sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems Antique Telephones Old wooden wall phone

My buddy just gave me this Kellogg wall phone. As you can see it is missing quite a few parts, but as I have never worked on one of these, I am not sure what exactly I am looking at here.
Any help would be graciously appreciated! I definitely want to get this thing cleaned up and if it is able to work that's a plus.


https://www.facebook.com/album.php?aid=2069996&id=1434540016&l=89feb03475

Nice project - "Cathedral Top", "Picture Frame Front"

Looks like you need the Magneto generator and crank, a couple of bells, and a receiver/earpiece.

Try not to have to strip the finish off of the wood, but perhaps something like steel wool and lacquer thinner. Perhaps something like "Briwax"

You can try phonecoinc.com, but don't get repro parts. Join up at the TCI mailing list, https://www.telephonecollectors.org/

It's a local battery set, so you won't really get it connected to the PSTN. We used to mount the parts from a 500 or 2500 set in the lower battery area, connect into the hook switch, replace the transmitter guts with a T1, and put on a repro earpiece that holds a U3 receiver. A magnetic latch kept the door closed, but you could swing it open to use the dial. This type of conversion can be done well, or it can be absolutely awful, just like the good/bad installation threads.

Personally, I'd replace the parts, get the bell ringing when you turn the crank, and hang it on the wall for show.

And maybe store some sort of small standard phone inside. Like one of those "Hamburger" phones listed on e-bay.

Thanks, I have sent an email to Phoneco.

we did the same as Tommy but used AE starlight phones , their nice for that application because the plastic trim around the keypad or dial comes off and can be kept it gives a nice finished appearance . I would pick up some scrap oak from the local cabinet shop , cut it to fit the battery compartment and hide the phone network behind it ...

Any other suggestions for cleaning up/re-finishing the wood?

Tommy's suggestion of steel wool and lacquer thinner is appropriate. Try the it on an obscure part of the case to make sure lacquer thinner is the correct solvent. It probably is, considering the age. Finest steel wool you can find and turn over/change often. First use something like Murphy's Oil Soap (Wal-mart, hardware stores, and some grocery stores) to clean the crud, corruption and just plain dirt off. Use a dampened cloth, NOT wet, and watch out for stuff stuck in the dirt that will scratch the remaining finish. You may not have to resort to the lacquer thinner and steel wool. This will be a labor of love, but done carefully, you'll break your arm patting yourself on the back for a job well done.

Nice gift!

I saw one this past summer at a flea market that was absolutely awful just as TTT says. Yes, the dial was hidden inside but is was very, very, poorly done. The seller was so proud of it because it "worked" but he had no clue as to how it badly he had ruined it in the eye of a collector.

Thanks for the advice. I will be going to the hardware store once I am home on break to see what he's got that I can use.

How about some Murphy's Oil Soap to start.