Bell system

[NYBODYMAN]

Right here:



So was I.

Sorry for the confusion fellas LOL. I called it a tack hammer in the first post and put in parenthesis which specific one I was talking about (second one from the right). I called it a tack hammer because that's what my father, who worked for the phone company for 34+ years, calls it and said that's what it was always called where he worked in NYC.

@Private Lugnutz while it's a bit different, I believe the hammer you posted might be a similar version of the same hammer. Nice find!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I called it a tack hammer because that's what my father, who worked for the phone company for 34+ years, calls it and said that's what it was always called where he worked in NYC.

As good a reason as any, and one I bet we all share when it comes to tool terminology! I think you know it, but I'll say it anyway, there was no sense of right or wrong in me saying my lexicon for tack hammers is different.

 

[Outlawmws]

If there hadn't been two real tack hammers in the pic, I'd have probably gotten the humor.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

If there hadn't been two real tack hammers in the pic, I'd have probably gotten the humor.

Hence why I pointed out it's location

 

[RTM]

Hence why I pointed out it's location

I just assumed you meant left.

 

[Outlawmws]

"Second from the right (tack hammer)

 

[NYBODYMAN]

"Second from the right (tack hammer)

Yes. Starting from the right side, it is the second one in.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I just assumed you meant left.

Well you know what they say about assuming

 

[Outlawmws]

What you said:

Picked up yet ANOTHER Bell System tack hammer (second one in from the right).

What was interpreted (by more than me):

Picked up yet ANOTHER Bell System tack hammer (second tack hammer in from the right).

 

[Private Lugnutz]

@NYBODYMAN

Are you sure it's not possible you're confusing the hammers and the terms for them that you remember?

The reason I am wondering is because of this statement from your pop (see bold)...

"We used it with a chipping knife to cut lead sleeve off plus many other things."

...and the description of the Riveting Hammers (see highlight) in this second hammers reference I found in the Telcom archives!



Again, without judgement, riveting hammer and tack hammer are interchangeable in my acquired lexicon. Could he be referring to the hammer the manual is referring to? It's possible, of course, that he used a different hammer for the same job, but it's awfully conspicuous - in a good way! - that his description and the manual's are identical.

Also, I'm wondering if that hammer in question could be the 1-1/4 lb Drilling Hammer, top right?

 

[NYBODYMAN]

What you said:

Picked up yet ANOTHER Bell System tack hammer (second one in from the right).

What was interpreted (by more than me):

Picked up yet ANOTHER Bell System tack hammer (second tack hammer in from the right).

This is getting comical at this point .
The 2 identical upholstery tack hammers you are referring to are on the left side. With that logic, the second hammer from the right would be the very first hammer on the left. It wouldn't make sense to reference it like that. My reference to it being a tack hammer is coming straight from a source who worked with it for 3+ decades. If it's the incorrect terminology, then my apologies. Next time I will circle the tool or just take a solo pic. Cheers

 

[NYBODYMAN]

@NYBODYMAN

Are you sure it's not possible you're confusing the hammers and the terms for them that you remember?

The reason I am wondering is because of this statement from your pop (see bold)...

...and the description of the Riveting Hammers (see highlight) in this second hammers reference I found in the Telcom archives!



Again, without judgement, riveting hammer and tack hammer are interchangeable in my acquired lexicon. Could he be referring to the hammer the manual is referring to?

Also, I'm wondering if that hammer in question could be the 1-1/4 lb Drilling Hammer, top right?

Nope! I have a few of those riveting hammers as well and they were referred to as small tack hammers.
When I find anything Bell System at yard sales, I always send my dad a text/photo. When I bought this hammer, he said and I quote "Tack hammer. Should say Bell System underneath."
I questioned his terminology and he said that's what they've always been called.
I agree, it definitely looks like the 1 1/4" drilling hammer.
Where are you getting these tool references from? I'd love to see more!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I agree, it definitely looks like the 1 1/4" drilling hammer.
Where are you getting these tool references from? I'd love to see more!

The Telcom Archives. @RTM posted a link in #504 on page 13. Tools are all over the place. And there are links within links. Best thing to do is familiarize yourself with the directory and all the links, but most of the tools are in BSPs and pre-60 BSPs.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found my second Western Electric BUFFALO GRIP cable puller at the flea market this morning. This is a later (1910 / 1911) version. My first, linked here, was the 1898 model. I haven't looked up the patents yet, but I am assuming the new design concerns that tensioning strap and roller mechanism on the back side of the tool. The business end is pert near identical. It's not fully cleaned up yet. Took some penetrating oil and some manipulation just to get the jaws working. This one has part numbers on each piece.

 

[MisterEd]

Vaughan & Bushnell Manufacturing Riveting Hammer

Bell System Practices, Section G82.320.1. Issue 1, July 1952 AT&T Co Standard; Hammers and Hatchets; Description and Maintenance

2.07 Riveting Hammers are available in four ounce, seven ounce and twelve ounce weights. The four ounce hammer is for central office forces. The seven ounce is intended primarily for use by the installation and repair forces but may also be used by the cable splicing forces for light operations. The twelve ounce hammer which has a tempered head is suitable for use with the large chipping knife.


Same in Section 081-745-102,Issue 2, October 1968 AT&T Standard Hammers, Hatchets and Axes

 

[jeffmoss26]

found at the restore yesterday

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have never seen this wrench before. Not sure what to call it. I have a smaller one like it, also forged, but it's not Bell System. I have seen them in and around the oxy-acetylene world, but those are not forged. This thing is a real wrench. Technically, not a Triple Open End (since two openings are borrowing the same end), but I'm going with that anyway. No branding.

My dad says that the wrench was used for attaching propane and nitrogen tanks.

Makes sense, NYBODYMAN. I mentioned tank wrench, good to know precisely. Thanks to your dad for me!

Bell System General Machine Products Three-Way Wrench made by Armstrong

Gents,

I missed MisterEd's wrench until a few minutes ago, which would've helped me identify my unbranded example as Armstrong a couple months ago. And I forgt we had this conversation. Thanks to a query from @thefraze_1020 in the 'Armstrong' thread, about an example he has with the "BELL SYSTEM C" marking eradicated from the shank with a grinder, it sent me sccounding around in the Telcom Archive, where I found a reference to what I suspect is a much later version of all our examples in the 1972 Outside Plant BSP. All's well that ends well!

 

[Arne73]

An interesting video on the Bell System/Western Electric and the DEW Line construction:

 

[lzenglish]

An interesting video on the Bell System/Western Electric and the DEW Line construction:

Great Video: Got Me Cold Just Watching it!

LZ

 

[MisterEd]

Clauss, Bell System C Scissors
Bell System Practices, AT&T Standard, 074-256-110, Issue 1, January 1976
1. General
1.01 This section covers noncoded Bell System Scissors
- The C scissors have the back of one blade provided
with two notches for stripping plastic insulated
conductors.
- The D scissors are provided with stripping tips at
the ends of both blades and a notch on one
blade for stripping the larger conductors.
- Replace the B splicer scissors, electrician scissors and R-1682 scissors.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice. I posted a pair of Clauss Bell System B scissors a few years ago in a leather belt pouch, also marked Bell System B. No notches. Page 5, Post #194.

 

[MisterEd]

Nice. I posted a pair of Clauss Bell System B scissors a few years ago in a leather belt pouch, also marked Bell System B. No notches. Page 5, Post #194.

Saw it. Made me dig this one out.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Ahhh. I thought it might've been a new find. The B to C progression is interesting. I'm glad you took the time to post the manual excerpt.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

My father (retired telephone worker) would cringe when I called these scissors. "They are shears!" he would yell.

 

[TnClimber]

My father (retired telephone worker) would cringe when I called these scissors. "They are shears!" he would yell.

We called them snips. It must be a regional thing. I have 2-3 pairs around here somewhere.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

I do recall him using the word snip but snip with the shears.

 

[Outlawmws]

My father (retired telephone worker) would cringe when I called these scissors. "They are shears!" he would yell.

We called them snips. It must be a regional thing. I have 2-3 pairs around here somewhere.

They are not big or heavy enough to be either shears or snips!

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I tend to call them snips, just because scissors sounds like something you'd find in a junk drawer or a sewing kit, and that's what I called them the day I originally posted them...

A.E. Burgess Lea pouch with brass rivets, Clauss snips inside.

..., but who am I to argue with Bell System terminology, chapter and verse?

 

[Outlawmws]

..., but who am I to argue with Bell System terminology, chapter and verse?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up another cleaver (Bell System terminology: "chipping knife") at the flea yesterday. This one is a Klein and neither it or its sheath are marked for Bell System duty, but it meets all the 1976 specs (see Pic 6). Pictured below with my much older chipping knife, made by Utica, marked BELL SYSTEM, in a pouch that is also marked BELL SYSTEM. I don't know if the leather handle with the copper rivets or the lanyard through-hole on the older knife is original. I couldn't find any older specs in the Teleco Archive.

 

[NYBODYMAN]

Nice find. I just texted with my old man. He said the top one is from the 50's-60's. He started in 1970 with NY Telephone and remembers seeing and using them but they weren't around too much longer after he started. He used the other one numerous times daily for cutting cable after opening lead sleeves.

 

[southalabama]

Had seen some pics online of dad’s office. Found a bigger website today.

Long Lines Map and Information - Brewton Site Details

 

[jeffmoss26]

today's restore finds

 

[bonneyman]

today's restore finds

I've had/have a few of these types of drivers, and have found the handle shape very comfortable in use. Gentle curves, small grooves, good thumb rest. Overall very nice.

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

We called them scissors or maybe even Cablemen‘s scissors

 

[jeffmoss26]

I have always called them snips

 

[mark-NJ]

Fun thread!

My grandfather was a "pioneer"...an early-era inventor...with Bell Labs. He worked in Whippany, Murry Hill and Holmdel, NJ from 1925 to 1970. I (luckily) got a ton of his tools when he passed in '81, and a ton of them are stamped "Bell System". Screw drivers, dykes, and...yes....those awesome Clauss sheers (scissors?).

I think of him every time I regularly use these tools and the amazing things he worked on. (you wouldn't believe me if I told you all the stuff he worked on...)

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

I remember Bell’s BSPs. (Basic Standard Pracice) It probably had 4 pages on how to refill your tacker/stapler. When there was the most minor change on a page a new page was issued. Wish I had kept a set of those Basic Standard Practice pages. I do have the binder set up. I’ll see if I can find it and take a pic.

 

[jeffmoss26]

I remember Bell’s BSPs. (Basic Standard Pracice) It probably had 4 pages on how to refill your tacker/stapler. When there was the most minor change on a page a new page was issued. Wish I had kept a set of those Basic Standard Practice pages. I do have the binder set up. I’ll see if I can find it and take a pic.

It’s Bell System Practice btw

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

It’s Bell System Practice btw

Yes you are correct, it has been awhile. Still a bunch of paper that was never paid much attention to until you were up against a wall or an old timer wasn’t available. If I remember correctly there was a cost of keeping everything current. One day somebody figured it just wasn’t worth the money. Something about more time keeping them current than time spent using them for reference.
I managed to keep 2 of the binders when they became obsolete or nobody wanted to keep them current.
I was thinking of using the binders for shop/garage tool files, booklets, info, warranties etc.
Kind of forgot about this project until this thread came up

While looking for these I came across a roll of lashing wire.