Bakelite phone question.
 

Good morning Gentlemen. Some 40 years ago I bought a phone and if possible I would like some information please.
I will try to describe it. It is black and very plain, there are only 3 bright pieces on it, the 2 buttons that the handset rests on and the finger stop on the dial.
In between the 2 buttons there is a circle with 'AEP' printed in it.
The centre of the dial is a paper label with the following printed round it.
COMPANHIA. DOS. TELEFONES. NAO (the A has a line above it). MARCAR SEM OUVIR O SINAL.
At the bottom is a bell with, in a triangle, at the top is an A and P T under.
In ink across the label is hand written . 869645.
When dialling the action is smooth and very quiet, the phone does work although I find it a bit quiet.
Painted in the bottom of the phone is 31 AUT 196? smeared could be a 3 or may be an 8.
It was bought from what I would call a second hand shop that had a selection of old cameras, compasses, scientific instruments. etc.
Why am I interested now, well the electricity supply will be off for work to be carried out, the 'modern' phone with answering machine will not work!
Long time resting but at last will be used!!.

Thank you very much for any info. that you may have.
Cheers and keep safe.
Geoff.

Re: Bakelite phone question.
 

A picture would help.

Re: Bakelite phone question.
 

The letters suggest the language is Portuguese.

Re: Bakelite phone question.
 

That looks like Portuguese to me. The first part is fairly clearly "Telephone Company" (literally "Company of Telephones"), and Google translates "Não. Marcar sem ouvir o sinal" as "Not. Marking without hearing the sign", though I'm not sure how that should really translate.

Re: Bakelite phone question.
 

My guess it is a 300 series type telphone like the one here: https://www.britishtelephones.com/t300info.htm
Made by AEP

How the circuitry is are not easy to tell, but
1) Weak sound when speaking may be the transmitter capsule (microphone element)
2) Weak sound when litening may be the receiver. Somtimes that may be solved by adjusting the distance between the electromagnets, and the magnetic membrane.

3) Weak ringing may be weak (wrong) ring signal on a more modern exchange or ATA. It may be mechanical adjustments, or a bad capacitor.

dsk

Re: Bakelite phone question.
 

Thank you all. I will take some pictures, I have listened to the talking clock and that was quiet but having said that it is quiet on the modern phone with the volume turned fully up.
What it sounds like when speaking I dont know but will find out later.
I will keep you up to date.
Thank you again.
Cheers.
Geoff.

Re: Bakelite phone question.
 

AEP =Automatica Electrica Portuguesa . It was a Portuguese subsidiary set up around 1930 by the then Automatic Telephone Manufacturing Company of Strowger Works, Edge Lane in Liverpool. ATM later became ATE (Automatic Telephone & Electric Ltd) until taken over by Plessey in the early 1960's. They manufactured 300 type Telephones similar to the GPO's Telephone No 332 . They later produced telephones of the GPO's 700 type. When I was with Plessey Communication Systems in late 1970's there were often AEP 3XX and 7XX type telephones on PAXes. So there is a 99% chance the circuit is that of a GPO Telephone 332.

Re: Bakelite phone question.
 

Wait for dialling tone. :)

Re: Bakelite phone question.
 

That certainly makes more sense!

Re: Bakelite phone question.
 

And there is a picture of a Portuguese example that looks like it has "Planet" style capabilities.
"AEP (Automatica Electrica Portuguesa) instrument made in Portugal".

Re: Bakelite phone question.
 

Hi thank you, oh bang goes my 'Wow it is rare and worth a million'. hopes dashed again.
Seriously thanks for all the info. much more than I had hoped for. I have taken some pictures, the quiet sound problem seems to be only the 'speaking clock' for some reason.
If I can work out how to put pictures up then fine.
Cheers.
Geoff.

Re: Bakelite phone question.
 

From this page: http://www.samhallas.co.uk/collectio...et_tele164.htm
the receiver is described, it may need tuning.
You do not have to remove it, just unscrew the cap to look at it. The center should not touch the magnets, just almost. The cap should of course not touch the center of the membrane. Sometimes putting it upside down helps.

dsk