Ma Bell

[ttpete]

I have a two volume set of "History of Engineering and Science in the Bell System" published by Bell Laboratories. Everything from the beginning to 1975. The volumes are quite thick and heavy.

 

[SantaAna12]

My grandfather worked for Bell Labs as an Electrical Engineer for 37yrs, after 11yrs in the Navy. He was transferred to the North Andover facility in 1974 from the Patterson, NJ site, and worked there until he finally retired in 1984. I remember taking tours there as a teen, and picking my grandfather up at the security gate (on the right side of the photo) after work when I needed to borrow his car, or if his carpool wasn't running in the afternoon.

The tools he brought home for his home shop are how I learned my love of Utica Tools. It still breaks my heart to drive past the Osgood complex and not see the big Bell logo out front.

To the previous post, I would add that the Osgood facility also designed and built communication equipment for International sales, including government contracts in the Middle East.

Very cool Jakemac. He sounds like a very capable man.

I am with you on the Utica tools. Some of their pliers and spin downs were/are top notch. The Utica in/lbs torque wrenchs (about 9" long) are outstanding.

 

[dodgejunkie]

My Dad worked for Bell Systems after he came home from WWII, til his retirement in 1988(he was with ATT in the latter years). Anyway I remember him taking my brother and I to the Garage he worked out of and going into the storeroom and looking at the stacks and stacks of inventory tools. I have a few pliers, side cutters, hammers, test lead kit, but the neatest thing is my Dad gave all of us boys (4) is a canvas job bag when he retired. It hangs in our house as a tribute to my Pops!!!!

 

[pokey459]

I must have slept through most of this post.

I have been turning screw drivers for the "bell system" for 30 yrs.
west coast area, AT&T, pacbell, uswest, qwest, now centurylink.

probably have thrown away more bell system marked stuff than
most folks will ever see. there are still a few of us old bell heads around.
one guy i work with has 45 yrs with the company.

and that "old copper" still works just fine , if you maintain it.
40meg anyone?

 

[redmondjp]

I still have a copper line at my house.

Me too. I'm keeping it until they kill them all in a few years from now. It stays live during storms due to battery and generator backup, unlike the cable and fiber systems. Most of the youngins today have no fricking clue about this since they only have a cell phone and assume that it will just keep on working forever for them.

The central office is a block away from my house. Nationwide, I think they will make a few bucks off of all of those central office properties when they sell them.

I've never seen any bell hand tools; thanks for sharing.

 

[CNGsaves]

^ ^ ^ ^ So TRUE !!! No such thing as CableCo with 99.99% uptime !!

Old school Telco when properly maintained (very important) could make their 9's on uptime.

However, there's been slippage in recent years from consolidation and rush to mobile as even the Ma Bell's aren't keeping up outside plant since revenue is lost with dying landlines.

 

[ttpete]

^ ^ ^ ^ So TRUE !!! No such thing as CableCo with 99.99% uptime !!

Old school Telco when properly maintained (very important) could make their 9's on uptime.

However, there's been slippage in recent years from consolidation and rush to mobile as even the Ma Bell's aren't keeping up outside plant since revenue is lost with dying landlines.

I gave up on landline when they quit maintaining the local lines from box to house. The drops still are up there, but they're noisy and crappy. Terminal building is 1/2 mile away and I never could get any speed on the DSL I had. AT&T came around and tried to sell me their TV/web/phone service and I told them to come see me when they could bring fiber directly into the house without a lousy copper drop. I have everything through WOW now.

 

[ndnchf]

Back in the day when you could talk to Ma Bell directly.

 

[bonneyman]

Another Bell system driver (a #2 phillips) showed up in the mail today.!

The bottom one in this pic.

 

[akasrick]

Bell Systems "drilling hammer" from what I've read on this site. I would like to replace the handle and use it as I don't have a style this size yet. I'm fairly sure the handle is original due to it unmistakable small size.

Found rooting around looking for something else. Markings can be imagined all over the head, nothing readable or as fine as yours! I like how the handle is attached.



akasrick