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Northern Telecom Centurion

Started by Eman, January 21, 2012, 11:13:13 PM

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Eman

Well I finally found the payphone I've been looking for for a while, but I was surprised at what was inside it.

Having dug around the internet, it looks to me like its setup for semi-post pay. Most of the parts say 5-85, however it looks like the dial and handset are not original. It seems to work properly on my pbx, as it has no coin relay it appears to not need any special line?

Right now I just have it sitting on a table against the wall - do these need backboards to mount properly? If so which ones fit?

(fairly large pictures)  EDIT:  "the 4 links below were found to be dead on 9-27-15 - error message SERVER NOT FOUND "
http://goput.it/99f.jpg
http://goput.it/k1r.jpg
http://goput.it/cyr.jpg

I have the vault door, but its fairly difficult to get on/off without the T key - just need to order one from ebay...

I'm assuming this is a longshot - but does anyone have scans of the cards in this picture? http://goput.it/lk2.jpg


DavePEI

#1
Quote from: Eman on January 21, 2012, 11:13:13 PM
Well I finally found the payphone I've been looking for for a while, but I was surprised at what was inside it.

Having dug around the internet, it looks to me like its setup for semi-post pay. Most of the parts say 5-85, however it looks like the dial and handset are not original. It seems to work properly on my pbx, as it has no coin relay it appears to not need any special line?

Right now I just have it sitting on a table against the wall - do these need backboards to mount properly? If so which ones fit?

(fairly large pictures)
http://goput.it/99f.jpg
http://goput.it/k1r.jpg
http://goput.it/cyr.jpg

I have the vault door, but its fairly difficult to get on/off without the T key - just need to order one from ebay...

I'm assuming this is a longshot - but does anyone have scans of the cards in this picture? http://goput.it/lk2.jpg



What you have is the semi-postpay version:

http://www.islandregister.com/phones/centurion.html

You should not need any special line to use it on a home line, but you may have to reverse the ring and tip lines if it won't work....

If you have a good solid wall, you can mount it with lag bolts, but if not, you should use a backboard for a single slot phone - some older 3 slot backboards won't work.

Info on my site:

Centurion Drawings: http://www.islandregister.com/phones/centuriondrawings.pdf

Instruction Cards: http://www.islandregister.com/phones/centurioncards.zip

Dave



The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

Eman

thanks Dave, your site was the only one I could find with any information related to centurions. I'm surprised at how sparse the info is elsewhere.

AE_Collector

I knew that DavePEI would come to the rescue on this one!

So the Cenurion won't mount on a 3 slot backboard? I didn't know that. The AE phones that I am familiar with as well as the NT Millenium will physically mount on the old 3 slot backboards.

Terry

why-phones

I recently got the following for the QSD401 and QSD2401A semipostpay

"installation manual" section 506-4001-290 , issued 20 Dec 1974
and the "identification and installation" section 506-4001-200 , issued 14 Jan 1975 , also issue 4 Feb 1976
also the "maintenance and assembly of parts" section 506-4001-500 , issued 17 Oct 1973

And conversion procedures from QSD401B/QSD2401B to QSD400A/QSD2400A

I'd like some help in posting these &
finding the same for the QSD(2)400_
All my phones were converted in '89 to prepay

The drawings in:
Centurion Drawings - http://www.islandregister.com/phones/centuriondrawings.pdf
have  drop outs ( sorry DavePEI )

And I'm looking for two plastic housings , at least one in brown (-26)

Thanks, Russ

xhausted110

if these activate on polarity reversal, could I use a linksys ATA that reverses, and the phone would work with coins?
- Evan

DavePEI

#6
Quote from: xhausted110 on March 06, 2014, 12:30:45 AM
if these activate on polarity reversal, could I use a linksys ATA that reverses, and the phone would work with coins?
The Centurion will work with no modifications on a standard line. Never tried playing with reversal on the semi-postpay version.

However, it requires 70-100 volts to operate the relay just as a 3 slot for the prepay version, otherwise coins will build up in the vault. That can be overcome by tying the relay closed.

My Centurions are all Prepay versions. It may be line reversal would make a Semi Postpay version connect, but I haven't had one of those to experiment with.. I do know, however, that if you reverse the line polarity, the Semi-postpays will also work as a home phone.

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

poplar1

#7
Just to clarify--if the Centurion  Eman's semi-postpay Centurion is like other semi-postpay AE/postpay WE, NE--then there is no buildup of coins  and no 130 VDC sent over the line to collect/refund deposit. Rather, any coins dropped (other than pennies or coins in the wrong slot of a multi-slot) go directly into the coin vault. That's why the instructions say don't deposit coins until the called party answers.

[2015-03-11 Edited for clarity: not all Centurions, but only the semi-postpay version]
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

DavePEI

#8
Quote from: poplar1 on March 06, 2014, 11:12:24 AM
Just to clarify--if the Centurion is like other semi-postpay AE/postpay WE, NE--then there is no buildup of coins  and no 130 VDC sent over the line to collect/refund deposit. Rather, any coins dropped (other than pennies or coins in the wrong slot of a multi-slot) go directly into the coin vault. That's why the instructions say don't deposit coins until the called party answers.
Sorry. but not quite accurate for the bulk of Canturions which are prepay.  Coins must be inserted before dialing. All coins are held in escrow until the relay is triggered, resulting in a build up in coins if the relay isn't tied.

The Post-pay version, of course has no coin relay. Instead, it has a micro-switch mounted in the coin chute.

However, it is absolutely correct for semi-postpay versions. See Instruction Cards below...

1) Pre-pay version
2) Semi-postpay
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001