GPO 746 Dial - UK Vintage Radio Repair and Restoration Discussion Forum

JamieEC · 14th Mar 2016, 11:09 pm

Hello
Quick question. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement dial for this telephone or what model it is? The spring has gone in it so it is pretty much beyond repair unfortunately.
Thank you

ThePillenwerfer · 15th Mar 2016, 12:29 am

It's a Number 21.

As with just about anything, you could get one off e-Bay easily. Alternatively you could try a specialist dealer such as Telephone Lines; they sell far more stuff than is on their web-site so it's best to get in touch to enquire.

— Joe

Nicklyons2 · 15th Mar 2016, 11:00 am

I've got some; do you just want the mechanism? ie not the finger plate & number plate.
£10 inc P&P.

TonyDuell · 15th Mar 2016, 4:56 pm

Later 746s were fitted with a Dial 54A which is easy to recognise as the chassis is a white plastic moulding, not a black plastic ring screwed to a metal chassis plate. A dial 1 will replace it with no problems.

Are you sure the spring is actually broken? The dial 54A (if that's what you have) has a failure where a little plastic tab breaks off and the spring is no longer anchored to the chassis. It has the same effect as spring failure, the dial does not return to normal, and in fact it generally sits just off normal.

I have repaired this fault a couple of times, but it is a lot of work and not worth doing really if you can get a replacement dial mechanism. The way I repaired it involved completely stripping the mechanism, drilling out the centre bearing to remove it and replacing it with a turned brass part that incorporates the slot for the spring. It took me an afternoon on the lathe to do it. If you have access to a lathe and want to have a go I can try to find my notes on doing it.

ThePillenwerfer · 15th Mar 2016, 5:40 pm

Did the Dial 54A come in before the 746 became the 8746? I've only come across one of the horrors and that was in a 704C.

— Joe

TonyDuell · 15th Mar 2016, 6:57 pm

I've certainly seen 746s with 1K bell mechanisms and Dial 54A's. Whether it's all original I can't be sure, but I see no reason to doubt it.

I don't like the Dial 54A much either. But I've seen them that have lasted 30 years or so, which would seem to be beyond the design life. So perhaps not as bad as they look.

ThePillenwerfer · 15th Mar 2016, 7:16 pm

Thanks for the clarification.

As for 54As not being as bad as they look, you're probably right — they couldn't be.

— Joe

JamieEC · 22nd Mar 2016, 9:49 pm

Hello thanks for the replys
Yes the dial is beyond repair as the spring is completely snapped and the part of the dial it is contained in has snapped so even a new spring would not fix it.
I think i recall seeing a 21A number on it somewhere. Also, does anyone know where I can get the little piece of plastic above the dial as the phone has a clear one and I want an orignal green one. Nicklyons2 I would be interested in a dial.
Regards

ThePillenwerfer · 22nd Mar 2016, 11:56 pm

Same places as in Post 2 above.

The bit of plastic above the dial is called a Dummy Button.

— Joe

14th Mar 2016, 11:09 pm	#1
JamieEC Tetrode Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cheshire Posts: 79	GPO 746 Dial Hello Quick question. Does anyone know where I can get a replacement dial for this telephone or what model it is? The spring has gone in it so it is pretty much beyond repair unfortunately. Thank you

15th Mar 2016, 12:29 am	#2
ThePillenwerfer Octode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,453	Re: GPO 746 Dial It's a Number 21. As with just about anything, you could get one off e-Bay easily. Alternatively you could try a specialist dealer such as Telephone Lines; they sell far more stuff than is on their web-site so it's best to get in touch to enquire. — Joe __________________ "Experts are only good at one thing: explaining why something will not work!"

15th Mar 2016, 11:00 am	#3
Nicklyons2 Octode Join Date: Jan 2013 Location: Barnsley, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,517	Re: GPO 746 Dial I've got some; do you just want the mechanism? ie not the finger plate & number plate. £10 inc P&P.

15th Mar 2016, 4:56 pm	#4
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,208	Re: GPO 746 Dial Later 746s were fitted with a Dial 54A which is easy to recognise as the chassis is a white plastic moulding, not a black plastic ring screwed to a metal chassis plate. A dial 1 will replace it with no problems. Are you sure the spring is actually broken? The dial 54A (if that's what you have) has a failure where a little plastic tab breaks off and the spring is no longer anchored to the chassis. It has the same effect as spring failure, the dial does not return to normal, and in fact it generally sits just off normal. I have repaired this fault a couple of times, but it is a lot of work and not worth doing really if you can get a replacement dial mechanism. The way I repaired it involved completely stripping the mechanism, drilling out the centre bearing to remove it and replacing it with a turned brass part that incorporates the slot for the spring. It took me an afternoon on the lathe to do it. If you have access to a lathe and want to have a go I can try to find my notes on doing it.

15th Mar 2016, 5:40 pm	#5
ThePillenwerfer Octode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,453	Re: GPO 746 Dial Did the Dial 54A come in before the 746 became the 8746? I've only come across one of the horrors and that was in a 704C. — Joe __________________ "Experts are only good at one thing: explaining why something will not work!"

15th Mar 2016, 6:57 pm	#6
TonyDuell Dekatron Join Date: Jun 2015 Location: Biggin Hill, London, UK. Posts: 5,208	Re: GPO 746 Dial I've certainly seen 746s with 1K bell mechanisms and Dial 54A's. Whether it's all original I can't be sure, but I see no reason to doubt it. I don't like the Dial 54A much either. But I've seen them that have lasted 30 years or so, which would seem to be beyond the design life. So perhaps not as bad as they look.

15th Mar 2016, 7:16 pm	#7
ThePillenwerfer Octode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,453	Re: GPO 746 Dial Thanks for the clarification. As for 54As not being as bad as they look, you're probably right — they couldn't be. — Joe __________________ "Experts are only good at one thing: explaining why something will not work!"

22nd Mar 2016, 9:49 pm	#8
JamieEC Tetrode Join Date: Apr 2011 Location: Cheshire Posts: 79	Re: GPO 746 Dial Hello thanks for the replys Yes the dial is beyond repair as the spring is completely snapped and the part of the dial it is contained in has snapped so even a new spring would not fix it. I think i recall seeing a 21A number on it somewhere. Also, does anyone know where I can get the little piece of plastic above the dial as the phone has a clear one and I want an orignal green one. Nicklyons2 I would be interested in a dial. Regards

22nd Mar 2016, 11:56 pm	#9
ThePillenwerfer Octode Join Date: Mar 2011 Location: Sheffield, South Yorkshire, UK. Posts: 1,453	Re: GPO 746 Dial Same places as in Post 2 above. The bit of plastic above the dial is called a Dummy Button. — Joe __________________ "Experts are only good at one thing: explaining why something will not work!"