Vintage U.S. Army Telephone EE-3-B

Ron Wood · 11-01-2015, 09:14 PM

That is a neat phone. Early in my Army career I guess I got in on the end of the use of its successor, the EE-8...and that would be well after the end of WWII. Fond memories of cranking up a call.

tomaustin · 11-01-2015, 10:02 PM

yes, the old type ring phones used throughout the early telephone system can produce quite a current....we did use it with electric wire attached to lengths of trace chain and pitch them out in the river about 100 feet apart...my job was to turn the crank....about 1-2 minutes of cranking, the fish would float to the surface stunned by the current....dad and others in the wooden john boat would scoop out the medium sized fish....we actually got a 40+ pound blue catfish which my uncle dived into the water and wrestled to the bank...that fish kicked his ass really good but he got him.....hadn't thought about those days in a while....AND, yes it is illegal.......too many started hooking up generators and that spoiled it for everybody else....all this occurred in Mississippi in the late 40's on the Big Black river..........tom

skeeter4206 · 11-02-2015, 08:00 AM

Definitely seems to be a good item to add to my collection of old things. Also glad I got (2) of them. Would love to somehow rig them up together and make them work. Wonder if they make any aftermarket batteries that could work with these. I wonder where I could be some receivers or the hand held part of the phone you talk into

11-01-2015, 09:14 PM	#1
Ron Wood Moderator 2010 LugerForum Patron Join Date: Jun 2002 Location: Santa Teresa New Mexico just outside of the West Texas town of El Paso Posts: 7,040 Thanks: 1,106 Thanked 5,257 Times in 1,724 Posts	That is a neat phone. Early in my Army career I guess I got in on the end of the use of its successor, the EE-8...and that would be well after the end of WWII. Fond memories of cranking up a call. __________________ If it's made after 1918...it's a reproduction

Thread Tools
Show Printable Version Email this Page
Display Modes
Switch to Linear Mode Hybrid Mode Switch to Threaded Mode

11-01-2015, 10:02 PM	#2
tomaustin Lifer X5 Lifetime Forum Patron Join Date: Sep 2008 Location: texas Posts: 708 Thanks: 87 Thanked 522 Times in 201 Posts	yes, the old type ring phones used throughout the early telephone system can produce quite a current....we did use it with electric wire attached to lengths of trace chain and pitch them out in the river about 100 feet apart...my job was to turn the crank....about 1-2 minutes of cranking, the fish would float to the surface stunned by the current....dad and others in the wooden john boat would scoop out the medium sized fish....we actually got a 40+ pound blue catfish which my uncle dived into the water and wrestled to the bank...that fish kicked his ass really good but he got him.....hadn't thought about those days in a while....AND, yes it is illegal.......too many started hooking up generators and that spoiled it for everybody else....all this occurred in Mississippi in the late 40's on the Big Black river..........tom

11-02-2015, 08:00 AM	#3
skeeter4206 User Join Date: Aug 2012 Location: Augusta, GA Posts: 448 Thanks: 52 Thanked 88 Times in 49 Posts	Definitely seems to be a good item to add to my collection of old things. Also glad I got (2) of them. Would love to somehow rig them up together and make them work. Wonder if they make any aftermarket batteries that could work with these. I wonder where I could be some receivers or the hand held part of the phone you talk into