Posted by omar on February 12, 2005, 5:54 pm I am buying a West. Elec. circa '30, style 202 cradle "Farm Phone", spit cup and all. It's the type that does not have a rotary dial. I'm really excited about it because it will complete my collection. All of the other phones I have are all working and in original condition-no conversions, '04 West. Elec. Candle Stick, '08 Kellog candle stick, West. Elec. 300 etc. My big question is that it comes with a subset/Magneto and battery. I am not sure about how this works and how to safely connect it to my existing phone line. I was once told by an antique dealer that Magnetos can cause severe damage to the phone company's lines if you crank them. He said something to effect that there is a huge surge of power that goes through the phone lines when you do this and he'd been advised, by the phone company, to inform any buyers of these phones w/magnetos to not connect them or try to ring the bell box. I do know that when I am using any one of my older phones and some one in the house picks up the 'cheaper' modern phone, they cannot hear clearly because the older phone draws all the power from the line, so I am aware of a 'power' issue with old phones. I can hear loud and clear on the old phone when this happens. I am not really clear on the function of magnetos and how they work. I most likely won't be needing to use it as 'central' is no longer around. Haha. Can anyone please advise me on the safest way of connecting my new 'old' phone, and the purpose and use of a magneto. Thanks! Omar Cunningham
Hello anyone who can advise me. =)
L.A, Ca.
omarcunningham@yahoo.com
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