Renovating my AE34 telephone

[tonyb]

Depending on how exacting you wish to get with this body repair project, Retro Today, you may wish to look into this spot filler stuff they sell at auto paint supply houses. (Well, at least they sold it in those places back when I was a car-painting hobbyist, 25 and 30 years ago). The filler I allude to is essentially a thick primer/surfacer. It comes in a tube and you spread it with a wide blade-like tool, much like how you apply the plastic filler. It fills scratches, in both the metal (in the case of cars) and whatever plastic filler might have been used. And it sands out much easier than the plastic filler. Judging from your photos, you'll have some imperfections after you sand out that filler, which would be quite noticeable under the glossier finish coats of paint if you don't address them first.

What color will it be? Finishing it in black would make less noticeable whatever scratches might eventually befall that paint job. But another color (I'm thinking blue, or red) could be fun.

 

[DNO]

Damn, I've been looking for vintage hats that will actually fit my big head and have not found a single one yet! You're very fortunate!

What's your hat size? I'll keep my eye open. I'm off to a contents sale this morning!

 

[RetroToday]

Depending on how exacting you wish to get with this body repair project, Retro Today, you may wish to look into this spot filler stuff they sell at auto paint supply houses. (Well, at least they sold it in those places back when I was a car-painting hobbyist, 25 and 30 years ago). The filler I allude to is essentially a thick primer/surfacer. It comes in a tube and you spread it with a wide blade-like tool, much like how you apply the plastic filler. It fills scratches, in both the metal (in the case of cars) and whatever plastic filler might have been used. And it sands out much easier than the plastic filler. Judging from your photos, you'll have some imperfections after you sand out that filler, which would be quite noticeable under the glossier finish coats of paint if you don't address them first.

What color will it be? Finishing it in black would make less noticeable whatever scratches might eventually befall that paint job. But another color (I'm thinking blue, or red) could be fun.

- Hi tonyb, I've decided to refinish it black with all the brass parts polished, bare of paint. I hope there's no imperfections with the final sanding, but if there is, I was thinking of spreading a spot filler like you mentioned over those areas.

- DNO, thank you kindly for the offer to keep your eye out for hats for me. I actually don't know my hat size, I'll have to find out what it is.

 

[RetroToday]

.... Lizzie had posted some instructions about wiring the 302. They were so straightforward even a techno-idiot like me could follow them but fortunately the two 302s I picked up were already set up and ready to go. I do believe she is much more technically capable than I am!...

Just wondering, DNO and/or LizzieMaine, where did Lizzie post those good wiring instructions for the 302? I've searched the forum, and it is really tricky to find. I have two N.E. model 302s, the c.1956 version doesn't work yet and needs to be line corded, etc.

Can I just copy the wire placement from my operating c.1939 (metal body) version?

Thanks in advance.

No progress on the AE34 phone over the past couple of days, just too busy with work, etc.

 

[DNO]

The instructions were in a thread started by LizzieMaine about skills for living in the era. Here's a link to the entry:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?68891-Skills-For-quot-Living-The-Era-quot/page3

Both of my NE 302s work fine. One's from 1941 with original wiring and the other is from 1946. Both seem to be wired the same so I suspect you can just use your 1939 version as a model. Just in case, there's a wiring diagram link on the bottom of this page: http://atcaonline.com/diagrams.php

Out of curiosity, is your 1956 version metal or plastic?

 

[RetroToday]

The instructions were in a thread started by LizzieMaine about skills for living in the era. Here's a link to the entry:

http://www.thefedoralounge.com/showthread.php?68891-Skills-For-quot-Living-The-Era-quot/page3

Both of my NE 302s work fine. One's from 1941 with original wiring and the other is from 1946. Both seem to be wired the same so I suspect you can just use your 1939 version as a model. Just in case, there's a wiring diagram link on the bottom of this page: http://atcaonline.com/diagrams.php

Out of curiosity, is your 1956 version metal or plastic?

Thank you again DNO,

My 1956 version is plastic with a metal dial.

 

[RetroToday]

Wish I had more time to work on my AE34, still too busy to devote the proper time to it.

But, I remembered that I took this photo of it on my desk last year when I bought a 1936 Bell Telephone directory for Toronto, thought I'd share it here.
By trying to get a moody nighttime shot of it, the darkness concealed the flaws.

And, here's a sepia version...

 

[Shangas]

That's beautiful!!

 

[David Conwill]

Great thread. I can't wait to see how the body work turns out.

 

[DeaconKC]

Great job! And the photos were superb as well.