Vintage Phones

Argee · Nov 13, 2011

Well I finally managed to get an AE34. here's what I looked like when I got it.

At some point in it's history, the dial was removed and a blank put on. How do I know this? well for one thing the dial blank is from Northern Electric. Also the wires added inside when the conversion took place are much newer than the phone. Anyway, Since the blank wasn't original to the phone, not to mention damaged, I decided to convert it back to a dial. While I was at it I put on the chrome handset bands to match the new dial. It's still got the original cloth cords.

I'm really happy to finally have an AE34 in my collection. This phone is why I got into telephone collecting in the first place, and it took 4 years to finally get my hands on one.

AtomicEraTom · Nov 13, 2011

That's a beautiful AE 34! You did a great job sprucing her up!

Brinybay · Nov 14, 2011

Argee said:
Well I finally managed to get an AE34. here's what I looked like when I got it.

... While I was at it I put on the chrome handset bands to match the new dial. It's still got the original cloth cords.

I'm really happy to finally have an AE34 in my collection. This phone is why I got into telephone collecting in the first place, and it took 4 years to finally get my hands on one.

Nice! Where do you find chrome bands for AE's? I have an AE 40 and a few 50s that I would like to add chrome bands to.

Argee · Nov 14, 2011

Brinybay said:
Nice! Where do you find chrome bands for AE's?

In your parts bin. I had an extra chrome handset I used as a donor. I don't know of anyone who sells them.

scottyrocks · Nov 21, 2011

I just fished a Stromberg Carlson SC 1243 out of the bay. Supposed to be ready to plug and play. Can't wait to get it.

scottyrocks · Nov 25, 2011

I received the phone today. As always, when I buy something from ebay that has more than one moving part, I am concerned that I am going to get what I paid for, or better yet, the item in the condition it was described.

This phone is better than I had expected. It's very clean. It works. It dials out, it rings, and you can hear and be heard. The volume is a little low in the ear piece, but I'm going to try to remedy that using what Lizzie suggested earlier in the thread.

Here it is next to one of my older prized possessions - an ACE desk stapler. Going by the numbers on the bottom, I like to think it's from 1941, but that's just a guess. If anyone knows for sure how to tell what year it was made, I'm all ears.

AtomicEraTom · Nov 25, 2011

I love this model Stromberg-Carlson. The 'cut corners' on the front really make it stand out from a WE 302.

Giftmacher · Nov 27, 2011

Classic telephone from 1949

Giftmacher · Nov 27, 2011

Argee said:
Well I finally managed to get an AE34. here's what I looked like when I got it.

At some point in it's history, the dial was removed and a blank put on. How do I know this? well for one thing the dial blank is from Northern Electric. Also the wires added inside when the conversion took place are much newer than the phone. Anyway, Since the blank wasn't original to the phone, not to mention damaged, I decided to convert it back to a dial. While I was at it I put on the chrome handset bands to match the new dial. It's still got the original cloth cords.

I'm really happy to finally have an AE34 in my collection. This phone is why I got into telephone collecting in the first place, and it took 4 years to finally get my hands on one.

Well done indeed. Did you know, you can dial number only by cradle?

DeaconKC · Nov 28, 2011

Giftmacher, that is a very handsome phone.
Argee, splendid job on the restoration. I picked up an old rotary at a flea market that is in need of some TLC, do you do outside work?

Argee · Nov 29, 2011

Giftmacher said:
Well done indeed. Did you know, you can dial number only by cradle?

really? how?

DeaconKC said:
Argee, splendid job on the restoration. I picked up an old rotary at a flea market that is in need of some TLC, do you do outside work?

Not yet, but there's always a first time. I'd have see what you have.

Giftmacher · Nov 29, 2011

If you know Morse code, you can dial a number using the cradle as a telegraph key, I'm not sure if it works on digital telephone exchange though.

MissMittens · Nov 29, 2011

Not sure where that red cord came from though :lol:

LizzieMaine · Nov 29, 2011

Tap dialing will work on any phone line that recognizes pulses -- you tap the receiver hook quickly in bursts for each digit. Dial 5, you tap the hook five times, dial 9, you tap the hook nine times, etc. The trick is to do this rapidly enough while pausing just enough for the switching system to recognize the individual digits. Not too many people have that level of skill, and it's something you see more in old detective movies than in real life.

MissMittens · Nov 29, 2011

LizzieMaine said:
Tap dialing will work on any phone line that recognizes pulses -- you tap the receiver hook quickly in bursts for each digit. Dial 5, you tap the hook five times, dial 9, you tap the hook nine times, etc. The trick is to do this rapidly enough while pausing just enough for the switching system to recognize the individual digits. Not too many people have that level of skill, and it's something you see more in old detective movies than in real life.

You're absolutely right, Lizzie. VoIP systems can use "pulse dial" with an adapter that converts the pulse to DTMF tones. I've tried the old Morse dialing before, debunked I'm afraid. However, if you tap the key for the digits instead of using actual Morse for the numbers, it does work.

twaits · Dec 7, 2011

This one has been in the family a long time. I have the bell box as well

Nelda Cardenas · Dec 7, 2011

At one time I was selling a bunch of vintage phones for the 50s and 60s and I also had a small collection. Now they are so difficult to find.

MissMittens · Dec 8, 2011

twaits said:
This one has been in the family a long time. I have the bell box as well

Nice phone, and nicer M1911

scottyrocks · Dec 9, 2011

LizzieMaine said:
Tap dialing will work on any phone line that recognizes pulses -- you tap the receiver hook quickly in bursts for each digit. Dial 5, you tap the hook five times, dial 9, you tap the hook nine times, etc. The trick is to do this rapidly enough while pausing just enough for the switching system to recognize the individual digits. Not too many people have that level of skill, and it's something you see more in old detective movies than in real life.

Sort of like driving a stick without using the clutch.

twaits · Dec 9, 2011

roadierfl said:
Nice phone, and nicer M1911

Acually that's not a 1911. Thats a 1903 Pocket Hammer .38ACP

Vintage Phones

One of the Regulars

Practically Family

One of the Regulars

I'll Lock Up

I'll Lock Up

One Too Many

One Too Many

One Too Many

One of the Regulars

One Too Many

One Too Many

One Too Many

New in Town

New in Town

One Too Many

I'll Lock Up

New in Town

Similar threads

Log in

Forum statistics