Hi again,

I am interested in learning all that I can about the Call Director (old school, small keys) system. I have volume one of the key systems service manual, (1975), but the Call Director sections are not that informative and my ignorance of this subject is quite large.

What would those of you who really know this stuff reccomend me to search out and read before I dive into this? (The reason that I am inquiring is that a very generous phone collector is sending me an 18 button CD in the most wonderful Bell System color available...MOSS GREEN!!) The Call Director is missing the handset (I have spent most of the evening sanding a very oxidized and discolored green G3 handset prepping it for polishing), and the bezel. But that is no problem... I am very close to having my very own CD! Yes, I am posting this at 0100 CST, and have scoured all of the few printed BSPs that I have that might have anything to do with a CD.

What BSPs should I search for? I know that this is not a quick project, but someday, I would like to get this 'on line', so to speak, and actually use it to yak on.

When it arrives, I will post photos.

Thank you once again!

Best,

Joe

Joe -

The WECO Call Directors were essentially just overblown key sets. There was a 12 button model (two six button strips, one with a hold and one with 6 line keys and a 50 pair tail), an 18 button model ( 3 six button strips, one with a hold and a 75 pair tail) and a 30 button model (5 strips and a 100 pair tail [5 amphenols, 20 pairs in each).

I'll look around for some BSPs, but if you've got the one for the 565 set you're pretty well covered.

Stromberg-Carlson made 12, 18 & 30 button Call Directors identical to WECO's.

In the early '70s ITT, Stromberg and AE had 20 and 30 button sets that took 50 and 75 pairs respectively. The first line used 3 pairs and all the ones after used 2.5 pairs (On the 10 button model the A1 leads for lines 2-5 were used as the A leads for lines 6-9). You had the Y/S pair for a bell and the Y/O pair for a buzzer and that was it for spares. The same applied to the next rows of keys - A1 leads for lines 10-14 and 20-24 became the A leads for lines 15-19 and 25-29. As I recall Y/S and Y/O from the second and third binders became the T/R and L/LG of lines 19 & 29.

Once you could get 30 buttons on 3 cables, no one (who had a choice) ran 5 cables anymore.

I believe that WECO came out with the same type of set later too, but I'm not sure. I'm sure Arthur or someone will pipe up to fill in the blanks.

Sam

Stromberg (Comdial) made the "Baby Call Director" with one 6-button key.

Western never made that one, Sam. They made separately-mounted keys (605x) series with 5-line & Hold, and 11-line & Hold.

The rest of your recollections are spot on, with one slight correction. WE made 10- and 20-button sets but only ITT made the 30-button one.

Thanks Arthur, I knew I could count on you. I guess the 12 button model was Strombergs. I do remember the 11 line Keychief. Everyone made the 5 line but I don't remember anyone but Westrn making the 11 line.

The baby call director was real popular, especially the wall mount version, which for a long time was the only single unit 1A2 wall set available to the Interconnect business.

Sam

The Call Director came today!

Pictures tomorrow + a few questions.

YAY!

Best,

Joe

Hi All,

I received a very nice Call Director in -51 green yesterday. Photo link below. I want to thank John J. very much from the TCI forum.



The first question I have is this... Is this unit a rotary or TT instrument? Can it be either?

Here is a photo of the unit without its cover.



It has a place for a buzzer, but no buzzer.

This photo shows me pointing to a button on the bottom right of the key fields. This is the hold button. I thought that the hold button should be on the bottom left of the field.



Next, on the inside of the phone, there was a Grey fiber tag with the words "Harvard Net" and a date. Here is a photo. Does anyone know anything about this?



Lastly, there were three screws and one little part in the bottom of the delivery box. Does anyone know what these are for?




These photos show what I have on hand right now. I am polishing a handset (-51) for the unit this weekend.

I am now in need a faceplate/bezel for the phone, a red hold button for the phone, a buzzer and a green cord for the unit. There are 17 line buttons and one hold button, and the cord that came with the phone is a silver Grey cord with only two "fingers". I thought that 18 button call directors needed three. If anyone has any of these parts for sale or trade, please let me know.

All comments and information is very much welcome and appreciated.

Oh, I guess I should mention that I also need a dial. If this unit can take a rotary dial, that is what I am looking for, other wise, I need a TT dial and the correct bezel for either one.

I should also mention that the chief phone kitty was very happy to see this latest edition to the collection. She told me in this photo that she wants this phone on her desk.



Thank you much,

Best,

Joe Herdler



__._,_.___

Joe, as explained on the TCI forum, it is not a Call Director. It is an ESS announcement system console, used in the CO, and was not equipped with a dial. The model number is 624xxx. There is no Hold button, because all three keys strips are identical. The button at the lower right has been converted to momentary operation.

Faceplates, bezels, and paper faceplate inserts are stocked in the Unobtainium Department.

The kind soul who so generously sent you the console has caused you more trouble than if he had not sent it at all. I suggest that you keep the console for parts, and resume looking for a real CD.

Hi Arthur,

Maybe that is why Kotobuki was rolling on the floor and laughing so hard. She knew all along that this was not a Call Director, and was waiting to see how long it would take me to figure this out.

Best,

Joe