In post #8,, IAN WAS RIGHT!!!

Don't sound so surprised!

 

if your device looks like the one in post #15, the bell coils have self-interrupting contacts

I'm pretty sure those are the contacts for the on-hook, off-hook button, not bell contacts.

 

Probably this one:
https://www.britishtelephones.com/gpo/pictures/bellst26_01.jpg

 

Might have been, Or maybe not.