Help w/ a 1976 Mickey Rotary Phone

[JPS439]

In an attempt to relive my youth I recently purchased a Mickey phone like I had when I was a kid. It works really well, just the reciever volume is kind of low. Anyone know if there's a way to adjust the handset volume?

This is the phone;

 

[disneyfav4ever]

I have the same phone in my bedroom at my parent's house. No idea how to fix anything on it though, and I'm honestly suprised mine still works at all.

 

[Ciciwoowoo]

How cute! I have the same phone as well. I have no idea if it works though because we only have cel service at our house. My son really enjoys playing with the rotary part, though. I think the kids are all fascinated by the concept of "dialing" someone! Man, does it make me feel old when they do that!

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

I believe that phone was made by Western Electric. All WE rotary phones had a switch under the base marked 'LOUD'. Try finding that first.

Also, it used standard handset and cord parts, so you can purchase a cheap handset cord to test it (or, if you have another phone, swap the handset and cord to see if maybe the earpiece speaker is the problem.

 

[JPS439]

There is a sliding switch on the underneath labeled "loud" I thought it was for the ringer though- I'll have to play with it more. THANKS!

 

[P.I. Squirrel]

You may be correct. It's been so long. I vaguely remember a small wheel inside also that adjusted volume. On ordinary desk phones it poked out the side.

You can also remove the earpiece and check the quality of the spring contacts.

 

[dmestman32]

I am wondering how much this item may be worth. It has a limited edition number on the dial and the middle of the dial says M AREA CODE 415. Just wanted to know if anyone has seen this phone on the internet with this limited edition numbering on it. Here are a few pictures. I hope this helps.

 

[Imzadi]

There is a sliding switch on the underneath labeled "loud" I thought it was for the ringer though- I'll have to play with it more. THANKS!

It is for the ringer.

I don't know if you can find these anymore. But, if you unscrew the cap in the receiver, the ear piece pops out. I remember seeing commercials ages ago where elderly people could pop out & replace the ear piece mechanism with a louder one for hearing impaired people. You may have to check eBay for several months to see if someone lists one, or do a Google search.

Or maybe you can buy other old rotary phones & just swap out the ear piece and listen if any of them are louder.

Also, if you have children, make sure you teach them how to dial 911 on the rotary. Especially with the 9 and having to wait or it to go all the way back to position. They won't naturally know how.

 

[dmestman32]

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[dmestman32]

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[dmestman32]

am wondering how much this item may be worth. It has a limited edition number on the dial and the middle of the dial says M AREA CODE 415. Just wanted to know if anyone has seen this phone on the internet with this limited edition numbering on it. Here are a few pictures. I hope this helps.

 

[Imzadi]

That's not a limited edition number. That was the old phone number. That's where they use to put phone numbers before the days of LED or digital displays.

You can probably find out how much the phones are worth by looking up the completed auctions at eBay.

Your rotary phone dial is plastic. It's actually a newer model than the one the OP showed in the first post. I think the clear plastic dials came out in the mid-70's?


Here's another one on eBay. You can see the phone number in the center of the dial again.
This one sold for $18.

 

[dmestman32]

haha well thanks for your help