atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information antique phones don"t ring

The sparky is wrong (I just wanted to say it before Hal does). It isn't the voltage, there just ain't 'nough current to push it.

everything you never wanted to know about loop current can be found here

Verizon is required by tariff (law) to provide enough current and voltage to ring an equivalent of 5.0A.

Count your RE and if it's less than 5.0 you have case.

A typical 500-type set (or 2500) is 1.0A. newer electronic ringers are listed at less than 1.0A.

If that number of ringer equivalence exceeds the capability of your landline, you can complain, and they are obligated to fix the problem.

well here they are: I have 1 Western Electric model 302 desk phone from the early 40's, 1 Western Electric model 202 desk phone from the early 20's (no bell inside), 1 Western Electric model 354 wall phone from the 40's, 2 Automatic Electric Type 40 Momophone desk phones from the late 30's, 1 Kelloge 925 desk phone, 1 Automatic Electric Type 50 wall phone from the 40's and finally one modern cordless push button phone with a builtin recorder which does not ring or pick up until the other phone has rung 8 times.

Try on the WE 302 putting the yellow line cord onto the green line cord, the WE 202 requires a bell box, the WE 354 also see WE 302.

You have more than 5.0A. You need to reduce the number of ringers, one at a time, until the rest ring. Or get a ring extender.

Where in NY?

I was in a house recently on Long Island that had almost the same combination of phones.

If you have a modern "network interface device" ("NID") the gray thing that interfaces between your wires and Verizon's, you can eliminate a half ringer equivalent by bypassing the circuit in the NID. It's in there for testing, but it's not technically needed.

You can use a viking ring booster on the line and jump it up to 12 REN

1) location is on the Lynhurst property in Westchester County NY
2) I will try switching the wiring (yellow added to green)
3) can you explain the Viking ring extender. Will it damage the other phones, change volume, and where to get one if needed?

You are right by us in Tarrytown, we are in Hawthorne. I've been to Lindhurst a few times several years ago. Are those phones part of the decor? Let me know if I can be of any help.

-Hal