Butler Bell Box

[Geoff_S]

OK, try again, the first time it crashed #-o

Not that I have a millions other things to do but I have this butler bell box that I would like to get working again. My electronics abilities are negligible.

So a couple of questions. Does anyone know if spare parts are available for this, specifically the red star flags? I can't find them anywhere on the internet. I can have a go at making them myself but my artistic abilities are as good as my electronical abilities.

Next, what sort of voltage should I be putting through the solenoid looking things?

And finally, are there some sort of miniature wireless switching bits available so that I could get the flags working? Obviously I am going to have to build the billiards room, drawing room, library and maids room so that I can install some wireless push buttons but I'm not going to start until I am sure that such bits are available

 

[Steve Maskery]

What a smashing little project!
If I were doing it, I'd power it with a PP3 9V battery and see how they sound. If they go crazy, reduce the voltage. I have an electro-mechanical doorbell and that is what powers it.
As for the flags, they are hexagonal, so are simply two overlapping equilateral triangles. You could draw them in even the most basic of packages on your computer, then print them off and glue them to card stock.
And if you want to power this wirelessly rather than rewire the house, you could do worse than this. This is how mine works.

 

[Steve Maskery]

If you have trouble drawing the stars, take a good photo, close-up, tell me the dimensions and I'll draw it for you.

 

[Geoff_S]

If you have trouble drawing the stars, take a good photo, close-up, tell me the dimensions and I'll draw it for you.

That's very kind Steve, thank you. However, I thought I would give it a go when you pointed out that the star was just 2 triangles!

Here we go :

 

[Racers]

A quick google seems to recommend 6V and that they are worth a small fortune.
A 6V wall wart should power it o/k.

Pete

 

[Geoff_S]

A quick google seems to recommend 6V and that they are worth a small fortune.
A 6V wall wart should power it o/k.

Pete

Thanks Pete. I tried Googling all sorts but came up with nothing other than "for sale". Out of interest, what words did you Google with?

 

[Racers]

butlers bell box how to fix worked for me but as google applies "filter bubbles" to your search your results might be different.

https://www.vintage-radio.net/forum/sho ... p?p=736882


Pete

 

[CHJ]

Next, what sort of voltage should I be putting through the solenoid looking things?

I would start with 1.5 or 3 Volt, in the early days of such devices they were probably operated by a single 2 Volt Lead Acid Accumulator, keep to the lowest voltage that will activate to keep the current and coil heat low.