HISTORY:
At the beginning of my career in electronics, many moons ago, I worked in the telephony industry in NZ. After a few years in the tech side (Fault Control Centre & Exchange techie) I could see the rapid advancement of technology would mean the end of my job as I knew it and left that industry.
However the flame has always burned for all things relating to telephones, both at the subscriber, exchange and all things in between (even loading coils!) So whenever I crossed paths with some telephone equipment, I 'collected' it.
The last few years have been cleanup time with a LOT of the gear finding new owners and now I am approaching the end of my telephone gear collection but I still find some 'dribs n drabs' of equipment - this subscriber instrument is one of those items.
Before it underwent 'the operation' on the workshop bench, this was a type 746 subscriber telephone BUT the rotary dial and case had already been donated to other equipment and I was now left with the 'carcass' showing in one of the phototgraphs.
To the best of my knowledge, this would appear to be a British made instrument not local to Australia or NZ although I think STC Australia had a hand in similar equipment. In my description of this telephone component, I provide all of the identification markings I can see so that you can make sure this component will suit your own telephone.
Obviously this component is aimed at those who share a similar passion for those good ol' days of the jiggle jaggling of the good old telephone! No electronic 'noises', no stupid tunes playing ... just a good solid bell(s) ringing. Remember those days when you could walk into an office, where each desk had one (or more) of these sitting on the desk and all you could hear were the constant sounds of bells! Sweet sound but sometimes very annoying (and you couldn't turn them off with the 746)
Just in case you have a hankering to hear 'that sound' once again ...
Click HERE (Ring My Bell) not Collette!
Finally he answers the call ... then hangs up!
If bells are 'not your cuppa tea' .... watch & listen to Collette having her bells rung!
Enough of the background to this component, time to tell you all about it ...
STC (STANDARD TELEPHONE & CABLES) UK - Subscriber Telephone Component
Removed from what was left of a BPO type 746 instrument (see photograph prior to the 'operation')
Component: Set (2) of Bell Gongs with mounting hardware
Type: 24A & 24B
Part numbers are stamped into the top of each gong
Supplied with mounting pillars, bolts and arm
All metal with a Chrome finish to the gongs
Dimensions: 54.5mm diameter x 25.5mm height
Weight (the set): 135g
TESTING:
As the dial was missing from this 746, I wired in an 'ad hoc' dial for testing and connected the telephone to my test line.
Rings a treat! Gongs work!
COSMETIC CONDITION:
USED
CLEAN
NO damage to the gongs or any of the mounting hardware
I have now placed this set of gongs, along with the hardware, into a sealed clear plastic packet, waiting to bring another telephone instrument to life!
