Hi,

I was wondering back before the break up of ATT in 1984, if a customer had 1a2 equipment that was made by other manufacturers like ITT or Stromberg Carlson. Did they own it or did they have to pay rent to Ma Bell and did Ma Bell own that equipment like WE. CO.

Another question, since Ma Bell was a monopoly, Did the independent phone co's and GTE had to access ATT long lines network for long distance calls. I could not find any info on GTE if they had their own long lines or used ATT.


Thanks Brian

Before the breakup you couldn't put non bell equipment on bell lines.

Except for me but what Ma didn't know couldn't hurt me. I had a mix of Automatic Electric and Western Electric. But your question assumes that there was a source for this equipment back then. You couldn't just go on the internet and buy equipment or call a dealer to give you a price. The only game in town was Bell. I was able to get AE to sell to me and there was plenty of Western Electric stuff "for the taking" when they abandoned it in place.

-Hal

Sometimes Bell would put non-Bell equipment in. It was rare. But it was done. If you were in an interconnect situation you could put Stromberg, ITT,AE or other equipment on your Bell lines.

GTE and the other independent phone companies all used ATT Long Lines

Sam

It sounds like the independents used other manufacturers like ITT or Stromberg Carlson.

Like Hal said, back in the day when a customer left the equipment was left behind.

For one thing the customer didn't own it, they leased it.