Anyone know anything about really old crank telephones

[autobaun70]

I recently recieved a really neat old phone from my grandparents. The only identification that I can find on it show that it is a Northern Electric model N1-A, with a patent date of 1906. Overall it is in great condition, a few broken wires at solder points, but everything appears to be there that should be. Anyone with any insite on value, ect. I am not by any means considering selling it, just curious more than anything.

[kingair]

I recently recieved a really neat old phone from my grandparents. The only identification that I can find on it show that it is a Northern Electric model N1-A, with a patent date of 1906. Overall it is in great condition, a few broken wires at solder points, but everything appears to be there that should be. Anyone with any insite on value, ect. I am not by any means considering selling it, just curious more than anything.

There is a website for everything.

http://www.telephonecollectors.org/

http://www.antiquetelephonehistory.com/indiv.php

[Kamper]

I had some field telephones that I bought at a flea market. Probably very similiar internaly. WWII vintage.

The crank provided surge electricity to operate the ringer(s) at the other. Two D-size batteries provided operational power. I'd expect your phone would draw main power from the lines just like a modern phone.

That's all I got. Have fun!

[rchanner]

I had some field telephones that I bought at a flea market. Probably very similiar internaly. WWII vintage.

The crank provided surge electricity to operate the ringer(s) at the other. Two D-size batteries provided operational power. I'd expect your phone would draw main power from the lines just like a modern phone.

That's all I got. Have fun!

Were yours TA-312's?

The WWII - 1950's vintage is about right for the start of their use, but those things were around until the early 90's at least-they may even still use them. Amazing how long something so simple can remain in use.

Edited October 30, 2009 by FishinNutz

[Kamper]

Were yours TA-312's?

.... Amazing how long something so simple can remain in use.

No. Those are NASA tech compared to what I had. lol. They had a leather bag and you just dropped the handset into the empty section. One of them had a WWII date and the other had early '50's but they were otherwise identical models.

One of them wouldn't transmit clearly. After I had replaced the internal wiring I identified the problem by swapping out the internal mouthpiece parts of the handset. I replaced the bad one with an identical piece from an old WesternElectric handset. I guess there was a lot of commonality in the technology from those days!

[rchanner]

No. Those are NASA tech compared to what I had. lol. They had a leather bag and you just dropped the handset into the empty section. One of them had a WWII date and the other had early '50's but they were otherwise identical models.

One of them wouldn't transmit clearly. After I had replaced the internal wiring I identified the problem by swapping out the internal mouthpiece parts of the handset. I replaced the bad one with an identical piece from an old WesternElectric handset. I guess there was a lot of commonality in the technology from those days!

Never seen one of these before I looked up the TA-312 pic, but yours must be an EE-8.

[Kamper]

... yours must be an EE-8.

Those have canvas. Mine must be the officer's edition because they have leather cases and straps. (joke) Otherwise they apear to be identical.

I don't have them anymore. I gave them to my nephew as a birthday present when he was about 15. He ran the line from the house to a camper my sister let him sleep in (just before cell use went viral) in Royal Palms. The joke was on him - now she could wake him up when it was raining!

I brought it down in my carry-on. The screeners were fascinated. I think they wanted to play with them but there were too many people. Ah... simpler days.

[DDHand]

My uncle used one to catch fish... Somehow he had a power cord hooked up to it and would drop the cord in a small pond and crank the handle. It would generate enough electricity to stun small bream and catfish. I thought it was a hoot. But not nearly as fun as the blasting caps..

Good times in South GA!