How to convert a vintage war-era headphone set and turn it into a working, usable set of ultra retro-chic headphones.

Complete the look at your office desk or cubicle by swapping your phone for a morse key.

Step 1: Get a Pair of Vintage Wartime Headphones

I believe these are the headphones from a "wireless 19 set". I got them from a car boot sale (like a big garage sale in a field, where everyone drives their car there full of junk to sell) for £2 (about 3USD). They just looked cool, and weigh about hald a kilogram.

Step 2: Take the Old Headphones to Bits

everything just unscrews and unbolts. Dead easy.

Step 3: Get a Cheap Pair of Regular Headphones

get a cheap/defunct pair of headphones - airplane type, or the ones you get free with old walkmen. prise out the actual headphone bit of them, so you've got the bits below.

Step 4: Attach the New Headphone Bit

fix the new headphone speaker bit onto the middle of the inside of the earpiece as shown below. I used a mixture of superglue, 2 part epoxy resin, and duct tape.

Step 5: Wire Up the Headphones

I re-attached the old screws into the cans part of the headphones. you now need to tighten or solder the wires form the new headphones onto the screws you see in the below picture. If you don't know how to do this, you should get anyone with basic soldering/wiriing a plug knowledge to help you.

Step 6: Attach Outer Cables to the Cans

screw the whole cans part back together, and then attach some twin cable to the outside screw terminals. I used black and red, but I think this is a mistake. I should have used black or green for that military look.

Step 7: Wire Up the Rest of the Headphones - Done!

I used 3-core mains flex for the bottom part of the lead, and then just used duct tape at the wire joints.
There you go - all done! They sound remarkably good, and are only mildy uncomfortable.

These super retro chic cans will get you crazy props in any ironic neighbourhood.

thanks, any questions, comments, etc, please don't hesitate

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