atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information Handsets in harsh environments

Skip, the thing about S/L phones is that they are CHEAP! Throw it away and go to wallyworld, kmart, or your favorite discount phone sales place. They should fail from abuse before they die a 'discount' death. That's what we did for phones in the indoor pool area at motels. Between the plain old waterdrips, HIGH humidity and chlorine in the air, new phone every 6 months,with jack. And lots of extra cable store in the wall. Cut off 2-3 inches of cable, replace the jack and phone, and hand the manager a bill! OR, teach the maintanance guy how to take care of it. (Dang, no return on that idea! But, you do make friends with management! Ya gotta give to get. John C.

Have to agree with John on this one. Go with the SL phones. If you use the quality ones i.e. 2500 sets they stand up better and if you use the cheap ones they are an easy replacement. I have the same situation in a couple of auto dealerships.
The shop guys just aint going to wash their hands before picking up the phone. Chuck

One Idea:
Coat the handset in a rubberized coating so it bounces better. You can get a can of it for like $5 at an auto parts store.

Or best bet just sell them a couple extra handsets like what was said earlier, I mean thier only like $12 with a cord.

$12 w/cord our cost! You got to make a few bucks on the handset, and if you're not selling handset cords for 5 bucks, your gonna go broke being a nice guy. "Nice Guys Finish Last" Customer can buy a throwaway for $12 @ Wallyworld and all kinds of other places. And no service charge! If he WANTS you to take care of it, refurbed 2554, and service charge is going to cost him.......... $100.00 if he's lucky. Show him the numbers and he'll do it himself. If he won't you'd better see if you can buy a piece of his business, he must be makin' money hand over fist! Or he's about to go broke, and you don't want him to do it owing you! John C.

i have done a couple of restaurants, on nortel systems i put an ATA on the extension and install an old 554 with a METAL hookswitch. i use a payphone style receiver with an armored cord anchored to the wall. works very well

Jay, you took the words right out of my mouth, but you need a 2554 (T-Tone.)

Ici, Quebec savoir faire, I guess!

well the 554s work well with the atas as well and make for good jokes. i have an old western electric explosion proof phone that would be good in a kitchen if you want.


the armored payphone receivers can be had for 15$