History The Stromberg Carlson 1243 is a great example of 1940's design. Introduced as a direct competitor to the Western/Northern Electric 302, the 1243 also has a similar physical design. Like the 302, the 1243 contains the ringer and induction coil within the phone thereby eliminating the need for a separate subscriber set or bell box that was common in earlier phones. The RRRING of this phone is a real attention grabber that will bring back memories of yesteryear! Stromberg Carlson was a major telephone manufacturer located in Rochester, New York. They produced not only subscriber sets, but also telephone switching equipment, and home electronics such as radios and televisions. The Restoration Process Dial – Dial has been fully disassembled, cleaned, lubed and timed to ensure years of trouble free service. The outer edge of the dial has been stripped and repainted with a gloss black. Unless the dial is removed, this is something you will rarely ever even see, but this is how it would have come from the factory. The number plate has been cleaned and a perfectly matching overlay has been applied. A brand new die cut dial card and acetate cover has been added as well. Cords – The phone has been outfitted with brand new cloth covered cords that are made in house on the same type of equipment originally used by the phone companies. They look amazing. You can choose from either black or brown cloth cords. The line cord has a modular connection to facilitate a modern connection to your wall jack. Shell – The shell has been stripped down and sandblasted using and painted in a glossy finish Base – The base is completely stripped of all its components and painted with a high gloss black. The components are then cleaned, tested and reinstalled. Do you currently have any rotary phones? If the answer is no, it is always a good idea to call your local phone company and check if they still support “pulse” dialing. If they do, you are all set to go. If they do not, your phone will not be able to place calls without a converter.
