Bell system

[rustyzman]

All good questions and I use the term 'new' jokingly since you obviously have a vintage tool. The 'C' version must be newer than 1954 from what I can gather. I could be mistaken altogether of course. It seems like the 'C' variant is quite a bit different but they didn't want to give it a different number I guess.

If we back up to the 30's the 'B' version replaces the 216.

I'm late to the party on this one. One of the machine shops I worked at, we used to machine down 316ss 3/8 bolts and make the hex 7/16" rather than the original 9/16. They were then assembled inside a close fitting cup washer at our customer where they were fabricating the rest of the cabinets.

I worked quite a while on a faster, more economical method of machining those and we finally did come up with a good supplier of bolts for raw material and a better machining process/tumbling secondary process to remove all the hand work. Man I made thousands and thousands of those bolts. In case you are wondering, the customer did not allow us to machine the full bolt from barstock, we tried to do that for them, but they insisted on a modified factory made bolt.

I still have some of both methods I think...

 

[Tom "Python" Aycock]

Good morning Bell System enthusiasts!

I made it through the first 10 pages of the thread and reading about some great telephony history concerning Ma Bell. Im an Army signal guy so it was interesting reads for sure. Then I jumped into a thread search for BS C socket box but nothing showed up.

I picked up this Bell Systems C box off sleezebay awhile back. It's got a Proto 5249 ratchet, deep 9/16 Proto, deep 1/2" 7/16" and 3/8" Challenger, and a Proto 3/16 hex...all 3/8 drive.

The box has been painted black on the outside but has original red internally.

My question is, what was original stock for the "C" series box? Wanna restore/ stock it back to original issue items.

 

[RTM]

My question is, what was original stock for the "C" series box? Wanna restore/ stock it back to original issue items.

Somewhere above I posted some telecom archive links. I think the 74 category is tools, so search the index for the word Box. Then turn on your bureaucratic mind if you don't find it, and think of synonymous words like chest, container etc. they will probably have it described to the fraction of inch, but the contents may be a separate item.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

All links to various Bell System references have been put in post #1. If color is not specified, you could always rely on empirical method, i.e., scouring this thread, fleeceBay, etc for other examples.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

MTP -- you asked for pics of the model 41 push drills. The bottom one is a Stanley/North stamped with Bell System. No idea as to year, but clearly after Stanley's acquisition of North Brothers, which occurred in 1946. When Bell bought the push drills and had them stamped is unknown to me. The top two are pre-Stanley drills made by North Bros. Philadelpha.

(Sorry for the photo quality. Even when worn from use, these things are still shiny and hard to shoot.)

Appreciate the info. Prior to working for the telco I’d never seen a push drill before. For that matter there were many tools and some proprietary for the industry I ended up becoming familiar with. This was not one I used very often. Standard brace and bitt along with corner brace were replaced with electric. My first electric was actually a Craftsman and used it religiously until the advent of the 7.2 volt Makita. But that was along time ago also.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

On another forum this young girl about 16 mentioned that someone needs to invent a phone that is permanent in a home so they have one phone to use in an emergency. True story.

I had the 1950s Westinghouse Electric wall hanger for years in the garage. But I found the 1930s desktop D1 at a sale today. Missing the dial. Anyone have any parts or have any Insite to the phone? I see parts online so if I have to. I was hoping the wall hanger would work for parts.

 

[Outlawmws]

I suspect the old phone is not missing any parts, you lift the handset, rattle the cradle and tel tell operator who you want to talk to.

or its a "managers phone' and he does the same to get his secretary to do any connecting.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

I suspect the old phone is not missing any parts, you lift the handset, rattle the cradle and tel tell operator who you want to talk to.

or its a "managers phone' and he does the same to get his secretary to do any connecting.

Thanks outlaw. I have read up on that situation. I think I will explore a little further.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

On another forum this young girl about 16 mentioned that someone needs to invent a phone that is permanent in a home so they have one phone to use in an emergency. True story.

I had the 1950s Westinghouse Electric wall hanger for years in the garage. But I found the 1930s desktop D1 at a sale today. Missing the dial. Anyone have any parts or have any Insite to the phone? I see parts online so if I have to. I was hoping the wall hanger would work for parts.

Your phone is not missing any parts. That phone may have been a house phone used in a hotel/motel to call the front desk to allow being hooked up to an individual or room requested. Or older hotel switchboards would have to make/place the call from your room for you so a dial would not been required. Simply by picking up the receiver would ring/connect the circuit to the receptionist. You could rattle the switch hooks but likely not much different from hitting the floor button repeatedly on an elevator.

At an online auction I purchased one of the last wooden case party line phones. Probably manufactured by Northern Electric and Manufacturing Company, later named simply Northern Electric and finally referred to as Nortel which has totally disappeared.
I haven’t actually seen the phone as yet as I’m at the lake and my daughter picked it up for me and left at our home. But from what I can see of the label looks like a NE phone.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Here is a pic of an old cord board which was last used in a former answering service that I likely put on this thread earlier. I possibly even did repairs on this particular board years ago.
The phone with no dial has/had a 2 digit number where the dial would be. This either tells me the extension or room number it was associated with.

This board would have originally been a dial but was upgraded to a touch tone key pad.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Here is a pic of an old cord board which was lasted used in a former answering service that I likely put on this thread earlier. I possibly even did repairs on this particular board years ago.
The phone with no dial has/had a 2 digit number where the dial would be. This either tells me the extension or room number it was associated with.

This board would have originally been a dial but was upgraded to a touch tone key pad.

Very good Pontiacs. Now I have a very good start on the history of Bell phone systems. Thank you.

 

[Mike'smeatshop]

Your phone is not missing any parts. That phone may have been a house phone used in a hotel/motel to call the front desk to allow being hooked up to an individual or room requested. Or older hotel switchboards would have to make/place the call from your room for you so a dial would not been required. Simply by picking up the receiver would ring/connect the circuit to the receptionist. You could rattle the switch hooks but likely not much different from hitting the floor button repeatedly on an elevator.

At an online auction I purchased one of the last wooden case party line phones. Probably manufactured by Northern Electric and Manufacturing Company, later named simply Northern Electric and finally referred to as Nortel which has totally disappeared.
I haven’t actually seen the phone as yet as I’m at the lake and my daughter picked it up for me and left at our home. But from what I can see of the label looks like a NE phone.

I was at a good buddy's junk shop yesterday and he has about 5 of those phones if you need anything? Two were for parts.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Here is a history of Nortel.

Timeline of Nortel - Wikipedia

en.wikipedia.org

35 or so years ago when the Chunnel was built between England and France I had an opportunity to install 17 Nortel PBXs along the route. Sasktel International had the contract and I was interviewed to install the switches. I received a conference call from the 2 individuals from England and France who were responsible for this portion of communications involved. They were looking for someone capable of completing both the hardware installation and networking for the system. I had the hardware and associated cabling requirements to the tunnel equipment and switches nailed down. The networking through the British telco not so much as I had never worked in the office supplying the lines from the office. In the end they did send 2 separate techs that had worked together previously from the city that held the head office the international business.
At least I had my name tossed into the hat that came in handy down the road.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I was at a good buddy's junk shop yesterday and he has about 5 of those phones if you need anything? Two were for parts.

Appreciate the offer. I still have a number of vintage phones that have yet to see the light of day for display. But you never know.
Funny thing is when the old cord boards were finally retired the answering service kept the old relics. A friend of mine whose daughter worked there snagged him one of the old answering positions. I then gladly proceeded to give him all the repair parts I had for these boards as they were the last ones we were responsible for. He was the same guy that mentioned the answering company had one board left and wanted it out of their premises. So I picked it up and it is now in a corner of my rumpus room. He still has the dovetailed wood box that held all the repair parts.

 

[jeffmoss26]

That phone is sweet!

 

[GarageHobbyist]

I found a few of these in a couple large boxes of matchbooks (1000’s of matchbooks) I am sorting through.

 

[Old Radar]

Here is a pic of an old cord board

Here's my mom in 1954 at her board. She was an operator for Neubrücke Air Base in W. Germany.

 

[DGersic]

Hunting through Dad’s tools yesterday, I found this AT&T branded MagLite.




Dad spent most of his career at AT&T working on 4ESS.

 

[DocsMachine]

Yet another Bell System tapered peen sledge:



The interesting thing about this is I just found it essentially inside a wall, where I can be reasonably certain it's been since the house was constructed in the early sixties.

I'd originally thought it had been rehandled, due to the light damage under the striking face. That originally made me think of all those junk hammers I've redone over the years, where somebody roughly carved the end of a new handle with a dull knife. But, turns out it sure looks like an original handle, just with a little wear from mis-strikes or hanging in a sharp linesman's belt hook.

So an easy guess is the thing could be at least 10-20 years older than when it got immured. I haven't read this whole thread, so I don't know the potential timelines.

The spots of plaster on the striking face is original.

Figure I'll add it to the rest of my blacksmithing collection.

Doc.

 

[Etchase]

Bell Systems, Stanley Made in USA. Fine looking model.

 

[MisterEd]

Found some Pliers last week, one Kraueter, One No Name and two Bell Systems. The previous owner was a Vietnam Veteran (Welcome home) turned Telco guy, so they were in the right workshop.
- Bell System, 5601-5, Kraeuter Diagonal Cutting Pliers Needle Point, "The nose of these diagonals is beveled at a 60° angle to give the cutters their fine 1/32" needle points."
- Bell System, Lindstrom, with One Skinning Hole. I gave up searching for it's number in the Bell System Practices. I have a life and did not need more time in the Bell Rabbit hole(s) today.
- No Name Diagonal Cutter that closely resembles AT-7858 except for only one Stripping Hole.
- Bell System, AT-7860 Crescent C Long-Nose Pliers w/Sleeve Pressing Groove. "The AT-7860 C or E tools are long-nose pliers. The tools are identical except the E pliers have an insulating aluminum oxide coating on the jaws. Both tools are provided with mating grooves near the joint for use in pressing 032-035 brass sleeves. The orange plastic cushion grips do not provide protection against hazardous voltage."

Maybe Orange became the new Green?!

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Found some Pliers last week, one Kraueter, One No Name and two Bell Systems. The previous owner was a Vietnam Veteran (Welcome home) turned Telco guy, so they were in the right workshop.
- Bell System, 5601-5, Kraeuter Diagonal Cutting Pliers Needle Point, "The nose of these diagonals is beveled at a 60° angle to give the cutters their fine 1/32" needle points."
- Bell System, Lindstrom, with One Skinning Hole. I gave up searching for it's number in the Bell System Practices. I have a life and did not need more time in the Bell Rabbit hole(s) today.
- No Name Diagonal Cutter that closely resembles AT-7858 except for only one Stripping Hole.
- Bell System, AT-7860 Crescent C Long-Nose Pliers w/Sleeve Pressing Groove. "The AT-7860 C or E tools are long-nose pliers. The tools are identical except the E pliers have an insulating aluminum oxide coating on the jaws. Both tools are provided with mating grooves near the joint for use in pressing 032-035 brass sleeves. The orange plastic cushion grips do not provide protection against hazardous voltage."

Maybe Orange became the new Green?!

Nice find. Got a kick on your reference to BSPs. We used to joke that there were about 4 pages dedicated to adding staplers to a Bostich stapler. If there was a misspelling a new page was issued. Wish I would have kept a set when they were chucked. I did come home with 2 stands that I use one for all my tool documentation and the other one is somewhere in the basement.

 

[MisterEd]

Wish I would have kept a set

You, too, can have that Rabbit Chasm; https://www.telecomarchive.com/

 

[rust in the eye]

SPOKEN FOR and gone to a better home.

Pay shipping from Chicago(or pick up) and this is yours
https://www.garagejournal.com/forum/threads/bell-system-b-toolbox.551594/

 

[DGersic]

Stanly branded, with Bell System lettering. May have originally been a screwdriver?

 

[319]

I have these two Bell Science Experiments, gifts from my son a couple years ago. They are complete and unused.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Bell Science Experiments,

Fantastic! Are they dated? I think they were early 60s.

 

[WisJim]

I have these two Bell Science Experiments,

My dad was a science teacher in a small town Wisconsin high school in the 50s through the 90s, and I remember him getting these kinds of sets and getting to do lots of fun things with some of the components. I recall making a small robotic vehicle that followed a light or a dark line on the floor.

 

[319]

Fantastic! Are they dated? I think they were early 60s.

Yes, 1961 and 62.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

^ Nice. Thanks.

 

[d42jeep]

Found these Utica/Bell System longnoses at an estate sale today. There was some kind of insulating material towards the tips that didn’t want to come off so I left it alone.
-Don

 

[southalabama]

Toolbox some lucky guy found at auction

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I was just watching this haha

 

[JMP]

Toolbox some lucky guy found at auction

What an amazing find. I need one of these tool cases now. I have many of these tools but a few I hadn't seen before or only in the old literature.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Toolbox some lucky guy found at auction

Indeed! And full of tools!

I saw one exactly like it with the folding organizers at the flea market last year, but it was AT&T tagged, and all the pockets were empty except one, with a single amber handled screwdriver.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Bell sure loved their black boxes.

Some of you may remember I found a different BELL SYSTEM B box a few years back, also full of tools, but toolbox style, not attache style, and it was a much different kit, with different tools, with a large compartment and removeable organizer tray. I don't do YouTube, but below are some photos, and a link to many more of the box and all the tools laid out linked upthread here, and just keep scrolling.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And a short time later, this cute little baby black Bell System case. Amazing that they got so much economical use out of reinforced fiberboard for so many years.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I believe you can still get the briefcase style boxes http://www.fibrecase.com/

 

[JMP]

Toolbox some lucky guy found at auction

This video has inspired me to put together a toolkit from my collection. Today I picked up this black case locally which was once owned by a former Indiana Bell employee. It is not marked but it fits the bill and will help me to organize my collection a bit. It is smaller than I expected so perhaps I will keep an eye out for another. There are more Bell System tools yet to be uncovered from this seller but they are currently locked away in a shed in the quiet of winter.

 

[JMP]

This hodgepodge time capsule I threw together this afternoon. It is a work in progress. I don't really want to overload it with the bulk of my extra pliers, screwdrivers, or heavier items.



This small case worked out perfect for all of my misc. wrenches.