3 ms·

That's very cool, but a lot of effort; I just want one of those with a 3.5mm jack plug, so I can do video calls by speaking into a 70 year old bakelite earpiece

That's very cool, but a lot of effort; I just want one of those with a 3.5mm jack plug, so I can do video calls by speaking into a 70 year old bakelite earpiece, haha. Does anyone know if the electronics in these old phones will allow me to just wire up a 3.5mm cable to the receiver? Or will this need some active amplification?

peetee22 2y ago
A lot of folks in the vintage/retro telephone community I’m in seem to like these pick-up coils. I bought one (they’re cheap, low risk purchase) but haven’t used it yet. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034I75IK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034I75IK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b...
- euroderf 2y ago
  Hah, I remember using one of these with a small reel-to-reel. In principle it should work for video calls by sticking it to your computer, yes ? The sound quality might leave something to be desired.
da768 2y ago
There are adapters for handsets on Amazon, but interfacing to a phone could be harder as you have to provide DC power and deal with duplex audio on a single pair. If you're only using it as a mic, a 9v battery, resistor and decoupling capacitor might work. An easier way could be to join the conference audio through SIP.
- pokeymcsnatch 2y ago
  Coupling capacitor, not decoupling, right? You want the AC signal and want to block DC.
  - da768 2y ago
    Yes, I stand corrected.
- jasonjayr 2y ago
  Doesn't the handset RJ10 have two pairs? If you skip the base, and have a sufficient amplification circuit, couldn't you just use the weighted handset to a 3.5mm connector?
garblegarble 2y ago
It's easier than you think - I bought an old non-working phone (a candlestick phone in this case), removed the innards and replaced them with a speaker and microphone... it works really well! I had originally planned to make it accessible via bluetooth but when I realised the phone shell was thick brass, I decided to leave it as a 3.5mm jack

peetee22 2y ago

A lot of folks in the vintage/retro telephone community I’m in seem to like these pick-up coils. I bought one (they’re cheap, low risk purchase) but haven’t used it yet. https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034I75IK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b_search_asin_title?ie=UTF8&psc=1 https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B0034I75IK/ref=ppx_yo_dt_b...

euroderf 2y ago
Hah, I remember using one of these with a small reel-to-reel. In principle it should work for video calls by sticking it to your computer, yes ? The sound quality might leave something to be desired.

da768 2y ago

There are adapters for handsets on Amazon, but interfacing to a phone could be harder as you have to provide DC power and deal with duplex audio on a single pair. If you're only using it as a mic, a 9v battery, resistor and decoupling capacitor might work. An easier way could be to join the conference audio through SIP.

pokeymcsnatch 2y ago
Coupling capacitor, not decoupling, right? You want the AC signal and want to block DC.
- da768 2y ago
  Yes, I stand corrected.
jasonjayr 2y ago
Doesn't the handset RJ10 have two pairs? If you skip the base, and have a sufficient amplification circuit, couldn't you just use the weighted handset to a 3.5mm connector?

garblegarble 2y ago

It's easier than you think - I bought an old non-working phone (a candlestick phone in this case), removed the innards and replaced them with a speaker and microphone... it works really well! I had originally planned to make it accessible via bluetooth but when I realised the phone shell was thick brass, I decided to leave it as a 3.5mm jack