixing resin glue with black gloss paint in the past but only for quite a small chip.

[Alf]

Nice phones, still got my two ATM 3903

[ThePillenwerfer]

Thanks for the model number, Alf.

I've now finished the filling. I made no attempt to colour this as I've found before that doing so it only half the battle; the biggest problem is that whatever is used as a filler usually ends up more or less shiny than the substrate. Luckily being black it's a simple matter to spray the repaired side.

Whatever I do it will always be a broken thing that's been repaired and if I was really bothered I'd be sourcing a replacement, either reproduction of used original.

[ThePillenwerfer]

It's been too hot to make rapid progress with this but I have now finished repairing the bell cover. There'll now be a break until I get an Induction Coil No 27.

[Dave Moll]

I see you've removed the magneto section - probably wise if connecting to the telephone network.

[ThePillenwerfer]

If it had still had its Certification Plate I've have left it, but disconnected the actual magneto. As it was it was neither useful nor aesthetically pleasing.

Sticking 90VAC up my ATA may have been interesting but I'll forego the experiment.

[els1967]

That's looking good, like the new dial. Any chance of a pic of the back with the repair to the bellset?

Opps Edit, that repair has come up pretty good mate

[ThePillenwerfer]

I enquired after an Induction Coil No 27 from one supplier but, having not heard back within a week, or since, I got one from The Old Telephone Company — a supplier I'd happily recommend.

Fitting that went smoothly and I also made a line cord from a switchboard cord.

The original transmitter worked but I gutted an o/c one and put one of my single transistor electronic ones inside it and fitted that.

Unfortunately the weather isn't conducive to taking it outside to photograph, though it doesn't look much different to my earlier pictures.

[ThePillenwerfer]

Pictures of it finished. The dial label is temporary until I decide which line to connect it to.

Lovely job, an instrument for the home. I like the ATM label.

[ThePillenwerfer]

Thanks, Merlin. I'm thinking about making a gold transfer of the ATM logo and putting it on the bell below the dial.

That would look good, taking off a bit of the blandness of the bell box. I always think these phones look better without the bell box. It (the bell) is a bit of a bodge to make an all in one 'phone. These days with the many 'phones in a house one without a bell isn't a problem.