Customer Reviews

Old-time Telephones!: Design, History, And Restoration (Schiffer Book for Collectors)

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I have worked with old telephones for more than 40 years, and the repair and restoration of them is part of my livelihood. I can state, with authority, that Ralph Meyer has brought together everything a person needs to know about old telephone theory, repair, restoration, and history. I highly recommend Old Time Telephones! to beginners and seasoned collectors or technicians who need an indispensable reference source. Dr. Meyer's book sets the standard for old telephone reference material.

I fell in love with old telephones when I bought my first oak wall telephone at an uncle's farm sale in S/E Minnesota way back in 1967. It didn't make any difference to me that it didn't work ... I just liked oak. I bought more wall phones, oak, then walnut and even one with a cherrywood case. The house got filled up with phones that were as much as 5 feet tall. I started collecting desk telephones and candlestick telephones instead. Very few of them worked but that didn't make any difference ... it was a history thing. Besides, I had no training in telephony and there weren't any books on the subject anyway.
And back then most folks, including me, were scared to death of Ma Bell's "Telephone Police."
But now Dr. Meyer's book is out ... I already knew the history of most of my phones but now with the information in Dr. Meyer's book I can actually make some of those old timers work again. If you are a newcomer to the telephone collecting hobby, you have a tremendous advantage over me ... it took me 40 years to learn the history of the telephone. You can buy Dr. Meyer's book, learn the history of the telephone in one weekend and at the same time have the technical information provided to you that will enable you to put grandpa's phone back on line again. The telephones from the 40s, 50s and 60s were the best ever made.
Put your offshore throwaway phone in the drawer ... use Old-Time Telephones as a guide to hook up grandpa's Western Electric 302 or 500 set, or a comparable A/E, Stromberg or Kellogg phone ... put a good phone in service in your house.
BTW ... I don't recall that Dr. Meyer's book gives instructions on the use of a rotary dial. You and your kids will have to figure out on your own how to do that.

I bought Dr. Meyer's first book, Old-Time Telephones, fifteen years ago. It was a great reference on the technical workings of the telephone concepts from the early years. Dr. Meyers out does himself with his Second edition of Old-Time Telephones. He has expanded the information provided in the first reference and added much new data in twenty-two chapters. Including high quality print, pictures, drawings, etc. of circuits, transmitters, receivers, induction coils and wiring schematics. At first glance you will recognize the dedication and time Dr. Meyers has contributed to this reference. He explains the concepts and early developments of the ninetieth century pioneers who developed telegraph systems prior to the invention of the telephone. Meyers explains the experiments of Bell, Gray and others who developed and invented telephone communication, used for more that a century. He has dissected and compares telephone circuits of major manufactures of the last century up to and including the present times. Dr Meyers has written all this in simple language anyone can understand. Old Time Telephones 2nd Edition has received some great reviews from numerous telephone collectors who have worked in the industry and collected telephones, more than thirty years. This book is a valuable reference of technical information for anyone interested in telephone communications past and present. Enjoy!!

Rick Saint, Houston Texas

Very informative book: for the collector, restorer and even the technician. Probably the best technical information widely available on the development of the US Public Telephone system subscriber instruments from turn-of-the-century local battery-magneto to the Princess and Trimlines. Covers development, design and even touches on the corporate thinking which influenced this. Keeps the interest of the engineer but not so technical that the amateur shouldn't be able to follow it too. While the emphasis is on Bell phones, the other major competitor's equivalents are covered as well.

Dr. Ralph Meyer's book, Old-Time Telephones! is scholarly with resources well- documented, yet it is very readable and easily understood by readers with little technical knowledge. The book is full of clear illustrations of phone circuitry and wiring diagrams which makes it a gem for those wanting to work on old phones. The book traces the history of the development of telephones and the major manufacturers of these phones. There are many great pictures of early phones and a section on estimating the value of vintage phones.

This is one of the best books I have seen on vintage collectibles. There is not much you could want to know about vintage phones that is not addressed in this book!

If you don't want just to collect antique telephones but also understand how they work, this book is the source for almost all your answers. Very detailed descriptions, very nice schematics and pictures.

As a long time collector of old telephones I thoroughly enjoyed reading thru this book. Also handy was the buyers guide in the back.

Excellent book on the workings of antique telephones, many drawings of circuit designs and history. Amazon had the best price.