Time of day calling it quits at AT & T
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1A Switch
Ritchie, I remember early on the 1A's would allow a person on a 3-way call to still get interrupted by call waiting. Here in Pac Bell territory they put in a fix so you could only have one calling feature in play at any given time. Those 1A's were only in use for a small fraction of the time the 5Xbar and step-by-steps were.
Interesting that yet another person here is stating that the DMS and 5E's don't support rotary dial. That is definitely not the case in California, and I'm surprised there hasn't been much mention of the passing of rotary dial in other parts of the country. I have long wondered when they'd finally throw in the towel on rotary and it appears a number of telcos across the country already have.
Wouldn't you know that once I found a source for a replacement transmitter for my 202 phone's E1 handset, that I start hearing that rotary is already history in other parts of the country. I really like using that phone, it has a very early dial mechanism and have it by the bed in my spare room where I can stretch out and relax while I chat. The transmission is clear and nobody even knows I'm on a phone that's over 75 years old. Reception is another story. It's a little squawky but I've gotten used to it. Apparently there is no retro-fit replacement for the receiver element that provides clearer sound. But hey, that's part of the fun of using an antique phone!
Ritchie, I remember early on the 1A's would allow a person on a 3-way call to still get interrupted by call waiting. Here in Pac Bell territory they put in a fix so you could only have one calling feature in play at any given time. Those 1A's were only in use for a small fraction of the time the 5Xbar and step-by-steps were.
Interesting that yet another person here is stating that the DMS and 5E's don't support rotary dial. That is definitely not the case in California, and I'm surprised there hasn't been much mention of the passing of rotary dial in other parts of the country. I have long wondered when they'd finally throw in the towel on rotary and it appears a number of telcos across the country already have.
Wouldn't you know that once I found a source for a replacement transmitter for my 202 phone's E1 handset, that I start hearing that rotary is already history in other parts of the country. I really like using that phone, it has a very early dial mechanism and have it by the bed in my spare room where I can stretch out and relax while I chat. The transmission is clear and nobody even knows I'm on a phone that's over 75 years old. Reception is another story. It's a little squawky but I've gotten used to it. Apparently there is no retro-fit replacement for the receiver element that provides clearer sound. But hey, that's part of the fun of using an antique phone!
There's no reason why the digital switches can't accept rotary dial. All of ours do and they can all interpret pulses / loop disconnects as they have to be able to understand it to work call waiting and 3-way calling.
In Europe at least, there's an "R" key which is similar to a US flash key. Only difference being it sends a much shorter pulse it's more like pulse dialling 1.
10ms to 20ms loop disconnect.
Your phone company's switched the feature off for some reason, e.g. they're trying to 'flush out' old phones that can't support premium services that require a touch tone phone!
Even VoIP terminal adaptors (routers) seem to support pulse dialling !
In Europe at least, there's an "R" key which is similar to a US flash key. Only difference being it sends a much shorter pulse it's more like pulse dialling 1.
10ms to 20ms loop disconnect.
Your phone company's switched the feature off for some reason, e.g. they're trying to 'flush out' old phones that can't support premium services that require a touch tone phone!
Even VoIP terminal adaptors (routers) seem to support pulse dialling !
Thanks for that info smurp. Hopefully there will be howls of protests here in California that will keep rotary alive for years to come. So far the plan to get rid of it isn't even on the radar. But then again, nobody knew the time of day was going away until just recently, not even people who work at the phone company where internal news tends to travel fast.
irishwashguy
Well-known member
My 500 and both my 302's are as clear as a bell--payphon
i have a guy here in Portland that has a basement with more phones that anyone will ever need or use who repairs my phones if need be.My 302 in the living room was a mess when I got it for 32.00 off of e-bay. I took it to my phone guy, fixed and pained it, cloth cords and a new original dial (the phone is metal) and heavier than heck, it works perfect. The man said it was from 1938 and in great shape. It should work for the next 100 years if I don't throw it off of a cliff. SF, if you would like his #, let me know. He has the parts for everything you can imagine. When i move to my new house he is fixing up an old Bell system payphone,he has several of them unless i find one i like before the fact. I plan to have an antique phone booth in my family room, i mean really old.Come to think of it, payphones are becoming an endangered species as well.The payphone in front of the Credit Union was obviously brokem. When i called Qwest, they have told me they have sold off that div. to another company that does it.They could not even take a repair ticket for it. Strange huh. Another dying breed, just like the Time Lady.
i have a guy here in Portland that has a basement with more phones that anyone will ever need or use who repairs my phones if need be.My 302 in the living room was a mess when I got it for 32.00 off of e-bay. I took it to my phone guy, fixed and pained it, cloth cords and a new original dial (the phone is metal) and heavier than heck, it works perfect. The man said it was from 1938 and in great shape. It should work for the next 100 years if I don't throw it off of a cliff. SF, if you would like his #, let me know. He has the parts for everything you can imagine. When i move to my new house he is fixing up an old Bell system payphone,he has several of them unless i find one i like before the fact. I plan to have an antique phone booth in my family room, i mean really old.Come to think of it, payphones are becoming an endangered species as well.The payphone in front of the Credit Union was obviously brokem. When i called Qwest, they have told me they have sold off that div. to another company that does it.They could not even take a repair ticket for it. Strange huh. Another dying breed, just like the Time Lady.
302's
The 302 phone handset had a far superior transmission and reception quality to any of its predecessors. I've got a stash of 302's that I've picked up for little or nothing over the years, the oldest and best condition is a metal 1938 vintage with brown cloth cord, and these are indeed very heavy phones! I haven't used any of my 302's for a while as the 202 takes up less space on the small nightstand in the guest room so it's the only antique phone in use right now. The 202 is vintage 1931 and the associated "bell box" may be even older, as the terminal blocks are all made of wood. I got my retrofit transmitter for the 202's E-1 handset from "oldphoneworks.com" and am very happy with it. I contacted the guy there to order another original transmitter element and he steered me towards the retrofit package instead. I'm glad he did. I can now use the 202 and not have people complaining about transmission quality like they most certainly would if I had purchased the original style transmitter. I have kept the old transmitter even though it's shot, just for purposes of putting the phone back to original if anyone ever wanted to.
Ma Bell was the original recycler. Instead of trashing all the E-1 handsets, they came up with an adapter that would accomodate a 302-style transmitter and kept them in service. I really enjoy using my 202 now that people can hear me on it!
Next project is to create a 50's office scene on my desk. I've got the perfect desk lamp and an early 500 phone with matching Pacific Telephone black ashtray made out of phone case material. The ashtray's 3 sections around the edge contain the wording "Always Alert, Nobody Hurt, Pacific Telephone" using the same lettering as on the 500 dial. My partner will have a fit but he'll live. I presume the ashtray was likely issued to phone company employees who smoked at their desks back in the day. I can't even imagine an office with people smoking in it anymore and it was really strange when I was in Paris back in the 90's and both smelled and saw smoke rising from the desks behind the counter at a bank there.
The 302 phone handset had a far superior transmission and reception quality to any of its predecessors. I've got a stash of 302's that I've picked up for little or nothing over the years, the oldest and best condition is a metal 1938 vintage with brown cloth cord, and these are indeed very heavy phones! I haven't used any of my 302's for a while as the 202 takes up less space on the small nightstand in the guest room so it's the only antique phone in use right now. The 202 is vintage 1931 and the associated "bell box" may be even older, as the terminal blocks are all made of wood. I got my retrofit transmitter for the 202's E-1 handset from "oldphoneworks.com" and am very happy with it. I contacted the guy there to order another original transmitter element and he steered me towards the retrofit package instead. I'm glad he did. I can now use the 202 and not have people complaining about transmission quality like they most certainly would if I had purchased the original style transmitter. I have kept the old transmitter even though it's shot, just for purposes of putting the phone back to original if anyone ever wanted to.
Ma Bell was the original recycler. Instead of trashing all the E-1 handsets, they came up with an adapter that would accomodate a 302-style transmitter and kept them in service. I really enjoy using my 202 now that people can hear me on it!
Next project is to create a 50's office scene on my desk. I've got the perfect desk lamp and an early 500 phone with matching Pacific Telephone black ashtray made out of phone case material. The ashtray's 3 sections around the edge contain the wording "Always Alert, Nobody Hurt, Pacific Telephone" using the same lettering as on the 500 dial. My partner will have a fit but he'll live. I presume the ashtray was likely issued to phone company employees who smoked at their desks back in the day. I can't even imagine an office with people smoking in it anymore and it was really strange when I was in Paris back in the 90's and both smelled and saw smoke rising from the desks behind the counter at a bank there.
48bencix
Well-known member
Still works for now
The POP-Corn for time still works, I'll try again tomorrow.
All of my phones are from 1980's or earlier. I like Western Electric, for durability and sound quality, and lack of features! 2 of my phones are rotary. I found a Radio Shack speaker phone add on from 1982 that works pretty good, requires no additional power supply. So with that I have all of the features I need.
I have a separate answering machine that handles that function, and still keep my Tele-Zapper connected even though I am on the do not call list. Funny thing with the Tele-Zapper, when you dial with rotary, it beeps after each dial twist.
But, I will miss the time, I too use that feature when the power goes out, and at day light saving time change, so I can reset all of my clocks accurately. My atomic clock does not work, probably can't pick up that signal from Colorado.
Martin
The POP-Corn for time still works, I'll try again tomorrow.
All of my phones are from 1980's or earlier. I like Western Electric, for durability and sound quality, and lack of features! 2 of my phones are rotary. I found a Radio Shack speaker phone add on from 1982 that works pretty good, requires no additional power supply. So with that I have all of the features I need.
I have a separate answering machine that handles that function, and still keep my Tele-Zapper connected even though I am on the do not call list. Funny thing with the Tele-Zapper, when you dial with rotary, it beeps after each dial twist.
But, I will miss the time, I too use that feature when the power goes out, and at day light saving time change, so I can reset all of my clocks accurately. My atomic clock does not work, probably can't pick up that signal from Colorado.
Martin
Tele-Zapper
Martin, as you probably know, the rotary dials limit the capabilities of the Tele-Zapper but I've found that even with rotaries on the line the zapper worked pretty well. We're on the Do-Not-Call list also and it's doing a good job of stopping the solicitation calls. I've turned off the zapper as I got tired of hearing that beep as the finger wheel returned to its resting point after dialing each digit. I also find the quality of the V-Tech cordless phone associated with the zapper to be substandard.
I agree that Western Electric seems to have made the most durable phone sets, but perhaps that's because it's the equipment I grew up with. GTE's equipment in comparison seemed more like toys than phones back in the old days and I hated their weird rotary dial mechanism. I did have a Stromberg-Carlson counterpart to the 302 in use for a while when I lived in GTE territory back in the 70's and the brass ringers on that phone had a very nice tone to them but parts seem more widely available for WE stuff so that's what I've collected over the years.
Martin, as you probably know, the rotary dials limit the capabilities of the Tele-Zapper but I've found that even with rotaries on the line the zapper worked pretty well. We're on the Do-Not-Call list also and it's doing a good job of stopping the solicitation calls. I've turned off the zapper as I got tired of hearing that beep as the finger wheel returned to its resting point after dialing each digit. I also find the quality of the V-Tech cordless phone associated with the zapper to be substandard.
I agree that Western Electric seems to have made the most durable phone sets, but perhaps that's because it's the equipment I grew up with. GTE's equipment in comparison seemed more like toys than phones back in the old days and I hated their weird rotary dial mechanism. I did have a Stromberg-Carlson counterpart to the 302 in use for a while when I lived in GTE territory back in the 70's and the brass ringers on that phone had a very nice tone to them but parts seem more widely available for WE stuff so that's what I've collected over the years.
red_october
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2007
- Messages
- 141
Phone Phun!
The newest phone I have here is the one on my desk, a weird "BellSouth" product that I bought for one reason and one reason alone -it had individual memory buttons. In my living room I have one of the old GTEs with the linear keypad; many people didn't seem to like these but I find it excellent. On one nightstand I have an old Cobra phone that's pulse-only though with a keypad and on the other I have a very, very old rotary phone (hacked so it doesn't ring, a holdover from the days when the telco checked to see how many phones you had and you could get a free extension if you just hooked up a phone that didn't ring). I have a cordless but it's a GE cordless that'a a quarter-century old! I love it!
The newest phone I have here is the one on my desk, a weird "BellSouth" product that I bought for one reason and one reason alone -it had individual memory buttons. In my living room I have one of the old GTEs with the linear keypad; many people didn't seem to like these but I find it excellent. On one nightstand I have an old Cobra phone that's pulse-only though with a keypad and on the other I have a very, very old rotary phone (hacked so it doesn't ring, a holdover from the days when the telco checked to see how many phones you had and you could get a free extension if you just hooked up a phone that didn't ring). I have a cordless but it's a GE cordless that'a a quarter-century old! I love it!
red_october
Well-known member
- Joined
- Jun 18, 2007
- Messages
- 141
The GTE
This was my grandmother's. I love it.
This was my grandmother's. I love it.
RO, that phone of your grandmother's is about the size and shape I'm trying to find for my mom. She has limited space, is legally blind and has gotten to the point where she can't use a cordless. She needs the old school receiver with a cord on one end so she knows which end to talk into and how to hang it up when done talking. I'll probably end up with some type of Princess or knock-off design if I cand find one in a thrift store.
As for bootlegging in additional phones back in the Ma Bell days, my dad did that all over our house. We had a few extra phones but only the "main" phone rang. Our "SNI" or "MPOE" was in the basement. My dad had alligator clips connecting the bootleg phones to the system. When there was a repair call or other reason for the phone co to come out, he had a dummy porcelain light fixture attached by only one screw to an electrical box near the MPOE and would swing the porcelain base away and hide the alligator clips in the box. It was so satisfying to cheat Ma Bell. Back in those days, even if you just had a 25' long cord on your only phone, it was considered an extension and you were charged extra. There were definitely some good results for the average consumer that came from the breakup of the AT&T monopoly back in 1984.
As for bootlegging in additional phones back in the Ma Bell days, my dad did that all over our house. We had a few extra phones but only the "main" phone rang. Our "SNI" or "MPOE" was in the basement. My dad had alligator clips connecting the bootleg phones to the system. When there was a repair call or other reason for the phone co to come out, he had a dummy porcelain light fixture attached by only one screw to an electrical box near the MPOE and would swing the porcelain base away and hide the alligator clips in the box. It was so satisfying to cheat Ma Bell. Back in those days, even if you just had a 25' long cord on your only phone, it was considered an extension and you were charged extra. There were definitely some good results for the average consumer that came from the breakup of the AT&T monopoly back in 1984.
selectomatic
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- Joined
- Apr 6, 2007
- Messages
- 483
Phoneco's got 'em!
One of my favorite places on the internet is Phoneco. Their products are reconditioned and guaranteed, but their prices can be a bit much.
Anyway, this link has some of the GTE inline-button phones. I've heard that they're much harder to use, because they're not laid out the way everyone's used to.
-kevin
http://www.phonecoinc.com/category.asp?map=1&hhrl=home&group=main&gorl=group&category=Bargain
One of my favorite places on the internet is Phoneco. Their products are reconditioned and guaranteed, but their prices can be a bit much.
Anyway, this link has some of the GTE inline-button phones. I've heard that they're much harder to use, because they're not laid out the way everyone's used to.
-kevin
http://www.phonecoinc.com/category.asp?map=1&hhrl=home&group=main&gorl=group&category=Bargain
oxydolfan1
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- Sep 28, 2006
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- 1,764
I remember, as a kid, being told by my paramour he'd call at such and such time, and calling time to make sure the clocks were set correctly....
God, I was sooo pathetic....lol
God, I was sooo pathetic....lol
I don't know why they can't make it like 411. You get a few free calls per billing cycle and then the rest you have to pay for. It's not exactly the same thing and the maintenance sounds like a real pain on such an old system, but it's very unlike the PUC to allow this type of service to disappear just like that. They usually want a phased approach to wean people off of using something, hence the 411 calls that now cost you if you use it too often.
Here's how it sounds in Ireland
Here's the Irish Speaking Clock (from eircom) as it sounds if you dial 1191 from any Irish phone. This was recorded on my mobile.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/9/5/1411636/1191.mp3
Here's the Irish Speaking Clock (from eircom) as it sounds if you dial 1191 from any Irish phone. This was recorded on my mobile.
http://www.fileden.com/files/2007/9/5/1411636/1191.mp3
irishwashguy
Well-known member
Fabulous!! I love that, Is that the same speaking clock that is in the UK or do they have a different one?
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