sundance-communications.com/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems 1A2 and Comkey Telephones & Systems 1A2 phone wired for single home line

Hi everyone, I'm 13 and I collect telephones. I currently have 10 (just started collecting) and I'm looking at buying a 2564 1A2 key set and I am wondering if I could somehow convert it for use on one line. Having working lamps would also be a plus!

Yes you can hook up just one line without a KSU. For the lamps you could hook up a transformer with one side going through the A leads.

Thanks so much! Which cables are for the lamps and which are for the CO connections/ringer/etc. I have no experience with wiring keysets, but I do have a 2564 wiring diagram saved on my computer. I would also like to know if the Hold feature would still function, because I already own a rotary multi-line set that has three hold buttons and three line buttons that I purchased on eBay. It functions on one line, and the line 1 button flashes orange when an incoming call is received.

I removed the link because it is no longer needed

I'm not familar with the phone you linked to.

On your 2564 the hold won't work without the KSU. Are you going to use the cable to hook this up and terminate it on a block with a female cable? The pairs you'll use are the w/bl tip and ring, w/or A A1, w/gr lamps and the yellow slate for the ringer.

We had a similar set to that one called a 187 AE set. It didnt require a KSU. The line would be on hold when the hold button was depressed and when the handset was hung up the hold button would pop up. The lamps were common together for each different line.

Our multiline 187 set were not compatable with 1A2.

Phone collector 95:

Are you familiar with the Maine Telephone Museum? There are people there who can help you. It is located in Ellsworth.

Arthur's suggestion is a perfect place to start. If they aren't able to help you, rest assured that we will. I'm impressed with your interest and knowledge.

Welcome, I was about the same age as you when I joined this board...it's an amazing resource!

The phone you are describing is what we used to call a "3 line pick up and hold" set. it was made by both ITT & WE and was almost identical to the AE 187 set. They were NOT used with 1A2, rather they were an inexpensive substitute utilizing mechanical hold and neon lamps for ringing. Lighted line lamps were available by using a transformer.

You could convert a 564 set for single line use but as Bill mentioned you won't have hold. You could jury rig the light to come on when you pick up the phone.

As described above, you could connect a 25pair female connectorized cable to the male connector on the set and wire that to a terminal block. Or you could just run a 4 conductor cord into the set and wire right to the screw terminals.

Bring dial tone (Tip & Ring) to the White/Blue & Blue/White wires labelled 1T & 1R. Run one side of a 6-10 volt transformer to the Green/White wire (1L - 1st line lamp lead). Run the other side of the transformer to the Orange/White (A1) lead. Run a short piece of wire from the White/Orange (1A) lead to the White/Green (Lamp Ground) lead.

When you pick up the phone dial tone will be connected to the handset and with the 1st line key in the down position current from the transformer will be switched through the closed A-A1 contacts and will light the lamp.

To make the bell ring, move the Yellow/Slate & Slate/Yellow wires from their current position (RT & RR?) and move them to the White/Blue & Blue/White terminals. This will bridge the bell across the line and incoming ringing voltage will ring the bell. You will NOT have incoming line flash. To get that you would either have to add a Neon lamp and resistor or go for a full blown 1A2 KSU.

Hope this goes a little way toward explaining this. Welcome to the board and don't be shy about coming back to ask any questions.

Sam

Really appreciate the quick and helpful responses! Glad I joined this forum. I was unsure at first but then I noticed the 1A2 section so I figured it was the place to go.

Also: do most of the 2564 sets contain a buzzer? If so, could I hook it up to Line 1 and unplug the ringer from the mini switchboard inside?

Arthur, I do know about the Phone Museum, but it is around 2 hours from here and I don't know that I would be able to do that. Thanks!

The 3 Line 3 Hold ITT set can be found for sale at this link:

https://cgi.ebay.com/ITT-3-line-3-h...04074657QQcmdZViewItemQQptZCorded_Phones

2564 sets generally do not include a buzzer, at least not those made by ITT or Comdial. I am not sure about Western Electric 2564's, but my gut reaction is to say no for those too. The only sets that I know of that included buzzers were WE 2565 and 2830 but I may be wrong.

I recently notice an eBay listing for a 4 line 1A2 key system from around 45.00 total, an amazing deal. I am debating whether to get it or not but I have no idea how to wire the system.

https://cgi.ebay.com/BELL-SYSTEM-WE...wItemQQptZCorded_Phones#ebayphotohosting

Also, if I had more than one hard-wired 1A2 keyset in the house.. If I picked up one of the phones, would the lamps on the other keysets also light solid? I am assuming that would require the system.

I think I may just get the system, lol. But I don't know that my dad would want to have me wiring Amphenol jacks all over the house, especially since we are going to try and move sometime next or this year.

You'd just burn those buzzers up they aren't made for ringing voltage.

PC95, welcome! Although I wouldn't encourage you to pull 25 pair wire all over the house, you might want to get a 1A2 KSU while they are still readily available. Eventually, people will decide they are widely collectible, and the ksu's will skyrocket in price, justified or not. And you can dangle short connector cables out of the cabinet and see how it all goes together.

I've always wanted to try stuff 1 time, just to see how it worked, flew, rolled, whatever. I went out on a tow truck call for an overturned flatbed on I-70, because I had always wanted to see just what the wrecker crews had to deal with. I actually wound up being useful!

I get the feeling you have the same attitude. The world is full of neat stuff and things. As long as I (And You) keep learning age can't get me (YOU). Well, at least not very soon. John C.

I found this 1966 1A2 Bell/W.E. System on eBay for around $40 total, and I have about $175 in my "phone fund," so I may consider getting this system. Since the system has no outgoing Amphenol cables (female end), would I have to purchase some 25 pair cable and cut the male end off and wire it to the system? This way I would have more leeway with the placement of my keysets.

These are two eBay listings for Key Systems that I found.

https://cgi.ebay.com/1A2-KSU-by-San...wItemQQptZCorded_Phones#ebayphotohosting

https://cgi.ebay.com/BELL-SYSTEM-WE...wItemQQptZCorded_Phones#ebayphotohosting

Which one looks more promising? They are both reasonably priced.

I forgot to mention, do most KSU's accept Pulse dialing? I assume since both dialing variants were popular during the 1A2 age that both Tone and Rotary would be accepted. If not, could I purchase a Rotary card for the KSU?

I found a picture for the 2830:

https://seriss.com/people/erco/1a2/2830-phone-large.jpg

I second the advice to pick up a 1A2 KSU. No sense in learning about the phones without the other part. The phones will actually work as they were intended.

-Hal