What kind of Gamewell box is this? & Help with parts

[redware]

Greetings -

I am new to both the world of alarm boxes and to this board. After having read through many of the messages, this seems to me to be just the place to locate some knowledgeable people.

I just recently found this Gamewell box (about which I know nothing - I can't even venture an accurate guess as to its age) and would like to get it working. Sadly, I'm starting with nothing - the interior is completely gone. I'd love to know what I've got so that I can start searching for the correct parts. If it's even possible to obtain parts for a box like this, I've decided that mine will be a functional rather than a cosmetic restoration; I like the honest weathering on the box's outer surface and intend to keep it.

Many thanks to anyone who can provide some guidance.

[gls24]

Your box is a 1916 Instructional Door model.  As far as the paint, it is not likely original.  It is my personal opinion/observation that restored (paint) boxes often seem to have higher resale value with the exception being boxes with original paint in reasonably good condition (such as a box that was always indoors).  You can frequently find internal boxes/mechanisms on eBay.  This type of box would have typically had a mechanism with a handle that traces an arc on the front of the internal box.  The act of "pulling the hook" would wind the mechanism to trigger 4 rounds of code being sent.  The number plate is not original to this box; borderless number plates such as this were first introduced in 1951.  A period number plate for this box would have been brass.

[redware]

Thank you for the helpful information - alot of what you say makes sense. I too think the paint isn't original as I can see another layer underneath where the outer layer has chipped off. You confirmed what I thought about the number plate; I guessed that it isn't original because the interior of the door has an extra hole behind the current number plate that may have helped fix the original tag in place.

I still have a few more questions:

- How long did Gamewell manufacture this model?

- I see that the box's "key" and hinges are brass. When the box was originally manufactured, were they painted over or left uncovered?

- Did the glass cover that was originally with it have any special lettering applied to it or was it left plain?

Thanks again for the help.

[gls24]

If the hole behind the plate is large (1/4" or so), the box likely had a large brass number plate (rather than a stamped brass plate).  I don't have any hard data on whether hinges, etc. were painted, but my guess is that yes many of the brass parts were painted.  I have an interior box (picture attached) which I believe is still in the original paint - the hinges are painted; some other parts are not.  The question about "was the raised lettering painted" when a box came from the factory often comes up.  Personally, I think most were not, but my interior box seems to indicate at least some of it was (again, I believe this to be original paint).  My opinion is that a century ago brass and copper were commonly used construction materials and that they didn't think that showing these items in their unpainted state mattered.  Despite that opinion, I choose to restore my boxes with unpainted brass/bronze and in many (but not all) cases I choose to detail the raised lettering in white - I like the appearance even though it likely is not totally true to the original.  Another detail item....the screws Gamewell used.  I have been told by someone who worked on fire alarm boxes for many years that Gamewell never used brass screws (for the hinges, etc.).  Apparently, they believed that steel screws lasted longer.  I can't think of any boxes I restored that ever had anything but steel screws.  Again, my restorations get brass screws for the hinges because I prefer the appearance.  And, if Gamewell painted the hinges anyway, the steel/brass difference didn't show.

From what I know, this Instructional Door box was in production until at least 1922 when the full-glass quick-action pull door was introduced to regular production.  However, I have seen these Instructional Doors made from Herculite (introed in 1928 I think)...so the style was available for quite some time after 1916.  I don't believe the glass had any lettering.  

[redware]

I see now there are a great many details to consider when a newbie wants to restore one of these boxes. Thanks for the patient and informative replies.

I see that Gamewell boxes can have different lettering on the interior mechanism; "pull handle" vs. "pull hook." Is it a fair assumption that the wording on the box door should match the wording on the interior mechanism? I want to make sure I'm looking for the right parts before I put any money down.

[gls24]

I wouldn't say it needs to match; if you look long enough you can find all kinds of crazy combinations of equipment in these boxes.  Many were switched out for other components (sometimes upgrades) while still in service.

[magicitybill]

If the words do not match it is an immediate indication that the works are not original. I think you can find the correct inner box on e-Bay if you are patient. The inner box you want may only have a small hook that pulls down. The box gls24 posted has a sight glass that most do not have. It may be a master box.

You should try to find a copy of the book "The History of the Fire Alarm & Police Telegraph". It will answer nearly all of your questions and more.

I think you are hooked!

[gls24]

Correct!  It is a master box.  Might well have been that only the hinges were painted; seems like all other brass components added to the box/mechanism remained unpainted.  It is currently installed in a Keyless box with the correct 55 number plate matching the master box.  The keyless box is shown when it was box 42 prior to receiving the internal master mechanism.

[redware]

Thank you for the book recomendation! I will search for it and doubtless find it useful.

I suspected that I would need an inner box with text that matches the outer box; I want the restoration to have all the correct parts.

Would you say that  "pull handle" inner boxes are harder to find than "pull hook" boxes?

Thanks again.

[PFD1]

This is the style inner box that you are looking for. The hole between the number plate holes is for mounting the brass holder for spare glass. "Hooks" are older than "handles" and you should be able to find the correct inner box without too much trouble.

[gls24]

I must say that I've learned a few things from this thread....I never really paid much attention to the "hook" vs. "handle" situation...to the point that I actually had to look at my inner cases to check the wording.  To my surprise, my hook boxes outnumber my handle boxes 3:1!  Is that because the switch from "hook" to "handle" was pretty closely followed by the porcelain inner boxes and then the three-folds?  Thus, fewer "handle" boxes were ever made???  Let's not forget the ubiquitous porcelain boxes had "lever" wording.  I also have two Sector 4 boxes, one is Instructional w/"hook" exterior and one is half-glass, but both have sector mechanisms with cast "Lever" wording interior.

[magicitybill]

PFD1 caught me.  I used the wrong term.  I should have said "handle".

Interior photo...

[redware]

This has been fantastically helpful! I especially appreciate the interior shot of what I ought to be lookiing for; thank you very much. Now I guess I can start searching for the parts - I already anticipate great difficulty in locating the brass holder for the spare glass. That sems like something that would have fallen by the wayside long ago.

[redware]

I know the answer will probably be, "whatever the market will bear," but I wonder what I can expect to spend on the proper inner box. How much do these things typically cost?

PFDI, I wonder if there is a "Peerless" marking on the internal works of the box you depict? I've seen one that looks exactly like yours but the inner workings are marked "Peerless" rather than "Gamewell." Is that correct?

Thanks

[gls24]

Keep a close watch on eBay - check their completed items.  It can be very interesting and informative to see what sells (or not) and for how much.  There was an inner box similar vintage to what you need a couple of weeks ago listed at $230.  I don't think it sold.  A recent purchase (not me) for ~$63 was some parts for a weight sector inner box - not a complete mechanism, inner box but no door.  But, if it is what you are looking for/want/need...it isn't like you have unlimited options to locate some of these parts!