The Socotel S63 was the French standard telephone from the 1960s and contemporary to our Dutch T65. It was designed by the Centre national d’études des télécommunications as a replacement for the PTT 24 and the U43.
Besides the desk model, a wall version was also produced. The S63 came in a whole range of colors. The grey version was the most common by far, but you can find the colors Ivory, blue, brown, orange and red as well.
My S63 is a special transparant version, made in 1978.
Until 1974, depending on the distance between the telephone and the exchange, a fitting resistor was installed in the telephone. From 1975 onwards the S63 was produced wit a thermistor, which regulated its resistance automatically.
I am looking for a preferably new or mint condition, bright orange coiled handset cord ideally for GPO 700 series but something very close like a French Socotel S63 one may suffice.
With thanks
Sorry David, I do not have any orange cords. Even though I do live in the Netherlands.
Regards,
Arwin
Hi Arwin. I have just acquired a S63 phone in the UK. The dial needs to be freed off as it is siezed quite badly. I am in the process of restoring this phone. Do you know whether it is easy to get parts for the S63? The BT 700 series were made in the millions and there are a lot of British companies supplying spares foe 700 series phones. Over 25,000,000 of the S63 were also made and these phones are now becoming collectable. Mine is the blue model (very similar to the British Concorde Blue). I believe that the French term for it is Bleu Petrole. The phone is fitted with a BT plug and rings and answers calls, but the dial is too stiff to make calls. Let me know if there is a procedure for dial lubrication – I guess that’s all this phone might need.
Hi Matt, thank you for your comment.
I do not know of any source where you can get parts. There is a large French collectors club, but they do not seem to be on facebook or have a forum of some kind. At least as far as I know. I do know one French collector.
I do have an article on basic dial refurbishment on my site:
http://www.matilo.eu/restauratie/hoe-reviseer-ik-eenvoudig-een-kiesschijf-draaischijf/?lang=en
My S63 has a normal Automatic Electric dial mechanism. I have some ATEA made copies of it and the parts look interchangable.
Regards,
Arwin
Hi Arwin. I have just acquired a S63 phone in the UK. The dial needs to be freed off as it is siezed quite badly. I am in the process of restoring this phone. Do you know whether it is easy to get parts for the S63? The BT 700 series were made in the millions and there are a lot of British companies supplying spares foe 700 series phones. Over 25,000,000 of the S63 were also made and these phones are now becoming collectable. Mine is the blue model (very similar to the British Concorde Blue). I believe that the French term for it is Bleu Petrole. The phone is fitted with a BT plug and rings and answers calls, but the dial is too stiff to make calls. Let me know if there is a procedure for dial lubrication – I guess that’s all this phone might need.