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This page will show you new items received for the museum, and details the progress of any needed restorations. These items will be left on this page for a couple of weeks after they are received, or after any needed restoration is completed. |
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As a result, both dial and magneto listings can be found in this book, depending upon which exchange a number is located within. |
Prince Edward Island Telephone Directory, April 1945.
January 13, 2008 - Here is a gem received this week. I received a call this afternoon from the widow of a neighbour who passed away last week. She had a 1945 Island Telephone Company book that they had been meaning to give me for some time....
Her departed husband, Clifford McLeod was the son of D. D. McLeod, who ran a store here in the Cove for the early part of the century, and which contained the only phone in the Cove up till the early 60's. The mailing label and stamp (all 2 cents worth) are still on its cover (the mailing label was a wrap around affair which held the book closed during mailing...)
Toshiba Strata DK280
This is a Toshiba DK280 Digital KSU, phones, and an Octel 200 Message server picked up for the museum this week.
The KSU (top) is equipped 8 loop lines, 16 digital phones, 16 analog phones and 8 dtmf receivers. The CPU is a large system processor, release 3 or 4 and it has a PIOU card for admin, smdr and paging.
The Octel 200 is a very capable scaleable voicemail and fax server which was used with this machine in its original installation in a downtown Charlottetown office.
Along with the system came 14 phones designed for use with the system for display.
Our thanks goes out to Kevin Doyle and Sun Life for donating this system. The system would be about ten years old. It had been removed from service when a new system was installed, and was taking up space in their offices. They were pleased to know it would be of some use, and I was glad to see it kept out of the dump!
This system will be set up in the museum for demonstrations in the spring.
The next item to be shown will be a Stromberg Carlson 1212 "Fat Boy" telephone which was bought locally a few years ago for a few dollars. These commonly sell restored for $250 to $350. Its base was severely cracked and chipped, and its transmitter spitcup and mounting ring missing - both cloth cords are attached and in excellent shape. Recently, I found a new case for the phone, as well as an intact spitcup and mounting ring. This phone was the first desk phone to have all components including bell and network internally mounted. These phones were manufactured during the 1930's. A before photo of this phone is shown below. Note the cracks on the left hand side on the original case - these required that the original case be held together with a wrap of electrical tape around the bottom (shown on "before" photo). All internal components are present and operational. The replacement body for this phone was received Apr 20th, and has now been installed and a first buffing has been done. May 23, the replacement handset cup and retainer were received, and installed - final buffing only needed now. I have scanned a very small wiring diagram from inside the set - [1212schem.pdf] for anyone interested.
SC-1212 "Fatboy" Phone Before Restoration showing some of the cracks in the original case and tape holding the case together! SC-1212 in progress with new case installed,and transmitter retainer, spitcup, and final buffing - as you can see, major improvement!
Most recently, a Nortel Cap unit has been received. CAP and KIM are busy lamp fields by default but have the ability to have lines put on them as well. A CAP has to be connected to a 7324 Norstar phone. The line cord comes to the CAP and then a short cord from the CAP to the phone. Multiple CAPs can be used on a phone as well. Terry Biddlecombe tells me you can program pretty much any function onto it that could go on the phone. On a 6-16 you probably can't put lines on the CAP but feature keys, internal extensions with busy indication and one button calling or external autodials etc. I will have to find a power supply to provide 24vdc to it, and then will use it on the office phone in the museum to display the status of the other Norstar phones in the museum. This unit is in NOS (new old stock) condition.
May 11th, copies of the T7, T9 Northern Electric Catalogues and a Northern Telecom Product handbook were purchased to add to the collection. The T-7 catalogue was issued in 1947, and the T-9 catalogue, issued in an updateable binder, issued first in 1962. It differed from the T-7 and T-8 catalogues in that replacement pages and change notices were sent out to keep the issue current. As a result, there are no two T-9 catalogues exactly the same, as it was up to the customers to add/remove pages to keep them current. This T-9 binder is not complete, missing some pages, and the missing pages have been supplemented by pages reprinted from my CD rom copy of the catalogue. Also found was a Northern Telecom Product Handbook - Internal Use Fourth Edition June 1981, described as in very nice condition, hard cover, 216 Pages, Some of the index: Telecommunications, Terminals, Electronic Office Systems, Cable, outside plant products, Business Communications and networks, Central Office Switching, Transmission Systems and Equipment, Network Support and Test Systems, Repair and overhaul Telephone Sets. This is a manual which I hadn't previously seen. I also have PDF copies of the T-3, T-6, T-7, T-8 and T-9 catalogues also on CD for daily reference (see the note about Fred Coady's catalogue scans at the bottom of the Links page).
A brand new copy of the T7 catalogue has been found. This catalogue has been sitting in a box full of unused/unsent T7's in their unopened mailing envelopes. The one shown below will be the issue that will be used, and the NOS catalogue kept as a spare.
Nevada Bell Nortel Millenium
Shown to the left is a Nortel Millenium Payphone received mid-June. This phone was surplus from Nevada Bell. Because of the Millenium's need to "call home" to a Millenium manager, I won't be able to get too much on this phone working, and it won't be able to be connected to a phone line, but it will make a great display piece. It is an early Millenium, made around 1993 or perhaps a little later. It contains the first revision of boards and eerom.
The Millenium is a common site today on the Island, and indeed in much of Canada and the U.S.
This is a so-called BOCOT/COCOT- like "Smart Phone", featuring a digital instruction display, adjustable volume, options accepting credit and calling cards, coins of 5, 10, 25¢, and dollar. Originally developed by Northern Telecom (Nortel), and typical phones of the series carry the designation, NT5U411BA2011 R11(Just an example of the numbering from a Millenium shipping box I have). Loved by operating companies, and despised by phone phreaks (telephone hackers), the Millenium series are the most advanced payphones in the world.
The Millenium is the most secure payphone on the market and to keep it that way, information on the phone is very hard to find. Only details which are publicly available on the phone will be noted here. Millenium phones call daily to their "hive" and contain internal alarms to monitor activity on the phone. Dial tone heard when the handset is raised is computer generated, and the rate tables are contained within the phone and programmed and updated by the Millenium manager. A scrolling advertising line on the phones may also be programmed via the Millenium Manager to show up to 20 advertisements on the display's second line. The Manager can provide constant checks of the phone right down to the number and denominations of coins in the box, credit card verification, self-diagnostics, logging of operational notes such as cleaning and delivery directory dates, and detailed call activity statistics which may be used for planning.
The Millenium is available with or without a smart card reader or a multicard reader option allowing users to use magnetic stripe commercial credit cards, calling cards and smart cards / chip cards, and with an optional jack which allow users with portable computers to connect through the phone. The options are seemingly endless
A Island Tel bezel and instruction card has been obtained for it - a remnant of the Island Tel - Aliant rebranding a few years ago, and it will be upgraded to a yellow multi-card reader when I have the time. Along with the bezel, new Medeco locks were installed. All appears to be working as it should.
The following items were received June 29th 2007 from Eleanor Meek in addition to a number of useful manuals and photos as well as a lucite Operator's Service sign. Both Eleanor and her late husband, Roger had worked for Island Tel. One of the photos is a 70ish photo of a large group of Island Tel workers - most are identified, and this has been framed and located to the right and above the switchboard and magneto phone display. Thank you, Eleanor! 
[Back Left] A Northern Electric 352 wallphone - the wall equivalent of a 302, the "I love Lucy" phone. The major work needed on this phone was to remove layers of paint from the back edges of the phone, where paint had inevitably gotten on the phone during many years of use and wall painting.
[Back Middle] A Northern Electric dial-less 554. This could be used as a non dial extension phone or in conjunction with a magneto, as shown below, on magneto lines. This phone is just about mint. This phone and the QK82A magneto below have been mounted and connected on display in the museum.
[Back Right] This is a wall magneto phone manufactured by England's Telephone Manufacturing Company. It required some repair to its case - a crack ran down much of the length of the phone - this has now been repaired, and though it shows a little, the case will not crack further. The phone is 100% operational. These phones were very popular in Manitoba - and apparently were also imported in some numbers here, though they are seldom seen. This phone is now on display in the museum.
[Front Left] Beautiful Northern Electric Candlestick microphone Model Number 1120DA - designed for use as a microphone. PTT switch on side. Rivets holding the bulldog microphone had failed, leaving the head dangling. These have been replaced as seen above. This was built as a microphone, and not just a converted candlestick phone. This is now displayed alongside the Northern Electric speaker driver and horn as examples of "other items" made by NE..
[Front second from Left] 60's vintage NB Tel coffee mug bearing the logo of the time. I also have a belt buckle with this logo.
[Front second from Right] 3 slot coin box full of examples of slugs people had used in payphones in attempts to get free calls. These are items Roger had found in payphones over the years. These range from French coins, to tiddley winks, to drilled quarters attached to monofilament string (I guess so it can be recycled :-) to electrical box knock-outs, washers, hammered quarters, a test slug, and a Ureguay coin, TTC tokens, etc. This box and the slugs are now displayed with the payphones in the museum!
[Front Right] NE QK82A 1967 Small square magneto in hard plastic case for use with stands. This is now displayed connected to the dial-less 554 in the museum, and turning its crank will ring the 554.
The sign to the left was brought by Eleanor, and has been mounted alongside the Tyne Valley 1240 switchboard and magneto phone display in the museum!
Aug 7th, 1007, I was called in the evening to see if I was interested in a farm fresh (untouched and original finish) N717CG at a good price. At first I balked, as I already have one, but finally decided I would take it. These phones saw a lot of use on PEI in the country. I remember one in use at the little store which used to be next to the schoolhouse up at the corner. My next door neighbours also had one. They saw service until the 60's when the area switched to dial service.
I am extremely pleased that I did decide to purchase the phone. When they brought it down, it was in great condition, needing only cleaning, but there is another reason detailed below. Since this photo was taken, the phone has been tested with the switchboard, waxed, and the handset buffed back to a flawless shine.
The phone's handset is the unusual NE FN1A in grained walnut coloured bakelite as opposed to the normal black - quite rare, and this is perhaps the first brown handset I have seen on an N717CG, probably a field replacement many years ago. This handset was most often used on brown uniphones.
New Tools Received Aug 17, 2007:
A). United Seal Company HC7 lead seal hand presses- used to install lead seals on payphone money boxes to prevent tampering.
B). So far unknown.
C). ATI Handset Cap remover.
D). Bell Systems - Cleverly - probe with pointed end to puncture wire Insulation and clip lead cord.
E). Bell System "D" Crimpers HKP INC Crimps Sleeves used on Drop Wires, 20 gauge "JKT" first generation copper/steel jacketed pair/triplex or quad inside wiring cable.
F). 840A Tool - tool used to trip off excess wire after splicing with WE/ATT/Lucent modular 710 connectors in OSP.
G). So far unkown (connector)
H). Bell System - Number not currently known - tool to punch a hole in the sheath of lead cable for insertion of an air fitting.Finally, a Western Electric KS-21250 L1 Coin Crafts Test Set - Checks payphone coin relay, sidetone, Refund/Collect Function, etc. Shown at centre top.
New October/September 2007:
A) Neuses N-2315 stamping and lettering kit - used to stamp identifying marks and dates on switchboards, phones, etc.
B) Dynatel 745 - microprocessor controlled Subscriber Loop Tester - Used to check the incoming loop for such things as loop voltage, current, opens, loss, Will measure the number and type of ringers on the line, will measure resistance, inject a test signal into the line, and more.
C) "Stop Lite" Voltage Tester - Used to check for hazardous voltages on telephone equipment in contact with electrical lines.
D. B Voltage Tester and case - used to check for dangerous voltages on shared poles.
E) Connecticut Tel. and Elect. Co. Ltd. Pocket Volt/Ammeter from the early 30's or 40's. The company which made this was a manufacturer of telephones, intercoms, and of other electrical items. Despite its age, when it arrived, I decided to see if it worked, and voila, after many years of sitting in someone's sock drawer, it still worked! These meters were used to check the voltage of batteries used in local battery telephones, etc.
F) "Banjo" 6 wire Modular adapter - for using a butt set or loop tester on modular lines. Gives a place for larger test leads to connect.
New, September 22, 2007 - KS-8455L2 Bell System Line Loop Tester found for 50 cents at the 2007 70 Mile Coastal Yard Sale. New, September 26, 2007 - Northern Electric 1A1 301Q1A KSU (Key Systems Unit) and power supply which were brought down to PEI by Don Ferguson. This is the older relay based system which preceeded the 1A2 KSU's like the QUJ9B. These are shown with the covers off.
Found at a yard sale, October 06, 2007. For some time I have been looking for a Uniphone in the rare burled walnut colour manufactured by Northern Electric. The closest I have come is an N717CG with a burled walnut handset. This Saturday, I didn't feel like going to many sales, but did go to one sale nearby. The sale was held in a fairly dark basement, and I failed to note that this phone was burled walnut. I almost didn't buy it as I have several #1 Uniphones, but decided at the last moment to buy it since they were only asking $10. As I took it out the door and the sun's rays fell upon it, I nearly dropped it, as I then could see it wasn't the usual black, but the quite rare burled walnut colour. As found, the phone was a dial-less #1 - I completed the conversion adding a dial. Dial-less number 1's differ from a number 5 in that they contain an inductor and condenser whereas the number 5's don't. This phone has not been buffed and won't be - its bakelite is in mint condition - why mess with perfection! This is quite a valuable phone compared to the run of the mill black Uniphone.
As a diversion, I also collect cameras, mostly vintage. My favorites are vintage TLR's (twin lens reflex cameras), but this interest also extends to Brownie, Kodak, box, and folding cameras. This was a collection interrupted for many years by the collection of telephones, but recently I have gotten back into it in a small way. My fascination with cameras is similar to what I enjoy about telephones - it is the technology involved and watching the improvements in that technology through the years. I have recently placed a PDF listing of the cameras in my collection on the server. You can view it by clicking on camera_list.pdf
