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

Just to jog my memory which pair was it for the 5th line (black/green)?

Russ:

It depends on the Comkey system. The 416 kept the color code the same as 1A2 for the basic first four line appearances. If that is the system you are asking about, there wasn't a fifth line unless you added a separate four-pair line cord and adapter (one-line KSU). There were so many pairs required for intercom signaling that it took up all of the fifth line pairs.

I have a feeling that you thought you were testing me with this one. If so, I say bring it on!

The larger Comkey systems started using common grounds for lamps, so it was T/R/A/L (two pair) per line, but don't quote me there. I know that there were more extra pairs required in their 10-button sets than just the Y/O due to power requirements for options. I might need to get the manuals out for those.

:toothy:

Yep, on the larger Comkeys you'd about have to have the book, had a lot of features and lots of stuff was common, even in the busy lamp fields. I'm pretty sure they had a built in diode matrix too for ringing. I know I've said this before, but there are still a couple 416's around here and they aren't about to give them up.

I still have 2 416's out there working in a lawyers office and about 4 pizza shops with ITT's, they just don't break down, all you have to do is go out once in a while and clean the contacts on the dial pad from the flour and change a light bulb once in a while. They don't build anything as sturdy as them any more.

But Russ, you never answered my original question. Was the fifth line question a test of my knowledge of Comkey's?

You are right about this stuff. People that have them won't let go; they will forego the sophisticated features and stick with reliability. I estimate that they stopped installing Comkey new in 1986-87. That's nearly 20 years; something unheard of with current technology. Hmmm.....Maybe we are onto something here.

We still have a handfull of Comkey customers out there too and a few more with 1A2. One is a lawyer who will never part with it. He has even said that he knows the equipment won't fail; it's the lack of people who can service it that will ultimately cause it's demise. He's right.

I think with so much junk VoIP stuff hitting the market, people might start looking into the reliability of 1A2 and Comkey. Clothing styles obviously go full-circle. Oh, well, it's just an idea!

Took my Comkey training in a Bell System motorhome classroom that had six install positions for us to learn on. 1974.

Last August I pulled out the last 416 that I know of here locally. There used to be a lot (and bigger) especially in real estate offices.

Today we cut a ITT 512 1A2 to a Pana 824. They were amazed with such things as one button dialing. We hicks are easily amazed. :dance:

I am not aware of any other active 1A2 left in the area. If there were, I'm sure I'd have been called about it by now --- I DO need to find a home for these 51A lamps.

KLD

You know you're a redneck when your schooling was in a motorhome! :toast:

Yes Ed it was a test and you Passed :toast: And you are right when us old techs go away so will the 1A2's unless we can get some of our young guys to learn it and so far they just look at me and say (how do you know what wire does what and where is the manual and why would anyone want to us this thing? All I can do is point to my head and say here is your manual.

I'm sure I still have all those books somewhere but I have no idea where to look. :shrug:

My Jurassic 4-line office 416 ComKey network (9 units) is in its terminal throes. The office walls are wired with miles of 50 conductor twisted pair. What are the 1A2 color codes / Centronics 50 pinouts for the first 4 tip/ring actual phone lines? (I know there were two wires also for control and two wires for lamps).

Thanks.

Do you mean the wiring for 1A2 or Comkey 416? They are two completely different systems. Anyway, here's the color code for 1A2:

White/Blue=Line 1 Tip
Blue/White=Line 1 Ring
White/Orange=A lead
Orange/White=A1 lead
White/Green=Lamp ground
Green/White=Line 1 lamp

White/Brown=Line 2 Tip
Brown/White=Line 2 Ring
White/Slate=A lead
Slate/White=Unused
Red/Blue=Lamp ground
Blue/Red=Line 2 lamp

Red/Orange=Line 3 Tip
Orange/Red=Line 3 Ring
Red/Green=A lead
Green/Red=Unused
Red/Brown=Lamp ground
Brown/Red=Line 3 Lamp

Red/Slate=Line 4 Tip
Slate/Red=Line 4 Ring
Black/Blue=A lead
Blue/Black=Unused
Black/Orange=Lamp ground
Orange/Black=Line 4 lamp