From time to time, I have seen postings from people looking for DTMF tone dialers. These allow you to hold the dialer up to a dial phone's transmitter, then to key in the number in touch-tone - the touch tones are emitted from the dialer and will dial the phone via the acoustic link to the transmitter.
While easy to get in the 80s and 90s, they have become hard to find. I came across an eBay auction today for AT&T 123A Tone Dialers - the seller has 8 left at least purchased in a bulk surplus buy.
Unlike similar dialers by Radio Shack and Panasonic to name two, these dialers offer redial and ten memories.
They are $15 each, a reasonable price, and though new, have had new batteries installed due to the age of the batteries in the sealed packages. I bought two:
eBay # 231022330095
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=231022330095 EDIT: dead link on 10-12-13, use the link below
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231072045752
The guy has just posted more of these at the link above!
And free shipping included within the USA.
Add $100.00 each for extra shipping to Canada. Just kidding, couldn't resist!
Terry
Quote from: AE_Collector on July 19, 2013, 11:12:43 PM
Add $100.00 each for extra shipping to Canada. Just kidding, couldn't resist!
No, actually a reasonable $5 each for shipping to Canada, free to the US....
I used to have one of these years ago, and had it loaded up with the numbers I used most often. I would carry it on my pocket, hold it up to the transmitter and use it to fast dial numbers I called frequently. That was in the days before touch tone was common. Worked great until one day I forgot it in my pocket and put it in the laundry :).
I have ordered two.
A great addition to an accessory collection.
Dave
Quote from: DavePEI on July 19, 2013, 01:32:37 PM
From time to time, I have seen postings from people looking for DTMF tone dialers. These allow you to hold the dialer up to a dial phone's transmitter, then to key in the number in touch-tone - the touch tones are emitted from the dialer and will dial the phone via the acoustic link to the transmitter.
While easy to get in the 80s and 90s, they have become hard to find. I came across an eBay auction today for AT&T 123A Tone Dialers - the seller has 8 left at least purchased in a bulk surplus buy.
Unlike similar dialers by Radio Shack and Panasonic to name two, these dialers offer redial and ten memories.
They are $15 each, a reasonable price, and though new, have had new batteries installed due to the age of the batteries in the sealed packages:
eBay # 330960954841
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=330960954841
thank you for telling us about these dave, I bought one myself ;)
I was surprised that when I called AT&T yesterday, the IVR required Touch-Tone. Usually, they have Voice Recognition, but this one didn't. I have only a WE 305C-12 hooked up in my bedroom. And the IVR was rude--"I still didn't recognize your input" or something like that. You'd think it would eventually default to a live person but it didn't.
How ironic, the Telco "doesn't recognize your input" - Dial Pulse....
Terry
does anyone know if these tone dialers work on manual phones? thank you.
I have 2 BT ones, seems to work on most, but some Dictographs I've tried dont get it, probably the TX is slightly low with age.
Quote from: southernphoneman on July 24, 2013, 06:01:59 PM
does anyone know if these tone dialers work on manual phones? thank you.
That is what they are for...
Dave
Hi All:
My two dialers arrived this morning, and both work perfectly! I remember carrying one of these around in the 80s with my commonly called numbers programmed into them - used them anywhere I needed to make a call - TT phones or dial phones. Didn't matter - hold it up to the microphone and key in the number away it went! These could also be used to dial phones equipped with a dial blank only.
Word for the wise. Don't throw them into the washer as I did with my 80s one!
The seller has more of these listed on eBay now:
http://cgi.ebay.ca/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=231022330095
Dave
I just wish I could remember which box I put my BT Rapport tone dialler in, it's a handy tool when you need tones on a rotary phone... :)
It's meant to be used with the BT Rapport answering machine, but it's just a regular tone dialler tool printed with functions to operate the answering machine... :D
I was doubtful that selective call forwarding (*63) on a 5ESS landline could be programmed from a 500 set without a tone dialer as pictured here.
Since call return can be activated by dialing either *69 or 1169, you can also dial 1163 instead of *63 for selective call forwarding. (So * = 11.)
So I was really surprised, when the instructions said to dial 3 to turn the service on, that the switch responded to dial pulses!
Then it said that in order to add a phone number to the list, you dial the pound sign (#) followed by the phone number. OK, so if 3 works, how do you dial # on a rotary phone?
By dialing 12 (# = 12).
A rotary dial works so much better in this example than "voice recognition" on auto-attendants.
They're back!
Newly listed in a 30 day BIN listing with up to 10 available at $15 each with free shipping, if you need one. Brand new, in box, with instructions and fresh batteries.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/231072045752
Also, if you need more than one, a $25 discount is available on lots of 10 each with free shipping.
http://www.ebay.com/itm/331043036460