Bell system

[DGersic]

Cool find.

I've had it for about 40 years. Swiped it from Dad. He retired from 4ESS in the Bell System. He told me it was a secretary pencil.

 

[southalabama]

Found these in dad’s garage. He had long since quit using them as screwdrivers.

Faintly Marked
Irwin
Bell system

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a nice Bell System marked Irwin screwdriver I picked up at an estate sale on Friday.
-Don

I picked up another Irwin made Bell System marked screwdriver at an estate sale yesterday.
-Don

I guess Irwin’s were popular with Bell System.
-Don

 

[d42jeep]

I found these screwdrivers at a garage sale this morning. At least two of them have Bell System markings.

I also found this tool. Looks like it’s for stripping wire
-Don

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Your bump made me remember this complete FAK I spotted at the flea recently. It's a BELL SYSTEM C, so 50's or so, and I didn't want it enough for the price, but snapped some shots for reference.

 

[d42jeep]

I cleaned and added the new screwdrivers and strippers to the others and took a picture of all my Bell System related tools.
-Don

 

[bonneyman]

Looks like you're set, Don When can you come over and fix my phone?

 

[d42jeep]

It’s odd. I never set out to have a Bell System collection, I just run across them frequently at sales and they are kind of interesting. I blame Jeff Moss
-Don

 

[319]

Two of my Bell step ladders, not as pretty as they were when I acquired them in the 80's as they are used quite often.

 

[Outlawmws]

I have a 4 step Bell System ladder. I like it. Very stout.

 

[rustyzman]

I’ll see your KS8400 and raise you a KS8300 mechanical pencil with slotted ball for dialing.

I'll add another one to the group, along with a couple of other ones of different styles (non bell). I like that the slotted ball end rotates on the Bell System one.

 

[319]

I have a 4 step Bell System ladder. I like it. Very stout.

Indeed they are, they're the only step ladders that i'll stand on the top of.

 

[southalabama]

Spent afternoon in shop cleaning, sorting and integrating Dad’s tools and hardware into my shop.

Ran across these at an estate sale a few years back.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

My Bell System service fleet doubled when my wife brought the smaller one home for me yesterday. Some of you may remember me finding the larger one, a Hubley #504, a couple years ago, linked here. The smaller one, also a Hubley, #473, has a lot more paint left on it.

 

[Leviton]

Picked up this wrench because the markings were unfamiliar to me. After some research it looks like it has the part number of a Bell System tool even though it is not marked "Bell System". Attached is a drawing from a 1954 Bell Telephone Laboratories document.

I've looked at both J. H. Williams and Armstrong as possible manufacturers because they have similar looking wrenches. Comparing them, my best guess is that this one was made by Armstrong.

 

[southalabama]

Since today is a holiday and the office is closed I decided to work on moving some stuff from Dads shop to mine.

He has a number of these and used them as shelves above his benches. They are 22” x 9ish”.

This was the only one not mounted. Once I figure out how I’m going to use them I’ll clean them off and bring them home.

Some type transmitter rack.

Painted gray like most things Bell System.

 

[d42jeep]

I found a couple of screwdrivers at this morning’s estate sale.
-Don

 

[AreBeeBee]

I picked up a Stanley Bell System B tool at the local ReStore, but I'm not sure what exactly it was designed to do. At first glance it looks like a Phillips screwdriver, but the point is too pointy and the four recesses are too shallow and small. I tried it as an awl, and it works pretty well for that purpose.

Can anyone ID this?

 

[RTM]

Looks like it was user ground down, and user modified handle. Maybe post it here?

Worn Screwdrivers

Ok, not an actual problem, but there are too many screwdrivers in the tool chest drawer. Not sure where they all came from…they seem to multiply like wire coat hangers. Some of them in the drawer are very old and worn and some of the flat bladed ones have been “sharpened” to try and extend the...

www.garagejournal.com

 

[AreBeeBee]

Looks like it was user ground down, and user modified handle. Maybe post it here?

Worn Screwdrivers

Ok, not an actual problem, but there are too many screwdrivers in the tool chest drawer. Not sure where they all came from…they seem to multiply like wire coat hangers. Some of them in the drawer are very old and worn and some of the flat bladed ones have been “sharpened” to try and extend the...

www.garagejournal.com

I've made an awl out of an old, partly broken slotted screwdriver, and this might work that way if you chucked a Phillips in a lathe and then ground the end. (The point is centered on the shaft like a sharpened pencil.) I made my scratch awl with a file — perfect profile not needed.

The Bell System had such an unbelieveably wide range of specialized tools for their indoor and outdoor people that I'm reluctant to see this as a homebrew expedient. And if you're grinding it to a point, why leave any trace of the Phillips fluting?

Also, I'm not sure the handle has been modified — it looks pretty standard to me. See the black handle Phillips in post #606 above.

 

[RTM]

I've made an awl out of an old, partly broken slotted screwdriver, and this might work that way if you chucked a Phillips in a lathe and then ground the end. (The point is centered on the shaft like a sharpened pencil.) I made my scratch awl with a file — perfect profile not needed.

The Bell System had such an unbelieveably wide range of specialized tools for their indoor and outdoor people that I'm reluctant to see this as a homebrew expedient. And if you're grinding it to a point, why leave any trace of the Phillips fluting?

I've seen them made on a grinder, and that was my guess based on the grit marks left on the tip.

I don't think it was made for an official Bell use. Someone did it after it wore out as a usable screwdriver, thus the link to the other thread.

Also, I'm not sure the handle has been modified — it looks pretty standard to me. See the black handle Phillips in post #606 above.

Oops, missed that.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

And if you're grinding it to a point, why leave any trace of the Phillips fluting?

Reamer action.

 

[AreBeeBee]

Well, it appears the Bell System, despite its great inventiveness in making/commissioning special tools for their technicians and service folk, has let me down. After reading this whole thread I was sure this item was yet another clever invention for telephonic purposes that are hidden to us ordinary mortals. Alas, it seems it was just an old Phillips screwdriver "pencil sharpened" to a point.

But as I said in the original post, it does make a good awl, and those remaining flutes do help move the wood when it is spun by hand. So it'll be added to the number of small awls already in the shop.

Thanks, y'all!

 

[d42jeep]

Here are the last two Bell System screwdrivers I found at two different estate sales on Saturday


All four of Saturday’s finds together.

-Don

 

[four.cycle]

^ you're getting quite the "Bell" collection going there. Only "Bell" I have is a red box with some Thorsen stuff in it. Very odd set.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Picked up this "E" sheath yesterday at the flea, reminding me to move the alphabetic chronology puzzle up my list of things to do in 2023. That it is ascending from A to x is a given. That A is very early and B is also prewar is also assured. C is a little trickier. It would be nice to find something that provides a nice clear timeline, or something to derive it from.

 

[Provincial]

I picked up this Bell System set at the flea Sunday for a buck. The sheath has lost part of the belt loop, but the clip is good and the snips are almost perfect.
I'm not a Bell System collector, but flying telephone system construction/installation teams around Alaska for a few years exposed me to how handy these scissors are.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice snag, Jock. I'm curious if they're Clauss, with the serrated part on the top of the blade for abrading? I found the same set a few years ago, linked here.

 

[Provincial]

Yes, they are just like yours, serrations and all. I spotted them in a open box on the floor under the table, and negotiated for their rescue.

 

[Private Lugnutz]

Nice.

 

[elidas]

I was going through Garage Sale thread and noticed that there were some members interested in Bell System tools. I knew it sounded familiar and decided to pull couple of tools I remembered.
...I know, Stanley-Bell System screwdriver needs to be cleaned one day...

 

[Private Lugnutz]

I saw this yesterday at the flea. Seller wanted $100, firm. That "NJ & L DIV" marking on the lid is New Jersey and Lehigh Division, a subline off of the main line of the Lehigh Valley RR! Two American traditions - railroads and phones - in one box! I was sorely tempted, but I left it behind.

 

[LesserSon]

PEXTO Bell System B needlenose. The tips have been ground slightly narrower.

 

[d42jeep]

Here is a Bridgeport Bell System screwdrivers we found at an estate sale this morning. It required some cleanup to reveal the markings.
-Don

 

[Ricky Joe]

I picked up a Stanley Bell System B tool at the local ReStore, but I'm not sure what exactly it was designed to do. At first glance it looks like a Phillips screwdriver, but the point is too pointy and the four recesses are too shallow and small. I tried it as an awl, and it works pretty well for that purpose.

Can anyone ID this?

I could guess that someone needed a Phillips and the one available was stripped, so that, in an effort to get use out of it, the stripped part was ground down. That would explain the necessary concentricity and the retention of as much usable tool as possible in order to get use out of it. Best reason I know for carrying multiple screwdrivers.

 

[AreBeeBee]

I could guess that someone needed a Phillips and the one available was stripped, so that, in an effort to get use out of it, the stripped part was ground down. That would explain the necessary concentricity and the retention of as much usable tool as possible in order to get use out of it. Best reason I know for carrying multiple screwdrivers.

Yes, that was the consensus here. I think I was seeing it as far more exotic than it actually is. Probably a Bell Phillips with a bit that got too worn to use and the owner repurposed it.

 

[Provincial]

Yes, that was the consensus here. I think I was seeing it as far more exotic than it actually is. Probably a Bell Phillips with a bit that got too worn to use and the owner repurposed it.

I agree with the general scope of this, but I believe that the purpose was to convert the screwdriver into an awl, and use it to punch holes in a material that was soft enough to penetrate, but difficult to form a larger hole. The "flutes" left by the remains of the Phillips tip would create pressure points that would tear the material, requiring less force to enlarge the hole.

 

[S-K Tool Fanatic!]

This is the only bell system tool I have, and you would never guess where I found it. I got it from my school’s art room, all I had to do was trade a different pair of pliers for it.
-Tommy

 

[Miss the Pontiacs]

Found this hanging on a wall In a coffee shop in a Portugal coffee shop.

 

[MisterEd]

A Bell System C Handle for . . . ?