French Black Bakelite Phone - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

Herald1360 · 10th Dec 2016, 11:47 pm

I acquired an extremely heavy and somewhat unusual phone today. Black bakelite, reminiscent of 300 series in style. It has an auxiliary second earpiece and no dial, but instead what seems to be a lever operated magneto generator.

On the identification plate along with "PROPRIETE DE L'ETAT" and "P.T.T" it says"APPAREIL MOBILE BL OU BC 328.0001".

It looks to date from 1964.

Anyone know anything about it?

It seems to be in very good condition. How it ended up in a Leominster antique and bric a brac shop is anybody's guess!

dagskarlsen · 11th Dec 2016, 9:53 am

I have to be careful here, but I believe this is a Universal Circuit, where you may put in a dial, and move some wires, and then you have an automatic telephone. As it is you may use it in a network together with other magneto telephones. The basic circuit may be like this: http://passions.mettavant.fr/Images/cmlaurentplan.gif

The more pictures of the telephone and of what's inside the easier it will be to give you a precise answer.

dsk

Stylo N M · 11th Dec 2016, 12:21 pm

Hi Chris,

I don't know for certain, but it may have been used in some sort of aeablishment, to relay messages to and from a kitchen, maybe a hotel or something like that.

Obviously some sort of internal system, with the generator to ring the bell at the other end.

(Not much assistance to you Chris but just trying to help)

Paul.

AC/HL · 11th Dec 2016, 3:35 pm

Perhaps some form of omnibus system where the number of rings denotes the called party.

JWatler · 12th Dec 2016, 12:10 am

This link may help with identification http://www.l2l1.com/tel11.htm

Herald1360 · 12th Dec 2016, 12:55 am

Hmm, it looks like a version of the U43 Magneto then. Mine doesn't appear to have any bell

Pics attached

Herald1360 · 12th Dec 2016, 1:00 am

More pics

Stylo N M · 12th Dec 2016, 2:53 am

Hi chris,

there is a very short video on youTube, where someone is operating one, and it does apear to ring back.

It apears that it was useually connected to a switchboard, and possibly formed part of a party line, or shared line, were a single phone line spanned miles antill it reached the next town. The problem was, each party had to listen out, to determin wich party was being called.

As to why your's doesn't apear to have a bell! that certainly is odd, unless there was a similer model made, with yet anouther purpose, or someones nicked it

Paul.

dagskarlsen · 12th Dec 2016, 9:24 am

Ill guess yours a later version of U43
As far as I understand the diagram you will need a battery (3-5V) between Ø10 and Ø18
The line should probably be connected between Ø9 and Ø13 An external ringer should be between Ø16 and Ø17

dsk

bluepilot · 12th Dec 2016, 9:43 am

It seems it can be used as a BL or a BC. That's "batterie locale" or "batterie central". The diagram indicates which straps to install to configure it accordingly. There are other options such as with or without bell, call button etc.

10th Dec 2016, 11:47 pm	#1
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	French Black Bakelite Phone I acquired an extremely heavy and somewhat unusual phone today. Black bakelite, reminiscent of 300 series in style. It has an auxiliary second earpiece and no dial, but instead what seems to be a lever operated magneto generator. On the identification plate along with "PROPRIETE DE L'ETAT" and "P.T.T" it says"APPAREIL MOBILE BL OU BC 328.0001". It looks to date from 1964. Anyone know anything about it? It seems to be in very good condition. How it ended up in a Leominster antique and bric a brac shop is anybody's guess! __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

11th Dec 2016, 9:53 am	#2
dagskarlsen Heptode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hakadal, Norway Posts: 643	Re: French Black Bakelite Phone I have to be careful here, but I believe this is a Universal Circuit, where you may put in a dial, and move some wires, and then you have an automatic telephone. As it is you may use it in a network together with other magneto telephones. The basic circuit may be like this: http://passions.mettavant.fr/Images/cmlaurentplan.gif The more pictures of the telephone and of what's inside the easier it will be to give you a precise answer. dsk

11th Dec 2016, 12:21 pm	#3
Stylo N M Heptode Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Derby DE1, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 626	Re: French Black Bakelite Phone Hi Chris, I don't know for certain, but it may have been used in some sort of aeablishment, to relay messages to and from a kitchen, maybe a hotel or something like that. Obviously some sort of internal system, with the generator to ring the bell at the other end. (Not much assistance to you Chris but just trying to help) Paul.

11th Dec 2016, 3:35 pm	#4
AC/HL Dekatron Join Date: Nov 2003 Location: Heckmondwike, West Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 9,642	Re: French Black Bakelite Phone Perhaps some form of omnibus system where the number of rings denotes the called party.

12th Dec 2016, 12:10 am	#5
JWatler Retired Dormant Member Join Date: Nov 2011 Location: Deal, Kent, UK. Posts: 21	Re: French Black Bakelite Phone This link may help with identification http://www.l2l1.com/tel11.htm

12th Dec 2016, 12:55 am	#6
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: French Black Bakelite Phone Hmm, it looks like a version of the U43 Magneto then. Mine doesn't appear to have any bell Pics attached Attached Thumbnails __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

12th Dec 2016, 1:00 am	#7
Herald1360 Dekatron Join Date: Feb 2007 Location: Leominster, Herefordshire, UK. Posts: 16,536	Re: French Black Bakelite Phone More pics Attached Thumbnails __________________ ....__________ ....\|____\|\|__\|__\_____ .=.\| _---\__\|__\|_---_\|. .........O..Chris....O

12th Dec 2016, 2:53 am	#8
Stylo N M Heptode Join Date: Jul 2012 Location: Derby DE1, Derbyshire, UK. Posts: 626	Re: French Black Bakelite Phone Hi chris, there is a very short video on youTube, where someone is operating one, and it does apear to ring back. It apears that it was useually connected to a switchboard, and possibly formed part of a party line, or shared line, were a single phone line spanned miles antill it reached the next town. The problem was, each party had to listen out, to determin wich party was being called. As to why your's doesn't apear to have a bell! that certainly is odd, unless there was a similer model made, with yet anouther purpose, or someones nicked it Paul.

12th Dec 2016, 9:24 am	#9
dagskarlsen Heptode Join Date: Jan 2008 Location: Hakadal, Norway Posts: 643	Re: French Black Bakelite Phone Ill guess yours a later version of U43 As far as I understand the diagram you will need a battery (3-5V) between Ø10 and Ø18 The line should probably be connected between Ø9 and Ø13 An external ringer should be between Ø16 and Ø17 dsk

12th Dec 2016, 9:43 am	#10
bluepilot Heptode Join Date: Feb 2010 Location: Duffort, Gers, France Posts: 714	Re: French Black Bakelite Phone It seems it can be used as a BL or a BC. That's "batterie locale" or "batterie central". The diagram indicates which straps to install to configure it accordingly. There are other options such as with or without bell, call button etc. __________________ Stuart The golden age is always yesterday - Asa Briggs