Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!cs.utexas.edu!usc!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!casbah.acns.nwu.edu!nucsrl!telecom-request From: motcid!foos@uunet.uu.net (John Foos) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: How do You Hook up a Phone For a Play? Message-ID: Date: 19 Feb 91 15:41:02 GMT Sender: news@casbah.acns.nwu.edu Organization: Motorola Inc., Cellular Infrastructure Div., Arlington Hgts, IL Lines: 22 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 134, Message 3 of 9 Originator: telecom@delta.eecs.nwu.edu John_Richard_Bruni@cup.portal.com writes: > This may be hazardous to one`s health, but I have on several > occassions seen phones hooked up to AC to ring the bell for plays ... > [Moderator's Note: What you are suggesting is a *highly dangerous* > practice which could -- would !!! -- damage the phone beyond future I hate to dissagree, but... I am the proud owner of a Western Electric (?) desk phone. I don't know its age, but it is the same model that Bogie talks on in Casablanca. It is quite heavy and when the dial is released it makes a pleasant whir. I got it from a retired electrician who had used it for many years as a 120 volt tester. He had wired a power plug to the cord and would test a circuit by plugging in the phone. If it rang the circuit was live. I have used it for many years now and the sound quality is better than any modern phone I have used (as a phone I mean). I would imagine, though, this is the exception rather than the rule. By the way, were these earlier phones made of bakelight (sp?) rather than plastic?