REVIEW: OLD TIME TELEPHONES  Ralph Meyer  TAB/McGraw-Hill 1995

Collecting, repairing and restoring old and antique telephone equipment
has become quite popular, especially since the breakup of the AT&T monopoly 
in 1984, when telephone equipment was made by three companies, Western
Electric, Kellogg and Stromberg-Carlson.  The book covers classic and modern 
telephone equipment and is filled with descriptive schematics and hard-to-find 
technical data on the most popular telephones from the beginning of telephony 
to around 1984.  Nowadays, telephones are made by just about every 
electrical manufacturer and interest in collecting them seems very low,
unless there is a specific theme or design consideration.

The book is divided into four parts - Development of Components, Telephone
Instruments, Electrical Circuits and Restoration and Repair.  Topics
covered include early development and the Bell patent, transmitters,
receivers, induction coils, magnetos, ringers, switches and dials.  Some
of the telephone equipment described in detail are: early commercial 
telephones, single-box magneto wall phones, "candlestick" desk stands,
handset desk stands, ringer boxes, subsets, compact wall phones, combined
telephones of the 1930s and 1940s made by Western Electric, Kellogg and 
Stromberg Carlson as well as standard dial and Touch-Tone telephones.

The electrical circuit chapters include local and common battery circuits,
anti-sidetone circuits, and network circuits.  These chapters are written
very clearly and are well illustrated to visually show readers how they
work.  The final chapters deal with mechanical restoration, electrical
repairs, modifications, tests and measurements.  The appendices contain 
useful information on electrical measurements, component values,
impedances, matching voltages, magnetism and other essential electrical
theory you need to know to enjoy these old pieces of communication history.
Finally, there's an extensive bibliography that should point you in the
right direction if you are interested in learning more on the subject.

In my opinion, Dr Meyer has done a fine job in producing this encyclopedia
of North American telephony and it certainly contains plenty of information 
to satisfy any enthusiast.  The book is profusely illustrated with photos 
identifying equipment and circuit diagrams.  My only criticism is that it 
does not contain any sources for parts or equipment should someone need 
to obtain same to restore or repair an old telephone.

%T      Old Time Telephones - Technology,Restoration and Repair
%A      Ralph O Meyer
%I      TAB/McGraw-Hill
%C      Blue Ridge Summit, PA
%D      1995
%O      $19.95
%G      ISBN: 0-07-041818-7 
%P      290 pp, paperbound
%K      telephony, antiques, repair, restoration


(C) 1995
Michael Crestohl
Nahant Massachusetts  USA
mc@shore.net

DISCLAIMER:  I have no interest, financial or otherwise, in the success or 
failure of the book or materials reviewed herewith, nor have I received any 
compensation (other than a review copy requested by me) from anyone who has.  
All opinions expressed are strictly my own.

Other Internet and Aviation book/software reviews by me can be obtained 
by anonymous FTP from:  x2ftp.oulu.fi in the /pub/books/crestohl directory.