d42jeep
Well-known member
I found this Klein and Sons/Bell System B wrench at a vintage sale yesterday. I’ll bet someone knows what it was used for. Is the 4-64 a date?
-Don
-Don
Bell system
- Thread starter Shelbylex
- Start date
jeffmoss26
Well-known member
wrench for installing climbing hooks/wire clamps on telephone poles
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
I was issued a Lineman’s wrench don’t remember using it. I was more than happy to do a tool return. Thinking about it wish I would have tucked it away. I kind of remember some might have referred to it as a Boomer wrench or something like that.
After boring your hole for a cross arm this was your go to tool for the galvanized bolt.
As I said never used one I just think my old school hiring foreman had a sense of humour or thought I would go the construction route. Jeff as likely correct but here climbing hooks were few and far in between probably due to if you were going to skin a pole the less hardware in your road the better. We either used spurs or a few guys were known as ladder lineman. Lol
After boring your hole for a cross arm this was your go to tool for the galvanized bolt.
As I said never used one I just think my old school hiring foreman had a sense of humour or thought I would go the construction route. Jeff as likely correct but here climbing hooks were few and far in between probably due to if you were going to skin a pole the less hardware in your road the better. We either used spurs or a few guys were known as ladder lineman. Lol
Worked for AT&T 36 years. Most of our tools were Klein and Utica, pliers, side cutters, insolated screw drivers. We used them on distributing frames and equipment bays. The guys who worked outside might've had more of a variety.
Or did the military mimic Bell System?
Or is it some of one, some of the other?
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Well, the U.S. Army dates to 1775, and Bell to 1877, so the Army had just a few years of organization, policy, procedure and practice on them with respect to movement and transport. 
They both adopted the use of trucks around the same time, and at a time when most secondary and tertiary roads were nonexistent or terrible, so I suppose the convention of an on-board "Pioneer Kit" (shovel, pick-mattock, and axe) for clearance and recovery could've originated with either one. The Army didn't have a separate Transportation Corps until 1942, when it was created within the Ordnance Dept. Prior to that, wagons and boats were a QMC responsibility. Harbors, bridges, tunnels and railroads were owned by the Corps of Engineers.
The U.S. Army Signal Corps also predates Ma Bell by many years. While popularly known for homing pigeons and wig-wag flags, they adopted the electric telegraph in 1867 and by the time Bell was born ten years later, the U.S. Army Signal Corps had already constructed and were maintaining and operating some 5,000 miles of telegraph lines across America. And they went wireless first, too.
But yes, the history of the modern (Interwar, WWII and after...) Signal Corps and Bell is certainly one of collaboration, not competition. There's a reason the original Bell Labs was located near Signal Corps HQ at Ft Monnouth, NJ, and there is no doubt they leveraged each other technologically.
They both adopted the use of trucks around the same time, and at a time when most secondary and tertiary roads were nonexistent or terrible, so I suppose the convention of an on-board "Pioneer Kit" (shovel, pick-mattock, and axe) for clearance and recovery could've originated with either one. The Army didn't have a separate Transportation Corps until 1942, when it was created within the Ordnance Dept. Prior to that, wagons and boats were a QMC responsibility. Harbors, bridges, tunnels and railroads were owned by the Corps of Engineers.
The U.S. Army Signal Corps also predates Ma Bell by many years. While popularly known for homing pigeons and wig-wag flags, they adopted the electric telegraph in 1867 and by the time Bell was born ten years later, the U.S. Army Signal Corps had already constructed and were maintaining and operating some 5,000 miles of telegraph lines across America. And they went wireless first, too.
But yes, the history of the modern (Interwar, WWII and after...) Signal Corps and Bell is certainly one of collaboration, not competition. There's a reason the original Bell Labs was located near Signal Corps HQ at Ft Monnouth, NJ, and there is no doubt they leveraged each other technologically.
Old Radar
Well-known member
Another profound historical dive from Private Lugnutz. Thanks!
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Well, the familiarity on this one is very close to home. The reason I live near Ft Monmouth and the former Bell Labs (now the site of some very popular boozhy stores and whole foods type outlets) is because the Signal Corps historically owned Intelligence. The Signal Corps used to own Meteorology, too, believe it or not. Basically, everything that didn't go boom was always put with the brainiacs in Signal Corps. 
They moved to Ft Gordon a long time ago, but all the ISR R&D work stayed here, until Monmouth was finally BRAC'd.
They moved to Ft Gordon a long time ago, but all the ISR R&D work stayed here, until Monmouth was finally BRAC'd.So I just spoke with my dad who worked for NY Telephone/NYNEX/Bell Atlantic/Verizon for 34 years in NYC (1970-2004). He was a cable splicer underground in manholes and in what they call "the vault" which was a huge room of wires, servers, systems, etc. He said the 7/16" and 9/16" combo wrenches were used to install cases which covered a cable splice once it was spliced. He said he rarely used them since his career was spent mainly in Manhattan where the cable splices were wiped with lead. He said that the splice cases were mainly used in Brooklyn, Queens and Long Island but almost never in Manhattan due to the manholes in Manhattan always having water in them which explains the huge rats he would always speak of. The cable splices in Manhattan were wiped with lead to protect from the water. I love it when my old man drops some knowledge on me.No idea of what this wrench was used for (interesting that it has a build in angle at the open end) - the size is not even marked on it (picture with another proto 3/8 which is identical in size) Any thoughts?
That is awesome! My dad and grandfather (both rip) worked for Bell out on Long Island. My grandpops retired in the 70's and I still have the cheesey clock they gave him! Lol! Also tons of tools! He told me stories of stinging up the wiring up and down route 110. I believe he worked out of Farmingdale! Both him and my Dad climbed poles and I have my dads climbing stuff! I gotta dig it out.
So your dad and gramps went up in the air and my dad went down under the ground. Cool stuff. Route 110 is Farmingdale. Most of my family migrated there after leaving Richmond Hill Queens and we have family in Deer Park and Smithtown.
Awesome! Yeah my Dad grew up early in Merrick then they moved to Deer Park in the early 60s until he left for Nam. Small world man, I have family in Lindenhurst too!
Interesting. My dad went from Brooklyn to Deer Park in the early 60's as well then to Richmond Hill Queens. I'll try to find out where he lived in Deer Park
My Dad lived on East 6th street. He went to HS there. Wow thats crazy! How old is your pops?
He is 70. He left DP in the 60's and graduated from Richmond Hill HS. I'll find out where he lived.
finn
Well-known member
I have been using a rather heavy hatchet with a square hole in the flank of the head to split cedar kindling for the shop wood stove for several years. I think it was probably originally my grandfather’s, but I got it when cleaning out my mom’s garage.
It’s rather heavy and blunt, with a fairly long handle, and not particularly good for the task I assigned it.
I decided to clean it up and sharpen it when I saw the Bell Systems lettering stamped into it.
I looked it up, and found reference to it being a blunt hatchet designed for pounding and prying, not splitting.
I had already done some sharpening, though. Hope I didn’t destroy any value it had!
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
I just picked up this robust screwdriver at the flea this morning. I don't know doodly about IRWIN past WWII, so I'm not sure when it was made exactly, but it's well-made, 10-1/2" OAL, 5" shank, with a hefty 7/16" slot tip width, and hard composite four-fluted handle. I am surmising that the "E" in "E5" is part of the chronological system, so it's well past the BELL SYSTEM A, B, and C periods I normally collect, but man, this thing is such a beast I just had to have it.
d42jeep
Well-known member
I saw this lot of screwdrivers on eBay and was most interested in the #1 Plomb Phillips but was happy to add all of the Bell Systems marked ones to the Bell Systems tools. Some of the markings are hard to see. The first picture is from the eBay listing.
-Don
-Don
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
I have a number of old phone pics. I came across a couple tonight you might enjoy. 
This equipment I have in my rumpus room. Don’t see it moving in the near future. The cord board is relatively heavy.
This equipment I have in my rumpus room. Don’t see it moving in the near future. The cord board is relatively heavy.
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Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
"One ring dingy, two ringy dingies..."
(Just lost 50% of GJ...)
(Just lost 50% of GJ...
)Old Radar
Well-known member
"Have I reached the party to whom I am speaking?""One ring dingy, two ringy dingies..."
(Just lost 50% of GJ...
RTM
Well-known member
Hey all, this might interest a few of you. Found a Telcom Archives website while looking for sizes for some Bell Systems wrenches. The one I found was a 1981 practice, but it seems that have a bunch of the BSPs, or Bell System Practices, referenced a few times in this thread. The one I found was on Socket Wrenches, with sizing, the replacements #, and what you'd use socket wrenches for. Section 074-269-129
The whole repository is here
074 seems to be the tools section, and there is an index of numbers to help you out.
Edit 7/12/2025, the below link no longer works, not sure why yet.
Another fresh rabbit hole for some people. Glad to help. Hope this reduces the attendance at my local garage sales tomorrow.
EDIT 2/14/22: you can search these archives by doing the below, since 074 is the section on tools, a wrench with a 418A number can be found this way
Edit 7/12/2025, the below link no longer works, not sure why yet.
site:telecomarchive.com/docs/bsp-archive/074/ 418a
The whole repository is here
074 seems to be the tools section, and there is an index of numbers to help you out.
Edit 7/12/2025, the below link no longer works, not sure why yet.
Another fresh rabbit hole for some people. Glad to help. Hope this reduces the attendance at my local garage sales tomorrow.
EDIT 2/14/22: you can search these archives by doing the below, since 074 is the section on tools, a wrench with a 418A number can be found this way
Edit 7/12/2025, the below link no longer works, not sure why yet.
site:telecomarchive.com/docs/bsp-archive/074/ 418a
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RTM
Well-known member
Trivial little find here, a Western Electric 417a wrench, supposedly a 1/4” x 3/8
I’ve picked a bunch of Bell Systems tools from this guy in the past two years.
I’ve picked a bunch of Bell Systems tools from this guy in the past two years.
RTM
Well-known member
Interesting side note, there are a handful of JH Williams specifically mentioned in this spec
https://www.telecomarchive.com/docs/bsp-archive/074/074-269-123_I1.pdf
A bunch are found here
site:telecomarchive.com/docs/bsp-archive/074/ "williams"
https://www.telecomarchive.com/docs/bsp-archive/074/074-269-123_I1.pdf
A bunch are found here
site:telecomarchive.com/docs/bsp-archive/074/ "williams"
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
Wow! The archive RTM found is a great source for all kinds of BELL SYSTEM research, including tools, but be forewarned that the documents in section 074 (Tools), under Best Practices (specifications, in actuality), are very compartmentalized, and the dates are all over the place. For example, the flashlights are from 1965, the carry cases are from 1961, and the screwdrivers are from 1969, just to name a few I already looked at. Most of the wrenches - and one of those from 1976 is where RTM's link will deep dive you, are from the mid 1970's. The oldest document is 1944 - and unfortunately, it's for special fixture tools. There are a few general tools in the 1949 and 1953 code tools docs, but not many,
I found it easier to navigate from the main 'Best Practices' index, here.
The Tools index is here.
I found it easier to navigate from the main 'Best Practices' index, here.
The Tools index is here.
Private Lugnutz
Well-known member
It's going to be fun doing these lookups from that archive for everything in my BELL SYSTEM B Toolkit, but it's probably very telling of my own personal aesthetics that this is the first item I thought about "documenting"...
RTM
Well-known member
I've been starting to dig into this, back searching from the document number to better archives.
I've found one that seems to be a pure mirror at etler.com,
This seems to be a link to places more equipment focused than tool focused (how dare they)
Check our website for upcoming telephone shows
Telephone Collectors International - The goal of the organization is "to educate the public, as well as the members of the Corporation, regarding the history of telephony, the value of old telephones and related items, their collectability and preservation; to research telephone history and...
This page looks more like a winner, but some digging to do here
Check our website for upcoming telephone shows
Telephone Collectors International - The goal of the organization is "to educate the public, as well as the members of the Corporation, regarding the history of telephony, the value of old telephones and related items, their collectability and preservation; to research telephone history and...
This 1932 doc may be a winner, but I gotta eat before my 1pm mtg. The first wrench, #43, matches one I saw in an early document. I don't know how up to date, claiming to be 1932, but looking back from my 417a, it is shown in my first link replacing the 306 and 244. In this, the 417a is still present, and the 244 and 306 still show superceded.
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RTM
Well-known member
When I posted my 417a above, I thought I had previously posted all my other Bell tools, but I was wrong. These all came from the same GS source, over a few visits, and there are still a few missing.
Bell Systems socket wrenches, two different 555a, 476 a & b, 3x 556a, 3x 544a.
Among the missing is another wrench, I think a 418a, and a spring bending tool, looks like a pocket screwdriver, but instead of a blade, has a slit for bending springs in something. I moved it to keep it out of trouble, and no current idea of where I put it.
Bell Systems socket wrenches, two different 555a, 476 a & b, 3x 556a, 3x 544a.
Among the missing is another wrench, I think a 418a, and a spring bending tool, looks like a pocket screwdriver, but instead of a blade, has a slit for bending springs in something. I moved it to keep it out of trouble, and no current idea of where I put it.
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
Here is some dielectric grease used with the old B Connectors/Beans in communications splices. This was before the advent of greased connectors. You did a splice and lathered it for moisture protection. I was unsure of the use as it has been along time since I had procured the tube. Couldn’t find it on the net and phoned 3M and they had no idea what it was. Then I realized what it was. I was never a cable man so couldn’t remember. Probably brought this home 
25+ years ago.
25+ years ago.
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
.
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
Miss the Pontiacs
Well-known member
Nicopress Tool and box of open wire connectors. The sleeves were for open wire or wire used for party lines in the rural area. I never worked open wire but there was some scattered for a couple of years after being hired. These sleeves I used for weights with waxed string for fishing walls.
The sleeves used with the tool were Copper and used for splicing aerial drops (pole to house) The smaller size was for the phone wire within the house. Never used it for inside wiring since B Connecters/Beans were an improvement.
The Nicopress tool was made in Cleveland Ohio.
The sleeves used with the tool were Copper and used for splicing aerial drops (pole to house) The smaller size was for the phone wire within the house. Never used it for inside wiring since B Connecters/Beans were an improvement.
The Nicopress tool was made in Cleveland Ohio.
d42jeep
Well-known member
Here is a nice Bell System marked Irwin screwdriver I picked up at an estate sale on Friday.
-Don
-Don