sundance-communications.com/forum Forums General General Telephone & Systems Information ??Have you ever found a tool be it on the curb side, street or a job site ??

The best (worst) find was a scratch awl that fell out a ceiling...that definitely could have been bad!
Buddy of mine found a Tempo LAN toner kit with all the bells and whistles in a ceiling a while back. Usually I just find pliers or random scotchloks left in phone rooms.

Besides the usual tools I've found rolls of electrical tape, flashlights, a fishtape still stuck in the wall, a kit used to make Db9 & Db25 adapters with a pin insertion/removal tool but the best find was at a dermatologists office SBC left a TS22. I told the contact there in case they called back and then left it right where I found it. The next trip it was still there and is still in my bag.

Like everyone I've found my share of small hand tools and a couple toners. The most unusual thing I found was a 3 foot step ladder in an attic. I've no idea why it was up there, the only thing I could figure is maybe they used it to pull cable so it wasn't at a sharp angle. At any rate I still have and use it.

now if you want to find some good stuff , you could follow me around for awhile

While working in a housing project, I found a Sidekick on the road. I knew Verizon was working in the area, so I ran down several of them and tried to hand them the Sidekick. Their response was "Not mine." I took it to the maintenance office of the complex and told the manager what had happened. He then opened a locker with rotary dial test sets, kick meter, Amp splicers termination tool, several punch down tools, 2 staplers and several miscellaneous hand tools. He said "they all know these tools are here and in the 20 years I've been here, no one ever comes in to claim them. Do you want them?"

"Hummm....let me think about that. Yep, I'll take them" I said. We worked in the complex for several more years and every opportunity I had I showed the Bell Telephone, Bell Atlantic and Verizon techs the loot and no one ever wanted any of it. The last time I was there, I was working with a very young Verizon tech. I showed him some of the equipment. He asked me what some of it was. 'Nuff said.

Years ago, when we still did pole line construction, I came to a transfer and found a crow's foot EHS strand puller. The area was a connection point between the then Bell Telephone and the then Mid Penn Telephone company. I knew this was a Bell Telephone tool, but I tracked down both crews working the area and showed them the tool. The Bell techs didn't want it. The Mid Penn techs didn't know what it was. I still have it. It has been a very valuable tool for me.

Rcaman

Wow, great finds.

Touch Tone Tommy,

How do I check if the tool qualified for a replacement? There is no serial number on these things, just the pattens listed. I'll do some info searching when I'll arrive at the office, that sure would be nice to get a new tool. Hopefully it won't be like Craftsman tools, the new stuff comes from China land and quality is noticible in dull chrome finish and overall finish/shape of the products. Wrenches of small size just look horrible.

Found the usual flashlights and handtools in the ceiling and left my share there also.

The biggest find was a contractor grade wheel barrow in the middle of the road that I almost ran into. It still had the paint on the inside I posted a lost and found ad in local paper but no one ever called. My best find I still kick my self for showing the owner of the building because he took it. I found a very old Pepsi bottle that looked like it was handblown and painted and still in new condition. It was in the attic of a old pizza/sandwich shop. Years later I found a money bag in the street with the weekend deposits from that same shop....I got a free sandwich for returning it.

My left shoulder prevented an awl from falling on the floor when I lifted a ceiling tile. It's also the only time I asked a coworker to look down my shirt to see if I was bleeding--I was.

I lost a really nice fiberglass fish tape. If anyone finds it they can have the awl as a reward.

That's how I came to possess my TS22. Left behind at one of my client sites and no one at the telco wanted anything to do with it. It's battle-scarred but still works fine. I figured the tech just wanted a shiny new one.

True, they're not THAT expensive, but I'd still have my ass handed to me if I lost something like that.

I found a 216 last year while doing an install. It was a little rusted and worn but in working condition. I figured it was one of the LEC tech's tools. I picked it up and was heading to the CO to check the pair anyway. It just so happened a OSP crew was sitting in their trucks in front of the CO. I handed it to one of them. I don't think he honestly cared and probably threw it out. I should have just slid it underneath the cage inside the CO and let a CO tech or maybe the I&R tech find it.

Only other time that I've found tools:
A LEC I&R tech left her toner at the NID. Our (CLEC) customer picked it up, pout it in a ziplock bag with some cookies. The customer was pretty creepy too, and I was not surprised that she hadn't gone back to retrieve her toner. It's probably still hanging from the NID.

Found an adjustable wrench above a ceiling tile. I gave it to the customer since I didn't need/want it.