Bell system

[Private Lugnutz]

Yeah, "E" is pretty late. With the popularity of collecting Bell System tools you'd think that someone would've figured out the exact timeframes in the sequence. We know that "A" is very early, and "B" is still prewar, but it quickly gets foggy after that. If "E" is 70's/80's, "C" and "D" is somewhere in between.

I don't pick them up past "C" but I have to admit that leather zipper case is sweet.

 

[consti2tion]

Yeah, "E" is pretty late. With the popularity of collecting Bell System tools you'd think that someone would've figured out the exact timeframes in the sequence. We know that "A" is very early, and "B" is still prewar, but it quickly gets foggy after that. If "E" is 70's/80's, "C" and "D" is somewhere in between.

I don't pick them up past "C" but I have to admit that leather zipper case is sweet.

I'm not positive on the years he worked there but judging by the year (1984) inside of both leather cases I am assuming it was in the 80's. I think I paid 20 bucks for both of these and they have a mixture of Xcelite, Vaco, Klein, Stanley, and Utica marked tools. One kit looks like some of the tools have no been used. rambling over ha.

I will definitely be on the look out for older Bell tools.

 

[Old Radar]

I bought them from a garage sale of a friend of mine's mother in law, her husband worked as a phone technician...

Your relationship immediately reminded me of this line from Spaceballs.

 

[consti2tion]

Your relationship immediately reminded me of this line from Spaceballs.

Hahaha yes exactly like that line.

 

[Moldyjim]

I was gifted this straight peen hammer by my late FIL. Sadly it was left outside and the original handle rotted away.

It's stamped Bell system and Stanley.
I've always been curious about the extra hole, and what it was used for. And what would a lineman need a straight peen hammer for?

 

[Outlawmws]

They put hols in the blades of their hatchets as well; some round, most square.

 

[Moldyjim]

Here is a Bell System wood handle screwdriver, the handle has a leather washer like a chisel, seems different than usual.

More than that it looks like it's made by Bridgeport, with the same lettering style as the machinery. Bridgeport made screwdrivers? Is the a common find?

 

[Moldyjim]

They put hols in the blades of their hatchets as well; some round, most square.

Does anyone know what the hole is for, I imagine something for the climbing spikes, but what?

And why a straight peen?

 

[bmwrd0]

It's for turning a j-spike when up on a pole. These are what the attachments for a drop (house connection) get hung from. These are pounded in with a hammer but screwed out when removed. You would hook the spike into the hole on your hammer and this would give you extra leverage.

As far as the peen goes, I was issued one but that part was never discussed. In the end, there were more than a few things that were carry-overs from the past that just kept going.

 

[Robertel1]

It's stamped Bell system and Stanley.
I've always been curious about the extra hole, and what it was used for. And what would a lineman need a straight peen hammer for?

The extra hole in the hammer, what’s it for ?, well it goes like this.

It’s called a “Stepping Hammer”. When the Lineman/Installer performed the task of placing climbing steps on a non-stepped pole, after boring with brace & bit the correct size & depth hole you would drive the new step into the hole with your Stepping Hammer. If the turn-up on the end of the step was not perfectly aligned vertically the Lineman would place the turn-up, (about a inch in length) in the hole of the Stepping Hammer, and turn the climbing step to perfectly align the “turn-up“ verticaly. Works great, and gives the Lineman the leverage needed to turn the climbing step.

Early in my 40 year carrier with the Bell System I stepped many poles. A lot of guys would cheat and step the pole lying on the ground before it got set in the ground. This would save them from having to use their Hooks and safety belt on the pole. Hard work for sure !.

I saved my Stepping Hammer when I retired in 2000. Glad I did, it’s one tough hammer. i still have and use it occasionally. Enjoy using yours, you can’t hurt it. Great for pounding in tent stakes.

 

[Moldyjim]

The extra hole in the hammer, what’s it for ?, well it goes like this.

It’s called a “Stepping Hammer”. When the Lineman/Installer performed the task of placing climbing steps on a non-stepped pole, after boring with brace & bit the correct size & depth hole you would drive the new step into the hole with your Stepping Hammer. If the turn-up on the end of the step was not perfectly aligned vertically the Lineman would place the turn-up, (about a inch in length) in the hole of the Stepping Hammer, and turn the climbing step to perfectly align the “turn-up“ verticaly. Works great, and gives the Lineman the leverage needed to turn the climbing step.

Early in my 40 year carrier with the Bell System I stepped many poles. A lot of guys would cheat and step the pole lying on the ground before it got set in the ground. This would save them from having to use their Hooks and safety belt on the pole. Hard work for sure !.

I saved my Stepping Hammer when I retired in 2000. Glad I did, it’s one tough hammer. i still have and use it occasionally. Enjoy using yours, you can’t hurt it. Great for pounding in tent stakes.

Thanks for the clear description of how they were used. I figured it was something like that.
That must have a tough job, glad we have tough men and women to do it.

 

[outofbounds]

Had a bit a Bell System "honey hole" at an estate sale, and frustratingly had to walk away on principle on a few boxes of tools that invariably will end up in a dump. These are the two that I did bring home. I'm generally not terribly fond of most estate sale operators, and this was an illustration of that. "All tools $1 or 2" was the claim, and after finding these two, and despite the Expansive bits suddenly becoming a $5 tool (despite not being otherwise marked, so should have been $2 tops according to their sign.) After getting home, I noticed the Bell System markings, and I figured I would go back in the final ten minutes of this poorly attended sale, and the operator declared that every rusty tool, that I decided was worth buying, was somehow a $2 tool, rather than a $1 tool. I told her they needed to be $1 tools to make the sale, and she flippantly told me that I didn't need to buy them. I called off the sale and walked. Was too bad as there were some cool things I found the second time around, but wasn't going to cave in to her absurd "shady pawn-shop" selling strategy.

 

[outofbounds]

Another Bell System item from the same sale I was just crowing about above. Does anyone know what this is? My uneducated guess would be a wire tensioner of some sort......

 

[Old Radar]

I applaud your decision to walk away from a sale that wasn't right for you. Those type of "dealers" don't stay in business very long. Most of the firms here in S.A. are willing to make reasonable deals--sometimes even on the first day--especially in the closing minutes of the day's sale. I know I've become much more selective about what constitutes a good deal and don't feel bad about walking away empty handed.

I will say those are some nice looking expansive bits--and that box is near perfect!

 

[jeffmoss26]

the last item is for slitting the sheath of cables

 

[outofbounds]

the last item is for slitting the sheath of cables

Thanks, Jeff!

 

[outofbounds]

I applaud your decision to walk away from a sale that wasn't right for you. Those type of "dealers" don't stay in business very long. Most of the firms here in S.A. are willing to make reasonable deals--sometimes even on the first day--especially in the closing minutes of the day's sale. I know I've become much more selective about what constitutes a good deal and don't feel bad about walking away empty handed.

I will say those are some nice looking expansive bits--and that box is near perfect!

Thanks for the affirmation, OR. I pride myself in being a deft, but amicable negotiator. It serves me well to pay the minimum in most cases, and when-and-where not, it's OK, as people have a right to demand whatever they wish for their own stuff. These tools weren't her stuff, and her option for zero wasn't in the interest of the homeowner, which leaves me to wonder if they also then do the subsequent home cleanouts, and take the remains for themselves for free. If I had been met with any friendly demeanor, I probably would have popped for the extra buck in most of the instances, but rude-is-rude, and I don't do that very well.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

It's been a while since I had anything interesting to add to my BELL SYSTEM box and this thread, which changed this morning. Guessing it's a very simple wire stripper. As you can see, just two pieces of steel, one longer than the other with an offset eyelet, and beveled holes, forming a case around the blade and its spring steel shank, assembled with flat head screws. I think the WECO is Western Electric.

 

[LesserSon]

These five slot screwdrivers were in a home-made chest I bought today. Top/smallest is a Stanley marked D, largest amber is Stanley marked E, larger black-handled Amelite one doesn’t seem to have a code, and the other black Amelite is E. The amber Irwin is marked E4.

 

[Geezer]

I have a pair of bell system needle nose pliers I've had since 1973.As a kid the man wanted me to help him remember some colors of some wire hookups.After he left, these were laying in the grass.

 

[LesserSon]

How certain are we the alphabetic codes represent dates? Could they represent regions, where development density expanded coincidently with passing decades?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

How certain are we the alphabetic codes represent dates? Could they represent regions, where development density expanded coincidently with passing decades?

I have never found or seen anything in writing that explains the letter codes. I think most collectors have assumed it was chronological because of the relative age of the things or the tell-tale markings on the things with SYSTEM A, B, C, and D letters. But I suppose anything is possible.

Today's flea market find is a good example.

BELL SYSTEM S first aid kit. That is the latest letter I have ever seen, and almost weirdly late, since I don't recall seeing many if any intervening letters between, say, E, and S. And yet the case seems earlier than the letter might seem to indicate. In fact, if I wasn't aware of SYSTEM A, B, C, and D items, and the implicit chronology of them, I might even think it was "S" for Safety.

But, we have other FAKs on the thread, and they help illustrate how the letter codes seem to be chronological.

See Page 11, Post #424. southalabama posted a BELL SYSTEM C FAK with contents that look exactly like WWII or KW era military FAKs. (In keeping with the general timeline of A and B tools looking prewar.)

See Page 5, Post #174. Old Radar posted a BELL SYSTEM FAK without a letter code, and empty, but the contents decal, though slightly different than mine, is clearly later than the BELL SYSTEM C FAK that southalabama posted. Probably 50s or 60s.

I am guessing late 60's or 70's on mine. I could probably get closer by trying to date the composition of the ointment.

As I said on the Garage Sale thread, it's much later than the rest of the BELL SYSTEM stuff (mainly A and B, some C) in my collection and the BELL SYSTEM B box that I am keeping it in, but it's a metal case with a metal clasp, not plastic, and won't look at all out of place. It's just the kind of accent piece that makes a BELL SYSTEM kit look authentically more complete and better.

It's complete - and the contents were still arranged exactly as the instructions under the lid recommended.

 

[555]

My only contribution and I don't know where I got it.

 

[Mintgrun]

A couple of Bell System screw drivers, both made by Stanley. Someone did something mean to the end of the wooden handle. This is the pretty side.



Here's another wire stripper that's similar to the one above, but only does two sizes, as opposed to four. I suspect it is for slitting the sleeve on Romex wiring.

 

[Two Sheds]

The slitting tool is for drop wire (the wire that comes from the pole to your house). You slit it back so a few inches of the wires are separated, and then strip a length of insulation off of each, and attach them to the terminals.

 

[Robertel1]

The slitting tool is for drop wire (the wire that comes from the pole to your house). You slit it back so a few inches of the wires are separated, and then strip a length of insulation off of each, and attach them to the terminals.

Thank You, perfect explanation.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have couple of small PG&E personal First aid boxes - one is in my "work" day pack with Med stuff in it. The other is my matchbox for my overnight camp pantry/lantern/stove/fuel box.

 

[WarrenJ]

Picked up these old Bell system items this past weekend.
Bell 556A 7/32" hex offset
Bell KS 19192 5/32 Hex Security Wrench

Anyone interested in these?

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I found this at the flea on Thursday. The guy was practically giving it away, because it has been long stripped of its contents and even the internal compartment separators. I don't understand guys like that. It has a cool marking on the outside, the packing label shellacked to the lid on the inside, providing a silent history lesson/quiz, is in perfect condition, and it will be perfect for the overflow items that no longer fit in my vintage BELL SYSTEM B black fiberboard carry box.



If you're wondering, it was some kind of marking outfit. Contents included tubes of ink, an inking plate, a putty knife, and letters and numeral stamps of various sizes. I'm not sure, just deducing here based on those contents, that the technician squeezed the ink out on the inking plate, used the putty knife to mix it up, then selected the letter and number stamped he needed to physically mark equipment. Probably not proprietary markings but service and maintenance notations, codes, and dates. I am just speculating. Note the references to Western Electric Company in the ink tube part numbers. Note the dates. Issue 8A of this kit was 8-14-28 (1928). Issue 9 was 7-29-29 (1929).



Just incredible.

The box itself is cool. The bottom was screwed in. The corners are jointed. The lid and bottom have a "123" stamped into them, which I think was probably part of the construction process (i.e., 'these go together'). I am going to see if I can replace the handle. The desiccation doesn't bother me all that much, but it is literally going to fall apart eventually.

 

[Outlawmws]

I love finger jointed boxes...

 

[southalabama]

Found this in dad’s shop.

Old western electric solder.

 

[outofbounds]

A Bell System E (by Stanley) screwdriver fell out of a box I was fixing to unload on FB.

 

[tym]

Found this Bell System right-angle flashlight at a swap meet last weekend. The seller also had a battery-powered lantern made out of metal that I did not buy.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice find. Please post the marking.

The seller also had a battery-powered lantern made out of metal that I did not buy.

Did it look like the Light-Stick I posted a few years ago? The miner/USN trouble light type? Link here...

Bell system

Gotcha.

www.garagejournal.com

 

[tym]

Nice find. Please post the marking.

Here ya go: GT Price Products, Inc in Los Angeles. No zip code in the address, so this must be pre-1963.

Did it look like the Light-Stick I posted a few years ago? The miner/USN trouble light type?

No, it was larger, and looked like it took a 6V lantern battery. Sadly I did not snap a pic. The seller had a table full of lanterns and lights.

 

[bonneyman]

Loving the angled flashlight! I like that style of flashlights, typically found as US military surplus units. They were useful at work because they'd stand on their end and you could am the light at the task at hand, leaving both hands free. Now I use the headband LED lights for that.

The casting of yours is very similar to the Uncle Sam lights I've had. Does yours have the extra bulb and lenses hidden in the base?

 

[tym]

Thanks! It has the spare bulb but no lenses or hanging hook in the base, so interesting that is a variant on the milspec version, but clearly closely derived from it.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Is it plastic or metal, tym? I agree with you guys about it being military spec, and I note that it is a BELL SYSTEM C. It might help with the letter system timeline we have discussed in the past.

By the way, it is uncanny how much the Bell System mimicked the military where appropriate. There are Willys MB CJ-2 jeeps out there that were Bell System linesman's, with the same pioneer kit (axe and shove) mounted on the driver side.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I have a few wartime angle flashlights. The first plastic/composite TL-122 (yeah, before they went army wide they had Signal Corps part numbers, TL for tool) was TL-122B, issued in September 1943. The first TL-122 with the extended base for the lens filters and spare bulb, the TL-122D, was not issued until very late in the war.

 

[tym]

Is it plastic or metal, tym? I agree with you guys about it being military spec, and I note that it is a BELL SYSTEM C. It might help with the letter system timeline we have discussed in the past.

It is entirely plastic (or bakelite), including the switch. The slide switch does not have a momentary "signal" position, so that's another difference from it's milspec cousin.