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

I'm a total noob at this, so any help that can be offered is appreciated. My father's business has been operating since the 70s with this system using rotary 6 key desksets. We recently came across some touchtone sets that were a direct plug-in and hooked them up today. However we've discovered that we've lost the intercom key function that let the secretary buzz everyone's phone individually. A little searching has revealed that the intercom card we have apparently is for rotary only. What should I look for as a replacement that will work with TT?
A photo of our KSU is here. https://picasaweb.google.com/waltwarren/Misc/photo#5169181078987153538
Hopefully there's enough visible in that photo to let you know what we're working with.

I'm afraid you are out of luck. Maybe some of the other guys that worked on 1A2 have a different opinion, but I believe that ICM is non-convertible. Depending on where you are located in MO, there are several guys that can probably help out. I'm sure they'll be chiming in pretty soon. John C. (Not Garand)

I sent you a PM.

All you need to do is unplug the rotary intercom unit and plug in a TT or combination R/TT one.

I have them in stock, as do others on this forum.

Oh, my. Not so easy. That's a 207C intercom that requires a touch tone adapter that's mighty difficult to wire if you can even get one. The equipment that comprises the lower left quarter of the rack is the intercom alone, BEFORE touch tone conversion equipment is added. It's not just a simple plug-in card.

It would be much easier to replace the intercom system with a Melco, Tone Commander, Valcom or Teltone unit. This is NOT a do it yourself undertaking to say the least.

The overall sloppy installation will further complicate things. As much of a fan as I am of 1A2, I think that it's time to tell Dad to bite the bullet and do it right with a new system. I wish I had better news, but there really isn't an easy way to solve this problem.

Sorry for the bad news.

Ed is (as always) right. That's a 207C Stepper Rotary only Intercom.

There was an add on unit that allowed Tone & Rotary dialing - I believe it was a 216 model.

I don't know where you could find one now. If you did find one, I could come out and hook it up for you. But the mileage from Brooklyn would probably be excessive.

Like the guys said a Melco, Tone Commander etc. "C" type (Combination - rotary & tone) intercom would do it for you but it would require a good couple of hours of retrofitting.

A bunch of us still have these units in stock, so if you find someone to install it, you'll be in luck.

I don't blame your dad for hanging on to those phones - they last forever.

Good luck.

Sam

Actually, the secretary should still be able to buzz each of YOU. The TT sets won't be able to buzz back.

You may just be missing the buzzers in the new sets.

Let us know what's going on and maybe we can help.

Sam

Oh, I see, a PICTURE!!!

What an idiot I are. I didn't click the picturelink thingie. When you said intercom "CARD" I thought you meant intercom CARD, not intercom UNIT.

My answer is now:

"It's easy. Just replace the 207 with a T-10 or a C-10 from Teltone or Melco. I can walk you through it, once we find you an intercom card."

Thanks for the replies. The secretary's husband installs phone systems, and he's the one who found the TT sets for us. He forgot the com might be a problem and when we told him it wasn't working, he wasn't immediately sure which parts it needed. This is apparently one of only two such systems around here that he's aware of that are still in use.

I decided to see what was involved on my own, and I see that in one afternoon I learned just enough to be dangerous in my assumptions. I mistakenly thought it would be a simple plug-in card I could find on ebay. I think I'll just turn this back over to him.

Thanks again,

Whoa, hang on a minute! Let's not give up so easily.

First, a minor correction: The 216A KTU, used in conjunction with the 207C selector, was merely a 'transfer' unit to enable 19-station operation. It had no capability for TouchTone processing.

The TT adapter for the 207C series was the 247B. Others have already pointed out that it is extremely rare, and they are correct.

Now, with all that said -- I've seen Teltone, Melco, and Valcom Tone/Rotary intercom modules show up frequently on Greed-Bay. Heck, there's a Melco KT-19 Tone/Rotary 19-station unit on there right now for just under $18.00 Buy-it-Now.

https://cgi.ebay.com/Melco-KT-19-KT...309QQssPageNameZWDVWQQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

Happy hunting.

Bruce -

You're absolutely right. I've got half-timers syndrome. The 216 was the expansion and the 247 was the TT adapter.

I believe however that the KT-19 is a tone only model (KR - rotary only) and the KC-19 was the combo unit. I can't check now - our sytem at work blocks all access to ebay.

In any event if wwarren has got a vendor, I'm sure he'll get it resolved. If he doesn't, I'm sure we can help him out. A bunch of us probably still have some combo units in stock.

Sam