LM Ericsson AB535 Telephone

Pauls L.M. Ericsson Model AB 535
Oak Magneto wall telephone "commonwealth"
serial # 1647608 (1918)

restoration in progress - lots of photos

before photo Here is my Oak AB 535 Wall telephone currently going through a restoration process. The handset, ringer cover and battery cover had been painted a light green color by a previous owner. In addition the crest and bell ringer cover terminal ledge had been replaced at some time in previous years with an incorrect type. One of the frosted nickel terminals was missing and a replacement latch cover needed to be found. A reproduction crest and old terminal strip ledge with frosted nickel terminals as well as the latch cover were located from Michael Koba and Marco Laudani in Victoria, Australia. High quality reproduction Ericsson logo transfers were obtained from Tony Falzon in Australia.
Steps completed so far were to strip the telephone down and remove all metal parts for cleaning and polishing with Simichrome polish used to remove layered tarnish on the nickeled parts.

The green paint was stripped off and taken to bare metal on the covers and to bare wood on the handset. The metal covers and bell supports were then sanded and steel wooled with a base coat of primer applied them. in process

Three coats of black semi-satin paint was applied to the ringer cover and the bell supports over a 4 day period. The logo transfers were then applied to the ringer cover. Three coats of clear polyurethene coating were applied to protect the transfers and finish on the ringer cover and bell supports. A light grey primer coat was applied to the battery cover with two light coats of egg shell/almond paint wood grain

applied prior to the wood graining process.

While the metal parts dried, dismantling of the wooden portions of the telephone began to help in the sanding process. The handset was completely disassembled for polishing and rewiring with a braided 4 wire cloth cord..

after Wood graining was done using OLD MASTERS Wood Wiping stain in Classic Oak finish. A first coat of stain was applied over the egg shell white finish using a french polish cloth with a second coat added 48 hours later. Wood grain pattern was added with a wood graining tool along with a third coat of stain. Water transfer was applied and allowed to dry before four coats of Minwax semi gloss spray polyurathane were applied on the battery cover over a four day period to protect the finish and the transfer. The wood magneto cover was sanded to bare wood then shellaced using a french polish cloth with a light sanding between coats. A high gloss Ericsson style finish was obtained to bring out the oak grain. keep checking back