[GreenKeys] Telephone Hand Crank Dynamo

[Richard Knoppow]

     A google search for "telephone magneto" produced a lot of hits and 
a search for wooden wall phones would produce many more. Telephone 
collecting is very popular so there is a lot of information available.   
I don't think any reaonably good oil would hurt the thing.   The normal 
ringing voltage was 90 volts at 20 hz although that may not have been 
true of all magneto telephone systems.  Most magnetos were made to 
supply enough ringing voltage to overcome line losses, the produce a 
heavy jolt if you get across one.  The phones with magneto ringers 
usually also have internal batteries.  I spent my summers when a kid in 
rural Michigan where we still had magneto telephones.  A couple of times 
a year someone from the telephone company could come out and put new 
batteries in.  All of these were party line phones with coded rings, 
i.e. two long- two short, etc. I remember we were an Onsted exchange but 
the ring code is long gone.   Normally, one would crank for the operator 
but you could talk to others on the same party line by ringing their 
code or just picking the phone up at the same time.   Etiquette was to 
listen first, to see if the line was in use, if not crank for the 
operator and place your call.  All wall phones seem to have been 
installed by basketball players;  I had to stand on a chair to use 
ours.  It is surprising how long some of these antique systems remained 
in use especially in farming communities.

On 6/15/2015 8:32 AM, Roy Morgan wrote:
> Greenkeyers and telephone historians,
>
> I have acquired a hand crank dynamo of the sort used in ole time telephones. It has a group of U-shaped magnets, a hand crank driving the armature though two gears.  The thing is in pretty good shape although it has some rust.  I suspect that a few drops of oil would get it running nicely.  I remember movie scenes where the actor picks up the ear piece, turns the crank, and waits for the operator to come on the line.
>
> Do folks have any internet resources or links about these things?
>
> Any ideas on the expected output voltage, or normal load “down the line”.
>
> Roy
>
>
> Roy Morgan
> k1lky68 at gmail.com
> K1LKY Since 1958
>
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-- 
Richard Knoppow
1oldlens1 at ix.netcom.com
WB6KBL