The ol beige box.
The ol beige box.
Yes indeed.
Yes indeed.
Two examples of a telephone "butt" set, these were devices that could be connected to the phone system to do troubleshooting. Once connected, they acted like a regular phone and could dial out and listen to calls. They were sometimes called "buttinskis" due to their ability to covertly monitor lines, and for some reason they were also known as "goats."
These two are examples that are probably 50-60 years apart. The orange unit is a modern Harris TS22L with a BellSouth logo purchased from a show, the black unit is a standard Western Electric issue used by my grandfather during his employment with AT&T Long Lines.
Two examples of a telephone "butt" set, these were devices that could be connected to the phone system to do troubleshooting. Once connected, they acted like a regular phone and could dial out and listen to calls. They were sometimes called "buttinskis" due to their ability to covertly monitor lines, and for some reason they were also known as "goats."
These two are examples that are probably 50-60 years apart. The orange unit is a modern Harris TS22L with a BellSouth logo purchased from a show, the black unit is a standard Western Electric issue used by my grandfather during his employment with AT&T Long Lines.
Great stuff in great shape!
Thought maybe those extra keys on the Harris TS22L were special tones, but actually they're for memory. "Special Purpose" keys on the Harris TS22L: STO: Stores the last number dialed into repertory memory (18 digits maximum) RC: Recalls a number stored in repertory memory. LNR: Redials last number called. This feature works in either tone or pulse modes. PSE: Places a four-secound pause between numbers that are being entered into repertory memory. The pause will take place when the stored numbers are redialed, and is used to access second dial tone when dialing through a PBX.
I've gotta go find out what those letters are on the Western Electric one.
Great stuff in great shape!
Thought maybe those extra keys on the Harris TS22L were special tones, but actually they're for memory.
"Special Purpose" keys on the Harris TS22L:
STO: Stores the last number dialed into repertory memory (18 digits maximum)
RC: Recalls a number stored in repertory memory.
LNR: Redials last number called. This feature works in either tone or pulse modes.
PSE: Places a four-secound pause between numbers that are being entered into repertory memory. The pause will take place when the stored numbers are redialed, and is used to access second dial tone when dialing through a PBX.
[Harris TS22L manual (pdf)](https://www.icsgroup.ru/upload/iblock/caa/ts22l.pdf)
I've gotta go find out what those letters are on the Western Electric one.
They're just the ABC DEF GHI ... you see on a regular phone. There's not enough space to put all the letters, so you just get the first in each series The lineman should have known them by heart.
That's from back when they were actually useful, for example my number (well, my parents) started with MAin-9, aka 629.
They're just the ABC DEF GHI ... you see on a regular phone. There's not enough space to put all the letters, so you just get the first in each series The lineman should have known them by heart.
That's from back when they were actually useful, for example my number (well, my parents) started with MAin-9, aka 629.
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