Western Electric Model 500 Desk Phone Restoration (Part 1)

[@punchion]

I was a telephone repairman for 30 years. In that time I repaired hundreds of these type of phones. 1955 refers to the original year of manufacture of the phone. All the parts could be replaced and these phones gave good service.

[@JeffHogge-n1f]

My friend: I must confess I started with Pt. 3 of this video and worked back. I loved all 3 parts, but I wanted to how much I respect your meticulous detail of your work. Also, congratulations... You have an ORIGINAL (first year) 500 Model. Western Electric made the 500 Model available for distribution in 1956. Thanks for giving this great old phone the respectful care you've given it. Jeff

[@rjohnson1690]

A few years ago I decided to pick up an old rotary for my ground line. I ended up with a black 1965 WE Model 500. It’s amazing how bulletproof and maintenance friendly these old phones really are. They always seem to work great, but I like to go through and clean them up. Or otherwise just explore what makes them work. Recently I picked up a teal Model 500 for my girlfriend as an Xmas present, and a 1946 model 302 in great shape for my bedroom.

[@ethan1970]

Also, it is very rare to find a Western Electric telephone with all matching dates, Theses phones were serviced many times over the years, many times they were taken apart completely and put into part bins, and reassembled with many different parts later on.

[@RedLink27]

Just found a Northern Electric NE-500, same phone down to the guts but from up North here, 1956 completely original and undisturbed. Triangular feet and all. Somehow evaded the upgrades of the 1980's like the other 3 I have.

[@erintyres3609]

At 6:29 you can see a rubber gasket that runs around the dial. That helped keep the inside of the phone much cleaner than the outside.

[@UpstateScavenger]

Thank you Sir! Appreciate you taking the time videoing this... helped so much in cleaning a couple 500s I had to resell. Subbed and Liked!

[@NetworkXIII]

Thank you for your kind conments. I still need to shoor part four and wrap this project up, hopefully soon.

[@Sonic_X_Freddy_Lover001]

I really love this particular model. P.S.: I live near the 617 area code.

[@roncrate6424]

413 here

[@NortelGeek]

Thanks for these videos! I just got a 302/F1 looking forward to restoring it. The module is called the "network", by the way.

[@GothGuy885]

I know this was 4 years ago, but in future, Jeweler's rouge works really well for removing that Haze. My friend and I had a classic car that we were restoring that had sat in a tow yard for, I don't know how many years. and the glass had a brown haze on it and with some elbow grease, the jeweler's rouge took it right off. also shined the brite work right up. it's good stuff!

[@colbolt54]

I'm an antique typewriter amature resteration aficionado. That stuff your finding difficult to remove, is cigereet smoke, tar and nicotine. Lots of people from our days were chronic smokers and typewriters and phones got the worst of this, second to the lungs that is, anyhow it's not hard to remove if you use "Goop off" slather the goop on it and let it sit for a few seconds 5 seconds then get a soft clothe and wipe it off, quickly rinse it off, and thoroughly wash. Don't let the goop stay on it too long or it may or may not react with the plastic. I just know it does react with certain kinds of paints but even so if you do it quick the results are astonishing. I'm TALKING like brand new. Anyway let me know if you have any questions.

[@rjohnson1690]

I have an IBM Selectric II that I saved from a yard office dumpster at work. (I even got the cover) Do you have any advice on where to start in restoring it, or know somewhere that can restore it?

[@antronargaiv3283]

Isopropanol or Windex works well to remove nicotine

[@Imanidiot244]

Thanks for this. I'm trying to get my ringer to work on battery power. I don't know what i'm doing but it will be fun learning.

[@johnstancliff7328]

Congratulations! you now know how to do preventative maintenance on your phone! its easier to wash the parts in the kitchen sink! using 1/2 cup dishwasher detergent (powder) to a sink of hot water. these are real easy to take care of!

[@NumaticVacuum]

The G1 handset was the first 500 style handset and was made of Bakelite.

[@thumb6170]

I have a model 500 from January of 1950 still functional even with the mod I added

[@NetworkXIII]

Anonymous This old Western Electric equipment was built to survive decades of customer abuse, almost indestructible.

[@thumb6170]

@@NetworkXIII I found a similar one with the same handset

[@rjohnson1690]

@@NetworkXIII I think they were built to survive a direct hit from an atom bomb.

[@johnmalarkey]

If not for you kind Sir. My 1958 Western Electric 500 would be on one of my shelves. Thank you again Sir

[@moogdome2562]

Excellent. Very well done.

[@RestorationAustralia]

Well done

[@johnoofsatchurch]

The bottom of mine says 12/61 but it has modular jacks. Wikipedia says modular jacks added in 70s? Is it possible that it wasn’t sent in to get modular jacks added?

[@NetworkXIII]

Bell would refurbish and update the phones when they were returned from a customer, I suppose it is possible that a 1961 chassis could have been fitted with modular jacks.

[@ethan1970]

Please! Don't use WD-40 on a Rotary Dial! Use clock oil or oil of that similar type.

[@NetworkXIII]

Ethan Whitmer Hi Ethan, thank you for the advice. I have some light machine oil that I’m going to try, assuming the mechanism isn’t corroded or otherwise damaged. As you can see, this poor phone has likely been stored in a damp basement or garage for quite some time.

[@NetworkXIII]

Amtsf Thank you for the advice. I need to finish the restoration work on this phone and release part 3, hopefully soon.

[@NetworkXIII]

The New Vintage Telephone Forum Thank you for the advice, I will be using a light machine oil on the dial mechanism.

[@MildMisanthropeMaybeMassive]

Would Hoppes Gun Oil be okay? People who use typewriters swear by it.

[@AugustMeteors]

That schmutz you scraped off the back plate under the dial would have been years and years of congealed skin oil, from people dialing the phone.

[@NetworkXIII]

AugustMeteors It was pretty disgusting, but the plate underneath turned out to be in great condition.

[@marcelclark5860]

By the area code written in the dial disc this telephone must had been in used or it belonged to a household in the eastern Massachusetts area code.

[@NetworkXIII]

The old 617, was that the area code for all of Massachusetts back then?

[@mischmerz]

I have an old Bell system phone that is connected to my Asterisk VOIP box and works well. However - the dialing plate needs some assistance to spool back - and I haven't found a way to open the dialing mechanics. Any idea?

[@NetworkXIII]

Michaela Merz I haven’t opened mine up yet, but I will be working on it this weekend, so maybe I can include it in part two. As you saw in the video, the dial mechanism on this phone also needs some TLC.

[@mischmerz]

@@NetworkXIII Yep .. I noticed. I have the same issue. It dials IF I help a little bit pushing back.

[@wolfraider577]

I have that exact phone too been having it for 14 years or more and got it for 5 american dollars

[@scottraber8497]

I can't get past the step of removing the area code phon e number disk. Any tips?

[@NetworkXIII]

The metal ring has two tabs, you can try using a small flat blade screwdriver to release one of them.

[@scottraber8497]

Thanks. I learned mine is a frankenstein of early and late models. My dial was plastic and had a clip which needed manipulation with a paper clip. Mine is washed and next I'll order sandpaper and research bakelite restoration.

[@aleksandratraczyk8440]

Hello, can you provide the dimmensions of the phone? Im trying to rebuild in 3D, this would be super helpful :) x

[@NetworkXIII]

The model 500 desk phone is 9 inches long by 5 3/8 inches wide by 4 13/16 inches high.

[@aleksandratraczyk8440]

@@NetworkXIII thanks a lot!

[@adamjohnson654]

How can i find part 2?

[@NetworkXIII]

There is a playlist containing all of the desk phone restoration videos

[@goosekingindustries7260]

Hi I was wondering if you had any info on how to replace the wire to the wall also where to buy one I have the same model telephone

[@NetworkXIII]

Goose King I couldn’t find any on eBay, but this vendor may have what you need: www.oldphoneshop.com/categories/telephone-cords.html You may also be able to purchase the cable and lugs and make your own if you have a suitable crimp tool.

[@stevenmichael558]

CLR WOULD WORK FOR THAT BODY PARTS . AND ALCOHOL WOULD CLEAN THE ELECTRONICS OR CONTACT CLEANER, BOTH EVAPORATE FAST .

[@cooperreynolds60]

Just got a 53 500

[@bmug-u2g]

I’d bet the gunk under the dial is a mixture of body grease and skin.

[@marcelclark5860]

NIce! I would have suggested you wearing a mask and protective gloves before handling this nice 500 model phone; mildew/mold can attach to the skin and invade the cells, mold is hard to kill once it gets on your skin or breathing it into your lungs.

[@DiscordC]

that date is a manufacture date

[@matheusbpolidorio7872]

Awesome! Greetings from Brazil :)

[@NetworkXIII]

Matheus B Polidorio Thank you!

[@doe9de995]

I've never seen one of those phones in such bad shape looks like it came out of an abandoned structure.

[@NetworkXIII]

General-Gaming Doe9de It was pretty disgusting, but the smell was even worse. It must have been in a shed or a really damp basement for 40 years.

[@DarrellJr2]

It might be smoke stain

[@MysteryWill9125]

How rusty!