atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems 1A2 and Comkey Telephones & Systems A book on 1A2 Key Systems

Not trying to sound snippy, but does that mean I'm wasting my time? My goal is to make it easier for other collectors and fans of 1A2 to set up their own Key System.

I wouldn't necessarily go as far as to say that you are wasting you time. I'd consider it to be more of a labor of love than an money-making endeavor. You are facing several challenges here:

1. There isn't a large demand for such a publication.

2. There have been some very good publications done for the private sector, such as Lee's ABCs of Telephony that did a very good job with their 1A2 series. I am sure that they are long-since out of print, but I'll bet that there are plenty of them out there on the secondary market.

3. There is a large amount of on-line support or information for these systems, such as this site. There are also many collector's sites that cater more to collectors and vintage products where many people obtain that answer they are seeking. Google will not be your friend in this instance.

Don't get me wrong; I admire your desire to approach this endeavor. I just don't see it as a means in which to generate revenue.

Thanks for the advice! I will take that into consideration before I get to far into anything.

I have been working on 1A2 since 1965. I still have a couple of customers who have systems in their houses and offices.

I have written BSP's, employee instruction manuals, customer instruction pamphlets and have edited and corrected many similar documents.

When the time comes to polish and proof-read your book, let me know. I would be happy to help.

Thanks a lot! You should publish yourself! I'm sure you're a walking encyclopedia of 1A2!

That is an understatement. You should see some of Arthur's collection.

Speaking of which, I am still looking for a couple of non-WE key sets to round out a collection of 564/565 sets. I have one of every color from WE except brown, and I despair of ever finding one. So I have decided to go to the Dark Side and put an ITT brown one on the shelf. That prompted me to say "What the H, I'll put an ITT ash one up there too."

So, I need two rotary 6-button ITT sets in brown and ash. Thanks for any leads.

Arthur -

I don't know that I ever saw a WECO Brown KV set. Or an Ash one either.

Did they ever produce them as a regular stock item? I know in the Interconnect world those were our two biggest sellers - mostly because Bell didn't have them.

I remember putting in one job with 830 (10 button) sets. It was a big boiler room type operation with long desks. We had 20 or so alternating ITT sets - Brown with an Ash faceplate then an Ash with a Brown faceplate, then ....... You get the picture. It was the customer's choice and he showed it off to everyone who walked in the joint.

I might have 2564s in those colors, but no rotary.


Sam

I only remember Western Electric Design Line and Trimlines being available in brown.