Bell system

[Private Lugnutz]

Wow. Very cool!

If GJ member Outlawmws doesn't happen along, PM him. He has done alot of conversions and may be able to help.

 

[Provincial]

Check and see if the old bulb has a number on it. Many vendors list their LED bulbs by the old number they replace, or have an interchange list.

How many batteries does it use? If using regular cells, figure 1.5 volts per cell to calculate the voltage to the bulb. You can find a bulb by the voltage and the type of base.

Nice light!!!

 

[MikeDoesDiesels]

Check and see if the old bulb has a number on it. Many vendors list their LED bulbs by the old number they replace, or have an interchange list.

How many batteries does it use? If using regular cells, figure 1.5 volts per cell to calculate the voltage to the bulb. You can find a bulb by the voltage and the type of base.

Nice light!!!

GE27 is written on the bulb, and it takes 4 D cell batteries,
Also thanks!

 

[nutjob]

Here’s my grandpa’s old bell system flashlight, still works,

Dad worked for NY Telephone 60's 70's some 80's. Grew up with these lights around the house. Mostly remember you had to hit it a few times to get it to work. Typical of that time the light output sucked as did most flashlights.

Amazing what a Fenix PD35 1000 Lumen flashlight does today!

Kevin

 

[Catfishdan]

Here’s a cool piece I found today. A little aluminum bell systems plaque. Shown with an odd plomb/bell systems c piece that I don’t remember showing here before.

 

[californiaHank]

For the guy who is looking for a replacement bulb for his Bell flashlight:

Here are the specs for the original #27 bulb:

#27 Miniature Bulb E10 Base - 4.9 Volt .3 Amp 1.47 Watt
G4-1/2 Miniature Screw (E10) Base, 1.4 MSCP, C-2R Filament Design,
1.06" (26.90mm) Maximum Overall Length (M.O.L.),
0.55" (14mm) Maximum Outer Diameter (M.O.D.),
0.72" (18.30mm) Light Center Length (L.C.L.). 30 Average Rated Hours.

I bought some LED replacements on eBay for vintage 2 cell (3V) flashlights.
I've used both 0.5W and 1W ones with very good results.
You could try the 4 cell (6V) replacements from the same seller.
They have the correct E10 screw base, and the 1W ones I have seem to have about the same LCL ('light center length') as your original incandescent bulb.
Both the 0.5W and 1W LED versions will be brighter than the original bulb.
They are very inexpensive, but ship from China, so take 2-3 weeks to get to the US.

https://www.ebay.com/itm/LED-Upgrad...hash=item1c94a6572f:m:mZGyR0bFMkAwbbVcHd1pUrA

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Here’s a cool piece I found today. A little aluminum bell systems plaque. Shown with an odd plomb/bell systems c piece that I don’t remember showing here before.

Both cool pieces, Dan. And the Plomb "L" socket wrench is very helpful in dating the Bell System "C" model numbering era to at least including the late 1930's through 1949.

 

[southalabama]

Those little Bell System plates were stuck on all kind of equipment. We have some old teletype and printer stands that had them.

 

[GalaxyRat]

Geez, Dan, that doesn’t look too bad to me - is that just white paint? I plucked these Utica-made S-259-8 pliers Saturday. I don’t think Utica typically date-stamped pliers, but the “4-55” inside the grips looks a lot like Apr1955, unless it could be a Bell System part number.

I found a pair today dated 3-47

Sent from my SM-G973U using The Garage Journal mobile app

 

[Username already in use]

Here's something you don't see branded Bell System every day...

A deuce of forks and a spoon. Silver plated. Now I just need to find a knife.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Great find, Unaiu. My hunch is company-issued mess kit. It makes perfect sense. Their lineman's jeeps (early CJ-2's etc) had pioneer kits (axe and shovel, for the uninitiated), too! The pioneer kit on my 43 Willys MB sported a Bell System axe and you would never know the difference.

 

[Username already in use]

Thanks Lugz. They’re pretty cool indeed. If I can’t pass them along, they’ll probably end up with my camping mess kit.
There’s a set of these in a box on eBay right now for north of $100. More pieces than I would have imagined.

 

[Leviton]

Found a pair of M Klein & Sons needle-nose pliers at a thrift store yesterday. They are in pretty good shape. I believe the date code puts these as being made in the 3rd quarter of 1954. Not sure what the triangle preceding the date code means?

 

[Old Radar]

Found this little gem today covered by the PO's drawing of what he kept inside it. I didn't realize it was a Bell Systems First Aid kit until I got it home. I thought the glue that was used had failed on all but one side so I gingerly peeled it off the rest of the way. Even being careful it turned out the paint on the box was what failed and it came away on the back of the paper. The inside looks great and includes a list of the original contents and how to pack replacements.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice find.

 

[Outlawmws]

Cool Box! My PG&E kits don't have the retailer clip in the lid, but do have a spring loaded latch. One (in better condition) became my day pack's FA kit, the other a match and lighter storage box for camping.

 

[bonneyman]

Here's something you don't see branded Bell System every day...

A deuce of forks and a spoon. Silver plated. Now I just need to find a knife.

What for? Eating some food that a desperately thankful housewife made for ya?

 

[jeffmoss26]

WB padlock for the collection.

 

[smalltown]

Here's something you don't see branded Bell System every day...

A deuce of forks and a spoon. Silver plated. Now I just need to find a knife.

Username already in use It wasn't unusual for the big Telephone Central Offices to have had a cafeteria.

 

[83VillageRepair]

I was at an antique mall this weekend and saw this Bell System Wrench. Does anyone know the purpose? I did not pick it up because I don't collect Bell stuff and I believe it was marked $12. If it something that one of you wants I would be happy to pick it up for you.

Wade

View media item 100843

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I was at an antique mall this weekend and saw this Bell System Wrench. Does anyone know the purpose? I did not pick it up because I don't collect Bell stuff and I believe it was marked $12. If it something that one of you wants I would be happy to pick it up for you.

Wade

View media item 100843

My old man just called me as I was preusing this thread and I sent him a pic. He worked for NY Telephone aka NYNEX aka Bell Atlantic aka Verizon, for 35 years retiring in 2004. He said these wrenches were used to hook up propane and nitrogen tanks. Propane tanks were used for heaters in the man holes and to heat the solder to repair cables/wires, and nitrogen was blown through cable lines with holes in them to get the water and moisture out before repairing them. He has A LOT of Bell System tools and I do as well.

EDIT: my dad called me back and is going through his Bell System tools. He said he may want to sell them. He had no idea there was an interest in them. He's going to send me pics and a list of what he has. I'll post for bragging purposes here first��

 

[Outlawmws]

Double side crimpers by PEXTO:

 

[kctyphoon]

I was at an antique mall this weekend and saw this Bell System Wrench. Does anyone know the purpose? I did not pick it up because I don't collect Bell stuff and I believe it was marked $12. If it something that one of you wants I would be happy to pick it up for you.

Wade

View media item 100843

Ive seen a bunch of these things laying around at work through the years.. people have **** on their trucks for decades that they never use but refuse to take off. When they finally do, its either in the dumpster or in a storage room, never to be picked up again.. lol

 

[kctyphoon]

I agree wholeheartedly! Since no one has posted a pic, here is mine that I picked up earlier this year. This one is post Stanley takeover of North Bros, so it dates from the late 40s to early 50s. I haven't started the resto yet.

For those interested in more info on these braces look here:
http://www.sydnassloot.com/brace/northb.htm

If you only knew how many of these I’ve thrown out..

 

[Old Radar]

If you only knew how many of these I’ve thrown out..

That's too bad. It's widely regarded as the smoothest operating brace around. I imagine they did eventually wear out in the harsh environment of Bell System linemen. I guess that makes the survivors that much more special.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I guess that makes the survivors that much more special.

Amen, brother.

 

[kctyphoon]

 

[kctyphoon]

I knew I had to have one... Rest are Klein and Jonard.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

My dad sent me these pics of two things he found.

A cable wrench and a NOS pair of Claus's shears still in the wrapper.

 

[Outlawmws]

Clauss Scissors are top notch, I have one pair.

 

[jeffmoss26]

snips

 

[bmwrd0]

Snips and a splicing knife are what we had on our belts at ATT.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have the leather holder too!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Me too, brudder!


A.E. Burgess Lea pouch with brass rivets, Clauss snips inside. Love the serrated wire abrader edge on the back side. It's one of my most prized Bell System possessions. Second only to the tie clasp!

 

[pfaustus]

If you only knew how many of these I’ve thrown out..

Most braces are hard to get rid of, even if free. Bell System braces sell for $20-30 all day long to woodworkers.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Me too, brudder!


A.E. Burgess Lea pouch with brass rivets, Clauss snips inside. Love the serrated wire abrader edge on the back side. It's one of my most prized Bell System possessions. Second only to the tie clasp!

I probably have at least 20 pairs of shears if not more. My dad has way more than that. When they got dull they would just get a new pair.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Most braces are hard to get rid of, even if free.

Truer than dirt. Easily the most common tool in the wild, second only to monkey or pipe wrenches. Not a single visit to the flea market goes by without me seeing a vintage ratcheting brace or a vintage monkey or pipe wrench. I see so many I don't even bother to look for markings any more. It would cost me 15 minutes every trip just looking. Next on the list is double deep offset double box wrenches. If I was crazy enough to take them home, I could fill a dump truck with them, and the brands I easily see the most of are Indestro Select Steel, Lectrolite, Barcalo, and Craftsman CI or =V=, probably in that order. No thank you! The amount of old steel out there is staggering.

EDIT: Sorry off topic.

 

[Old Radar]

One more off topic comment just to say:

If we know anything from being GJ members, it's that everyone has a type of tool that is special for them and it doesn't matter if they have a hundred of them or that no one else understands the allure.

And now back to our regularly scheduled program:

I found these Bell System items in a 1958 Craftsman Crown tool stack I just bought. Can anyone identify the uses?

I understand the file--but it's also got a chisel end and has obviously been use for one because the other end has been hammered upon.

The little thing on the right looks like some kind of tap and it has a threaded cover.

No idea what the two tapered pipe things are.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Old Radar
I hope you didn't take offense at anything I said. I didn't mean to imply that the prevalence of braces made them worthless or didn't make them worth collecting and preserving or restoring, even the common ones, as the sort of personal preference you're referring to. And, on top of that, I am sure there are rare braces out there and that brace experts know what they are, just like there is in every other category.

 

[Old Radar]

Old Radar
I hope you didn't take offense at anything I said. I didn't mean to imply that the prevalence of braces made them worthless or didn't make them worth collecting and preserving or restoring, even the common ones, as the sort of personal preference you're referring to. And, on top of that, I am sure there are rare braces out there and that brace experts know what they are, just like there is in every other category.

Not in the least! Really had nothing to do with braces. I simply thought to remind everyone that everyone has their own favorites--often despite their own judgement!