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Old 18th Mar 2009, 8:21 pm   #1
thumpyy
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Default Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

First I`d like to thank the people who helped me a year ago, doesn`t time fly

As requested back then here are some shots of the insides.

It says GECOPHONE 1000 on the label inside and is the same as in the second picture. So I guess it is definatly a GECOPHONE 1000 and dates around 1956.

Apparently there are instructions on this page to re wire it but I can`t figure them out.

I have many questions if you don`t mind:

Is it just a case of buying some wire and replacing the one that goes from the phone to the socket?
does the wire from the phone to receiver need replacing aswell?
where do I get the wire from and what am I looking for?
does the bell wire need to be attatched for the ringer to work (we have it detatched because we have broadband)?
Where can I get some Baykobrite? ebay and google are failing me...

Sorry about all the questions, I`m new to all this.

It`s nice to see made in england on the components inside, very rare these days. It seems to be built like a tank too, things aren`t made like this anymore unfortunatly.

Thanks for your help and if you need more pictures just say the word.
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Last edited by Darren-UK; 20th Mar 2009 at 4:40 pm.
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Old 18th Mar 2009, 11:29 pm   #2
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Welcome back!
Quote:
Originally Posted by thumpyy View Post
Where can I get some Baykobrite? ebay and google are failing me...
My spelling might have been up-the-spout. This is EXACTLY the same stuff under a different name:
http://cgi.ebay.co.uk/Bakelite-Polis...1%7C240%3A1318

Nick.
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Old 19th Mar 2009, 9:23 am   #3
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Loads of hits on google if you ask for Paste Polishing No 5 (the old gpo/bt description)
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Old 19th Mar 2009, 3:21 pm   #4
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Thanks Nick, ordered.

Thanks David, found lots of advise on how to use it with that search term.

Keep the advise coming guys.

Last edited by Darren-UK; 20th Mar 2009 at 4:45 pm.
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Old 19th Mar 2009, 4:15 pm   #5
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

This page http://www.britishtelephones.com/gec/tel1g.htm implies that the model number should be prefixed by ST. Is yours?

The wire from the body of the phone to the receiver should be OK as it is.

The one from the phone to the BT line is too fat to be fitted with a modern BT plug. So you could either replace it with a modern one, or for extra authenticity, retain it and join a modern lead to the end of it.

You will also need to make a few minor changes to the wiring inside. Is there a circuit diagram pasted inside the phone? If so, can you take a picture?

Nick.
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Old 19th Mar 2009, 5:14 pm   #6
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

If that`s the model number on the circuit diagram then it`s a KS.

Ah I think I`d prefer joining a modern lead to the end of the original, is it safe to be using this old wiring though? I presume it is otherwise you wouldn`t suggest it.

Thanks for your help Nick
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Old 21st Mar 2009, 7:59 pm   #7
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Looks like the circuit diagram has been added to the top by a moderator Nick incase you didn`t spot it.

All the adhesive had dried up and was only help in place by being wedged under a wire, so I pulled it out and scanned it.
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Old 22nd Mar 2009, 10:39 pm   #8
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Hello again,

Thanks for the circuit diagram... will get back to you when I've studied it.

As for the wiring, it will definitely be "safe" so long as no bare wire is showing. Telephone wiring is generally not very dangerous anyway, with an unpleasant shock being about as bad as things could get.

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Old 22nd Mar 2009, 11:38 pm   #9
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Hello Nick, thanks for your help and reassurance. That cuircuit diagram baffles me.
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Old 24th Mar 2009, 9:06 pm   #10
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

I`m sure several of you have rewired one of these... ANY help appreciated.
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Old 24th Mar 2009, 9:30 pm   #11
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Haven't forgotten you...
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Old 26th Mar 2009, 4:01 pm   #12
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Whenever your ready Nick, I`m waiting

In other news, the No.5 arrived.
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Old 27th Mar 2009, 7:30 pm   #13
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

OK, a very crude method (until I've had time to do it "properly")...

There should be a 3-core cable coming out of the phone, coded red/green/white.

I presume you've got a nice new lead complete with modern plug, coded white/green/blue/red.

Connect the white wire from the phone to the white wire from the BT plug.

Connect both the red and green wires from the phone to the red wire from the BT plug.

Leave the blue and green wires from the BT plug unconnected.

Let us know what happens.

Nick.
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Old 28th Mar 2009, 4:16 pm   #14
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Thanks Nick.

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nickthedentist View Post
I presume you've got a nice new lead complete with modern plug, coded white/green/blue/red.
No what do i need?

Can`t find anything with the BT431 plug and bare wire on the other end. Can get bare wire and BT431 plugs but the crimp tool is about £10.

Would something like this do and then just cut the RJ11 end off?
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Old 29th Mar 2009, 8:44 pm   #15
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

eBay item 150330131999 would do.

Alternatively, any cable with a BT plug could be used, with whatever's at the other end chopped off. Note that the wires are often made of "tinsel wire" which consists of very fine copper strands wrapped around thin nylon cord. This is very flexible, but hard to terminate neatly. The cheaper ones are often bog-standard stranded copper wire which is easier to deal with.

You may well have something lying around in your loft/garage/junk cupboard already.

The colour coding of non-BT stuff is often non-standard, so let us know when you've found something suitable.

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Old 30th Mar 2009, 1:06 pm   #16
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Here's the "proper" way to do it (as far as I can tell)...
  • Remove the original cord - keep it though for originality's sake.
  • Connect the new 4-core cable/BT plug as shown in attached picture
  • Note that you have to link T3 and T4 with a bit of wire.
  • You also need to disconnect the 1.8uF capacitor, which is in the big silver can BUT leave the 0.9uF one (which is in the same can) connected!
The way I'd do this is to carefully cut the wire soldered to the back of T4 (where the new red wire is attached), which should be brown.

Nick.
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Old 30th Mar 2009, 8:32 pm   #17
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Thanks Nick, that lead is perfect.

Is it still possible to attach it to the end on the original wire? I`d like to keep it all original looking.

Also what`s the 1.8uF capacitor for and why does it need disconnecting? Just curious.

Thanks.
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Old 30th Mar 2009, 8:58 pm   #18
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Quote:
Originally Posted by thumpyy View Post
Also what`s the 1.8uF capacitor for and why does it need disconnecting? Just curious.
It's an integral part of the phone's workings, and is part of both the bell and speech circuits. But in the "new" BT system, this capacitor is found in the master socket where the wires come into your house, and there is one shared between all extensions instead of one per phone. I think the basic reason is because nowadays, phone bells are wired in parallel whereas in the past, all phones on the line had their bells wired in series, christmas-tree light style.
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Old 30th Mar 2009, 9:00 pm   #19
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Quote:
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Is it still possible to attach it to the end on the original wire? I`d like to keep it all original looking.
Yes, try what I said in post 13, and we'll take it from there
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Old 30th Mar 2009, 10:40 pm   #20
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Default Re: Help a newbie put a GECOPHONE 1000 into service

Quote:
Originally Posted by Nickthedentist View Post
It's an integral part of the phone's workings, and is part of both the bell and speech circuits. But in the "new" BT system, this capacitor is found in the master socket where the wires come into your house, and there is one shared between all extensions instead of one per phone. I think the basic reason is because nowadays, phone bells are wired in parallel whereas in the past, all phones on the line had their bells wired in series, christmas-tree light style.
Gotcha, thanks for the explaination
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