Tips & Tricks
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Swank Living - Lifestyle - Telephones Number-Card Inserts Telephone Number-Card Inserts How to remove the number-card holder on a rotary telephone The number-card holder is the personality plate of every vintage telephone. Each manufacturer and telephone company created various number-card holders to identify their telephones. The number-cards ranged from specific manufacturers, to local exchanges and even instructional inserts. Each telephone has a different method to remove the number-card holder. Western Electric
The classic Western Electric number-card holders are held in place by a friction catch at the top of the metal ring. To remove the ring you must push down firmly on the upper tab of the ring. Once the tab releases you can lift the holder upward to remove the lower tab. To replace the ring slide the lower tab into the hole on the fingerwheel and the push down firmly on the upper tab until the tab snaps back into position. Western Electric eventually moved to the clear plastic dials common with the 500-type, 554-type and Princess telephones. These plastic fingerwheels have a very small hole which goes through the plastic located between the numbers 9 and 0. To remove the fingerwheel you must rotate the dial through its full circle in a clockwise direction until it stops. Once the dial has stopped you can insert a straightened paper clip into the hole to press the release on the fingerwheel. While the paper clip is inserted you must continue to rotate the dial in the same clockwise direction to release the fingerwheel from the dial. To replace the dial place the fingerwheel in position with the number 0 hole next the number 9 hole and rotate the fingerwheel counter clockwise until it locks into place. The colored Western Electric 302 telephones also have a clear plastic fingerwheel. To remove the fingerwheel you must release a small tab that is located between the numbers 6 and 7 on the dial. By taking a small screwdriver head between the number 6 and 7 you can push the tab to the right and rotate the retaining ring counterclockwise to release the fingerwheel. Automatic Electric and Kellogg
The older Automatic Electric and Kellogg number-card holders are held in place by a hidden latch underneath the dial card. To remove the card holder insert a small screw driver underneath the rim of the card holder by the number 5 position. Push the latch from the number 5 position to the number 6 position to release the latch and the card holder. To replace the ring slide the right tab into the hole on the fingerwheel and then place the ring into position. Then insert a small screw driver underneath the rim of the card holder by the number 7 position. Once inserted push the latch from the number 7 position to the number 6 position to engage the card holder to the fingerwheel. Automatic Electric eventually moved to the clear plastic dial common with the 80-type, 90-type and Starlight telephones. These plastic fingerwheels have a very small hole which goes through the plastic located by the number 6. To remove the fingerwheel you must rotate the dial through its full circle in a clockwise direction until it stops. Once the dial has stopped you can insert a straightened paper clip into the hole to press the release on the fingerwheel. While the paper clip is inserted you must continue to rotate the dial in the same clockwise direction to release the fingerwheel from the dial. To replace the dial place the fingerwheel in position with the number 0 hole near the number 9 hole and rotate the fingerwheel clockwise until it locks into place.
Leich Electric Company
Prior to its purchase by Automatic Electric in the 1950s, Leich Electric Company produced some unique telephones. The number-card holders are held in place by a dual friction catch at both sides of the metal ring. To remove the ring you must gently lift either side of the ring to release the friction catch. To lift the ring gently slide a screwdriver or your fingernail under the metal ring and pull upward. Once the tab releases you can lift the holder upward to remove the metal ring. To replace the ring slide either tab into the hole on the fingerwheel and the push down firmly on entire ring until the tab snaps back into position. Stromberg Carlson
A far less common dial, the original manufactured Stromberg Carlson dials are very unique. The Stromberg Carlson number-card holders are held in place by three pressure latches that secure the dial card to the fingerwheel. To remove the card holder very carefully insert a small screw driver into the notched rim of the plastic card holder. Gently pry up the plastic number card holder at each of the three notches. Be very careful not to exert too much pressure or you will crack the plastic. To replace the number card holder gently push it down to lock it in place with the notches of the fingerwheel. (Note: There are no current after-market productions of the plastic housing for a Stromberg Carlson dial, so if it breaks you will have to find an original piece to replace it. Please be gentle) Stromberg Carlson eventually moved to the clear plastic dials just as every other manufacturer. These plastic fingerwheels are unlike the plastic wheels of Western Electric and Automatic Electric. They do not have the small hole to release the fingerwheel from the telephone body. There is a chrome trim ring which sits atop the plastic fingerwheel that holds the card holder to the plastic dial. To remove the number card you do not have to remove the entire fingerwheel. There is a small indentation on the underside of the chrome trim ring; to release the trim ring place a small screwdriver into the indentation and gently pry the trim ring up from the fingerwheel. There are three pressure points on the trim ring that hold the ring to the fingerwheel. Gently move the screwdriver around the underside of the trim ring an pry the trim ring off. Once the trim ring has been removed the number-card can be lifted out of the fingerwheel. To replace the chrome trim ring place the number-card in position and push the chrome trim ring down to secure the card holder. Telephone Dial Card Inserts Also, don't forget to get a restored dial card insert for your telephone - View Dial Card Inserts We do offer customization including your phone number or extension printed on each one at no additional charge.
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