Ye Olde Telephone

I've been carting this dirty old thing around with me for a few years and after the last house move it managed to find a home my car. So before I put it back into storage I thought I'd show it off and before I do my own research into it see if anyone here has any knowledge on it...dates, finishes, material etc.

Unless it has a high $$ value as is (or partially restored) the plan is to restore the whole thing as well as I can but stick a modern wireless phone/answering machine in it and hopefully get it all hooked up so parts of the original phone can be used in conjunction with the new stuff.

Anyhoo...

Ahh! That brings back childhood memories! We had one on our kitchen wall on a sheep and wheat station we lived on. I thinking maybe 1950-55. We were on a party line which was shared by a neighboring property. The exchange used to identify the parties by differing ring codes. (one long and two short rings or the like).
Thanks for posting RedShirtGuy.

Hi RSG,
Thats an old phone made in the UK which I suspect is not common here in Aus.

Like Bill I find this interesting as I learned about old maggie phones in my early days WM130 or 130 WM or similar from memory. Not with PMG but another Govt Department of the day. Selling on feebay will not make you rich but might return a few dollars, possibly a couple of hundred on a good day depending restored & working or original condition. For sure you will not find the answer by cranking the handle into the phone system which will produce a couple of hundered volts at 16 2/3 Hz typically. Enought to make you sit up and take notice. To sell you will need to find an enthusiast who might not like the mods or even a paint job. On the other hand you might have some fun with some nice timber in the process. Remember the carbon mic will need some volts say 3V DC if you plan to use it.

If you are keen to explore further, try Gogling - magneto wall phone and see how you go.

Dave

I have a similar Type of phone in my hallway,not a magneto type though
I would be interested in a brass earpiece if you want to sell one.Mine is black Bakerlite

Thanks for the info vk3ru. I've had a quick snoop around and at a glance, although I can't confirm a model number, it could be from around 1912 and, like you say, from the UK...Beeston Nottingham to be precise. The old pics and drawings of other similar phones shows that the holes in the bottom of the door were for a small shelf...so I've learned something else about it already :2tsup:

AUSSIE: I'd be happy to lob you the spare ear piece, but when I'm done with the resto if you can hold out for...well...a while ;) No doubt, when I'm doing it, I'll make another thread about it so if I've forgotten about you, slap me upside the head then.

I know someone whos gonna feel real guilty when he sees this thread :p

I know you might not be interested but these can have new components installed yet still look as original.

When you finish restoring it just keep it in the car- it'd make a great hands free set:wink:

I used to see ones like that at auctions getting anywhere from $60-180 depending on condition/completeness.

Cheers,
G

Rare, Old Wooden Wall Phone,- I know of a guy who collects Old Wall Phones,- and will pay good money for a genuine original too,- and the more original the better. He already has an extensive collection of the old Telephone line Insulators, collected from all over Australia,- some even from the original North-South Central Australian Line. He's an ex PMG Linesman / Technician, and lives not far from me, so IF you want to know what it's worth, or what he would pay you for it ,- simply PM me, and shall pass on the info.
Roger