sundance-communications.com Forums Member Forums Phone Booth Step By Step PBX

I have looked thru the old post an can't find anyone who has commented on an old step by step (SXS)PBX. I found one in an old wards department store that was being used as a warehouse in 1969. This was before I became a telephone man. The unit suported fifty stations but only seven similtaneus conversations. The documentaion that came with it was copyrighted 1932. Anyone else see such machines?

There are several "old" step switch techs on this site. I started with stowger. The system you saw small ones used simple relay logic and were nothing more than souped up intercoms. Larger ones were truly automatic using rotary crossbar with finders and connectors.

Man, I get nervous talking about 1a2.

I have often wished that old switch was in a museum. The next year I went to work for SWBT and worked on SXS for seven years. These young men would be surprised to see someone shot trouble with an ear peace with one clip and a metal probe (pick).

Redtail, you're showing your age. Been there with the pic ---- but I remeber changing batteries on the wall phones on the party lines ---- we didn't get dial until the late 50's. I worked on a North all relay 13 link switch used as a PBX. When a relay quit we had to "borrow" one from a museum in NY. You got to remember that Custer left from here for the Little Big Horn. When he left he said "Don't do anything --- I'll be right back." And the Army followed orders !!!! The install date on the North was June 6, 1940.

I started in the Army on AE/XY and strowger switches. We were called Dial manual central office repairers. My class was the last to go through the training. They were the loudest equipment I had ever heard. There was a ANT7 switch boards that hooked up to them with the manaul patch cord style plugs.

One ring a dingy, two ring a dingy!

GTE had some stil in operation in the late 80's, but I believe most are disassembled by now. Talk about a pain to clean all though contacts and relays.

And don't forget the rotary incoming junctor switchs. I had a 3800 line AE SXS, the North, and a 4 position cord board to keep running, not counting the "new" 1A2 key equipment they had just installed --- in 1972. 513/515 WECO. I have also worked on Kellog 7-3 SXS crossbar (wierd) and Norelco (Yes, like the shaver) rotary central office equipment. But it all goes back to what SXS does best ---- makes noise.

Just goes to show, we are a dying breed! But a breed capable of learning and embracing new technology.

6A Dial intercom WECO
513 515
Step office
Crossbar

I thought it was just the older guys that worked on all of that stuff. Where does the time go? I miss some of those days but I do enjoy the technology of today. It is kind of fun to think about it. I think I forgot more about that old stuff than I ever knew.

Mike

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Speaking of old military gear....anyone work on a 12a intercom or 1A1????? The old 1A1 had no interrupter for lights just bimetallic contacts and magnetic coils to open and close. All you needed for tools was a flashlight and a burnishing tool. Wow I had brown hair then....