I have a huge box of Western Electric G6 handsets. What I think would be cooler would be one made out of a Western Electric F1 handset though. (The F1 handset was the handset used in the 30's - early 50's on the 300 series phones) Maybe I'll try to make one and see how it works. The F1 handset uses a 3 wire connection already, the G6 uses a 4 wire connection. Of course the crowning touch is that the F1's are made of bakelite.
You know right after I made my previous post on this thread I did actually think about a bluetooth version. I have a G style handset w/ a push to talk button on it that can be re-wired to activate a bluetooth module. I imagine you could start with a Motorola HS820 headset - it would already fit inside a G-6 handset as they are hollow inside. You could also orient it inside so you could plug the charger cord in where the modular handset cord would plug in. Inside the handset you could also stash a larger battery as I believe the original transmitter & receiver elements would draw more power unless they were replaced with units that consumed less power. All this being said it would only work in a G style handset. The F series handsets I described in my previous post are not hollow inside and would make a bluetooth version more difficult. Maybe I might tackle this later on when I have more time. Later, Jay
I was thinking of red myself, but I have a black Motorola G style handset from an old Motorola APCOR radio. That would be so cool, It has chrome trim around the PTT button on the inside of the handset w/ the Motorola logo stamped in it. I don't think Motorola made those handsets in any other color than black. I would have to take the handset and send it out to have it recoated in red for that to work out. I have a phone collector buddy that sends phones out from time to time and has them factory recoated in different colors, I could have him send it next time he has a batch of red going in. You could use a Western Electric G-3 handset but modifying it by putting a button on it would not look as good as the Motorola handset w/ original button. I think I'm actually going to make one when I have more time. If all goes well I'll have my business sold in one month. Maybe I can do it then. This is gonna be soooooo cool..... p/s - if you want to find out more about handsets go here... http://users.rcn.com/phonestore/we500typ.htm#Handsets Jay
I kept my 1977 Pulsar 1, IMTS mobile phone dial head unit for years in the garage, just last year I put it out in the trash never thinking that some one may have wanted it.
That's funny. Are you a telco serviceman, or are you a collector (or both?) Not many people on this newsgroup strike me as being collectors of landline equipment.
NYTel, retired, 35 years. (splicer) In other words AT&T, NY Tel, NYNEX, Bell Atlantic, Verizon retired :biggrin: -- rg56
Cool. Are you on TCI or ATCA's groups as well? I roam around TCI's Singing Wires group from time to time.
I've actually been thinking about putting a v600's guts inside a DynaTAC 'brick' phone or a StarTAC 3000 but I'm not sure if I have the technical know-how and I don't really want to up my v600, StarTAC or DynaTAC.
Look around, I've seen obselete cell phones in thrift stores before for a buck or 2. You can experiment with a cheap one. I'm serious about making the BT G series handset though. I have it designed in my head already. It's gonna be cool when I get around to it. The only thing bothering me about it right now is replacing the insides with more modern stuff will thow off the balance of the handset and it would be underweight and "not feel right" I'll have to devise some way to securely add weight in just the right places to make it feel right. Maybe I can put a blob of epoxy in the back of the handset and cram some BB's into it to bring the weight back up. Here's a second thought... Should I add a 4 inch chrome retractable antenna to the top for looks? It wouldn't be necessary as the BT module would have the proper antenna built in, but it seems that for it to look "right" it would need one. Later, Jay
I really have not frequented any of those groups or type of groups. Actually, after I retired, if it wasn't necessary, I would be glad not to see another phone ever again -- rg56
Hey Rancid - I just noticed that the HS820's have been going pretty cheap on Ebay lately. Maybe you could do the same with a brick phone as I am planning to do w/ a G series handset... Make it a "wireless handset" have it connect via BT to your V600 (hidden in your pocket). That to me seems less technically challenging than making a functional GSM brick phone from a V600. The biggest obstacle I see w/ the GSM handset is to translate the video output into something that would properly activate the LED's on the phone's display. (Unless you would be satisified w/o a display) Later, Jay
UPDATE: Want To Be Looked At? Update on Bluetooth G3 handset project: I got the bluetooth headsets cheap on Ebay and they came last week. I made a trip to Radio Shack and the hardware store today for other parts & tools today. Unfortunately I had already scrapped 1 G3 handset as the switch I bought @ Radio Shack wasn't low-profile enough to properly mount on the inside of the handset. Oh well, it was sunfaded anyway. On the second attempt I located the switch on the back of the receiver end of the handset. So far I have the switch and the speaker mounted in the G3 handset. The circiut board from the headset is even more compact than I anticipated and soldering wires onto it is much more challenging than I was prepared for. I may have ruined the first circiut board. I'm not sure yet. I guess that's why I bought 2. The second one arrived DOA from Ebay so I may have to put this project on hold until I recieve a replacement. I was also unable to obtain modular handset connectors. I had planned to cut the plug off of the charger and mount a modular handset plug on the end of the wire so I could use the existing modular jack on the handset for charging. I guess I'll have to look again. I know I had some somewhere. With any luck I'll have a functioning prototype within the week. I'll keep everyone posted on my progress via this thread.
That might be much easier than trying to cram the guts from a v600 inside a DynaTAC. I'll look into it. Thanks.
Don't worry, Rancid, I'd sell you my V600 cheap. It's resting comfortably in my desk at home waiting to be used again. And YES, I'm serious!
First Prototype Bluetooth G3 Handset Operational! Great news!!!! The first prototype G3 handset is complete! (for now) I still need to work on the charging port a little, but I can pair it to my phone, make & recieve calls. All I have to do now is make it a little more refined. I think I'm going to mount a clear 1/2" flush mount lamp holder underneath the button to let light shine through from the LED to show pairing status and call status.
Re: First Prototype Bluetooth G3 Handset Operational! Check this out Hooligan... http://cgi.ebay.com/Motorola-Brick-...456734340QQcategoryZ42427QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem. They shoulda made it bluetooth...
Looks like someone is making these with reproduction Western Electric F1 style handsets: http://www.thinkgeek.com/gadgets/electronic/8928/ They are quite reasonably priced too. -Jay
