atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information What is this tool for?

Hi,

I just received a Western Electric tool that I thought was for removing the finger wheel from dial telephones. Unfortunately, the probe did not fit. However, it is a well made device, and cost only a couple of bucks, and the seller shipped it for a buck. Cannot complain at all. I would like to know what it is for. The probe tip is spring loaded.

It is labled in very tiny letters KS-2348.

Here it is assembled.



Here it is taken apart. It is quite well constructed, of course as it is WECO!



Thanks for any help with this!

Joe

Thankyou! Even though it is not what I was looking for, it will have a set place in my toolkit.

Joe

The SWBT way was a small plastic handle with a wire sticking out with a cap like a ball point pen....and was always lost. Just use a paper clip to insert through the wheel and depress the spring tang as you apply pressure clockwise....oh, did I tell you you needed to rotate the fingerwheel all the way clockwise first?????

Then to remove the face plate you will find a latching ring that needs to be turned counter clock wise and lifted. Once it is removed the faceplate will just lift up....faceplates make great frisbees..... :rofl: :shrug: :toothy:

I have a combination spudger and dial removal tool.
Monarch Molding SC-200

The tool you have was for working on Jacks, 310 type, the pin held the screw and the blade removed or replaced the screw. The screws had a hole in them for the pin. There were other things it was used for, but can't remember what.

Like Ken said, paper clip. Even better was a piece or aerial drop wire, old not the new stuff.

I had an ITT manual that actually stated 'depress locking tab with tool ##XXXXX or a straightened paper clip'. The quoted part was some of a lonnnnng dissertation on how to remove the finger wheel.

Guess I should have said cord board instead of 310 jacks/plugs. You might know what I was talking about then.

Yeah, Bill, cord board.....we used to have a "crimper" that we cranked that placed the clips on the cords...then the little screw to the bracket after the weight was on the cord. Try that laying on the floor under the board or upside down with the tray raised...some fun!

Bill, it's all good - we knew exactly what you were talking about, the venerable 310 plug. For you young guys, that is the classic tip-ring-sleeve plug used on cordboards, jack frames, patch panels, testing frames, and CO and field test equipment. I was scratching my head trying to remember where I has seen the tiny "hole-in-head" screws, until your post kick-started my sluggish old brain.

If my memory can be trusted, the 310 was/is the "standard" version, with a diameter of about 0.25". IIRC, there is also the smaller 309 plug, with a diameter of about 0.2", and ADC and others make a very high-density version that is about 0.174". I mention these because they are actually still used [the smaller diameter ones] all the time, contrary to the popular belief that they are only found on antique equipment. If anyone doubts this, take a look at the test point jacks on a brand spanking new T1 or HDSL CPE card ["smartjack" card].

Somewhere I have some new-in-the-bag Western Electric 310 plugs [they may actually be ADC or Switchcraft, with a "KS" number]. In the package, along with the brass plug body and the insulating barrel, is a bag with the tiny "hole in head" screws, and some of the tiniest solder lug ring terminals I have ever seen. Those were the days when things were furnished complete with all the parts one needed to make a complete assembly. Ah, memories.

Jim
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