atcomsystems.ca/forum Forums Other TDM Phone Systems 1A2 and Comkey Telephones & Systems Greetings and a Request for Some Info on How to Setup Small Keyset System

:toast:

It looks like you may have found a home here....

I, too, am a huge fan (from a nostalgia/cool factor standpoint) of the 1A2 systems, and an even bigger fan of the people who understand them!

About ten years ago I worked briefly with a guy who had served time with bell in the Atlanta area. I drooled over his neatly ring-bound and organized collection of Bell System Practices. There was some incredibly awsome stuff out there back in the day.

About as far back as I can go is the early 80s. I'm just now finally letting go of my Northern Telecom SL-1, because I really want caller ID. That system was intimidating at first, but it all makes sense when you take the time to learn it. On the other hand, I'm baffled by the mechanics of the 1A2 systems, and I have an incredible amount of respect for the people who had to master that stuff.

Well you came to the right place. Our resident professional collector and guru of the "real stuff" (Arthur P. Bloom) has a collection of equipment that will make your head spin.

I was wondering if anyone knows of a website that provides a decent run-down of the 1A2?

Kind of like, "1A2 For Dummies" type of place?

[Cat 6, reminiscing of the days when things were built to last G*d damn it!!!]

Lee's ABC of the Telephone had a volume on 1A2. Not sure if it's still available.

Sam

Thanks for the reply SS!

There seems to be multiple volumes. Was there one specific book on 1A2?

The bell system had a 3 book set. I think you can still find them, but they aren't cheap.

Here\'s one source.

Holy ****!!! You weren't kidding when you said they weren't cheap! That's a little out of my price range, besides, I found an "ABC to Telephones" on Abebooks for a reasonable price.

Thanks for the link though!

You might be able to find them cheaper, I've never tried. Got the first two volumes, lost the 3rd someplace.

Lee's ABC's books addressed the private-labeled brands, like ITT and Stromberg-Carlson (Comdial). Western Electric products were still taboo at the time, so there's not much information about it in the Lee's books.

Of course, 1A2 is pretty much universal with regard to operation/wiring between brands but many of the specialty items, like intercoms and exclusion were handled differently.