atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems Antique Telephones Issues with 1953 Western Electric 500C/D

I found a nice 1953 Western Electric 500C/D with all matching date codes. I want to fix this one up and use it. My problem is that when I first plug it in with the handset off, I have a dialtone for only a couple of seconds then it fades out. Any ideas? Could this be a bad capacitor?

Also, this unit has a 3-wire network connection. Is there any modification that is needed for the modern 2-wire connections being used today to make everything work properly? It still has the origional 3-wire network connection line-set.

I'm not sure why dialtone would fade out. I don't think it's the capacitor, Try turning the dial in the opposite direction it should go and holding it there. Does DT stay?

A three wire cord was installed to allow the ringer to be "turned on". Put the green & yellow from the phone to the green (White/blue) of the telephone line (and the red from the line to the red [blue/white] of the line) and the bell would ring. Leave the yellow off the green and the phone still worked, but the bell didn't ring.

Sam

I think I might have figured out my problem. I think I have an intermitant break in the handset cord. If I hold the cord steady, I keep the tone. As soon as I bump or wiggle the hand that is holding the cord, the tone disappears.

I guess I will search for a replacement cord. I hate having to change it because this was the origional cord and was the old straight rubber cord, not the coiled cord.

I origionally bought this phone to clean up to sell, but all the components have matching date codes (1953) and if I can find a replacement handset cord, I think this one will be used in my home.

Thanks for the help. The info about the ringer circuit definitely helps as well!

Another tip about the ringer circuit, the Yellow is connected to terminal G on the network, if there is a ringer lead there, move it to where the green lead from the line is, that eliminates the need to connect the yellow wire. That will change it over to bridged ringing for instead of tip party identification. All private line circuits use bridged ringing. Good luck finding a straight handset cord for a 500.

If you dont find what you need here give him a call he should be able to hook you up

Thanks for the advice and tips!

"That will change it over to bridged ringing... instead of tip party identification."

Well, not really. Tip party identification is a different wiring scheme.