atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Wiring - Telecom Carriers - Trunks & Services Telephone Repairs & Equipment How to convert payphone for coinless home use? Protel 8500 or W.E. 32B

Hello, I have Western Electric / Bellsouth payphone in Finland, Europe and wanna get it work like normal home telephone. I have two different chassises for it. The telephone was originally equipped with Protel 8500 chassis but i have also couple of older 32B "dumb boards".

Is Protel board possible to reprogram or maybe it is better use "dumb board"? Because i am in Europe no one have knowledge about these phones locally. I haven't got success for finding information on internet.

I'm very thankful if somebody here is willing to tell how to reprogram or modify wiring for free use.

Thanks!

Is your phone a 1D2 type, like this?



Using the 32B "dumb" board is the way to go. It will allow you to make/receive calls, but none of the coin collection mechanisms will function. Being in Europe, there may be an issue with getting the set to ring, but I doubt that will be an issue.

Remember that when connected to a non-coin line, any coins that are deposited will be held in the escrow chamber and cannot be returned using the coin return lever. You will need to warn people to not deposit any coins because they will be gone. You'll also need to gently push the coin relay armature in periodically to dump any coins that may have collected.

I doubt that the phone will accept anything but US coins, so more than likely, Finnish coins will become stuck. With this being the case, the coin return lever WILL work to eject them.

I don't know anything about programming the Protel board, so I can't offer you any guidance there.

I modified the Dial Pad with the insides of an ITT 2500 set. I used the network board, dial pad, and the ringer and it works fine.

If it was a GTE Style housing not a Western Electric style.