Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Switching => Magneto & Manual (Cord Boards etc) => Topic started by: Fabius on May 10, 2017, 06:29:06 PM

Title: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on May 10, 2017, 06:29:06 PM
It is marked un the instruction plate 555 P.B.X. -DIAL OFFICE P-267515  (4-55).I believe it is pretty much complete but I need a few thing so Please check out my ad in the classified wanted section thanks. One cool thing about it is that it is mounted on rollers.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on May 10, 2017, 07:09:10 PM
The dial is a replacement by the former owner as the original dial broke thus I don't think this switchboard came from 401 (Rhode Island). The remains of the sticker on the left side front indicates the Kansas City Missouri area.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: jsowers on May 10, 2017, 09:04:45 PM
Just FYI, (416) (816) 421-4066 is the fax number for the law firm of Shook, Hardy and Bacon in Kansas City, MO if that helps any. But of course this switchboard predates fax machines. Their phone number is (816) 474-8550--you could call and ask whoever answers the phone. Maybe you'll get Sarah? Here's the whois from the registration of their website, updated as of 12-2016.

Registrant Contact
Name: Shook Hardy & Bacon
Organization: Shook Hardy & Bacon
Street:1200 MAIN ST
City: KANSAS CITY
State: MO
Postal Code: 64105-2122
Country: US
Phone: +1.8164746550
Fax: +1.8164214066
Email: email@SHB.COM
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: unbeldi on May 10, 2017, 10:01:55 PM
Quote from: jsowers on May 10, 2017, 09:04:45 PM
Just FYI, (416) 421-4066 is the fax number for the law firm of Shook, Hardy and Bacon in Kansas City, MO if that helps any. But of course this switchboard predates fax machines. Their phone number is (816) 474-8550--you could call and ask whoever answers the phone. Maybe you'll get Sarah? Here's the whois from the registration of their website, updated as of 12-2016.

Registrant Contact
Name: Shook Hardy & Bacon
Organization: Shook Hardy & Bacon
Street:1200 MAIN ST
City: KANSAS CITY
State: MO
Postal Code: 64105-2122
Country: US
Phone: +1.8164746550
Fax: +1.8164214066
Email: email@SHB.COM


Hmm.   Area code 416 is in Ontario, Canada.

816 is one of the original 86 area codes of 1947.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: jsowers on May 10, 2017, 11:32:21 PM
Sorry, yes it's 816. I will correct the post. That's what I get when I type in the dark. Thanks.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on May 11, 2017, 12:20:09 AM
Ah, where did you find the  (816) 421-4066 number with a connection to this switchboard?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: unbeldi on May 11, 2017, 08:27:39 AM
Quote from: Fabius on May 11, 2017, 12:20:09 AM
Ah, where did you find the  (816) 421-4066 number with a connection to this switchboard?

One of the trunk jacks on the front panel is labeled 421-4066.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on May 11, 2017, 11:25:44 AM
Quote from: unbeldi on May 11, 2017, 08:27:39 AM
One of the trunk jacks on the front panel is labeled 421-4066.

Okay I see it. Two to the right has written lightly in pencil 4067.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: jsowers on May 11, 2017, 01:21:35 PM
Here's a screen shot with an arrow pointing. I'm assuming a lot, but the phone number is valid for Kansas City, MO.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on May 11, 2017, 02:51:43 PM
As I had mentioned It is marked on the instruction plate: 555 P.B.X. -DIAL OFFICE P-267515  (4-55)

I had thought that since it says DIAL OFFICE this switchboard was located in a rural manual central office. But I believe that's not right? Am I correct in saying that this is a typical PBX and that the trucks were in fact incoming dial tone lines? I assume that 4-55 is the date of the instruction card.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: poplar1 on May 11, 2017, 03:32:55 PM
"Dial Office" means that the trunks were connected to a dial central office. The 555 is a P.B.X. -- Private Branch Exchange -- for a business, and not something from a central office.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Victor Laszlo on May 12, 2017, 05:27:28 PM
Generally, hotels did not use the number 13 for rooms. It was the superstition of the general public that caused this practice. I doubt if a commercial company would have done that.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: AL_as_needed on May 13, 2017, 01:32:36 PM
Quote from: Victor Laszlo on May 12, 2017, 05:27:28 PM
Generally, hotels did not use the number 13 for rooms. It was the superstition of the general public that caused this practice. I doubt if a commercial company would have done that.

Where I work in maintenance, there are over 40 residential buildings, each numbered along their respective streets, however there are no building 13s.   
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Jim Stettler on May 13, 2017, 03:09:21 PM
Quote from: poplar1 on May 11, 2017, 03:32:55 PM
"Dial Office" means that the trunks were connected to a dial central office. The 555 is a P.B.X. -- Private Branch Exchange -- for a business, and not something from a central office.
Mis-info deleted
Jim S.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Victor Laszlo on May 13, 2017, 04:18:55 PM
"8x120 would be a huge board for a business. "

Really? It would seem that a hotel with 120 rooms would require such a board.  Do you consider a hotel with that many rooms "huge?"  I have worked on business systems that had up to 200 trunks and 6,000 extensions.

Do you have any historic evidence that type 555 PBX's were used as Central Offices? I would like to read up on that part of the history of the phone company.  Was there special equipment added to them for toll charges, trunk supervision, different types of dialing? (MF, DTMF, RP, etc?)
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Jim Stettler on May 13, 2017, 04:38:19 PM
In small rural towns 120 lines would be a large business.
I have been told by WE 555 installers that they were used as small exchanges, I have seen several 555 boards that were presented as small town CO boards.  I have no reason not to believe they used them in small exchanges. 

Just my opinion,
Jim S.

Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: poplar1 on May 13, 2017, 05:03:31 PM
Even with optional line relays, the max. loop resistance for stations  is 780 ohms.

The max. configuration for a 555 is 14 trunks, 120 extensions, and 15 cord pairs. Or, with optional double pulley cords, you could double that capacity by installing two 555s side-by-side.

In addition to the 3-digit station numbers, two of the jacks are labeled "lobby" and "mezzanine."
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on May 13, 2017, 08:06:45 PM
Quote from: Jim S. on May 13, 2017, 03:09:21 PM

8x120 would be a huge board for a business.   

JMO,
Jim S.

Thanks. Jim has been a big help since getting this board (indirectly) from him.

One of the jacks is marked MEZZANINE. It is located between 601 and 603, where 602 would be. The definition of mezzanine is: A mezzanine (or in French, an entresol) is an intermediate floor in a building which is partly open to the double-height ceiling floor below. Mezzanines may serve a wide variety of functions. Industrial mezzanines, such as those used in warehouses, may be temporary or semi-permanent structures.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on May 13, 2017, 08:12:17 PM
Quote from: Jim S. on May 13, 2017, 03:09:21 PM
The Co lines (and dial) connected to the outside world. It was an exchange in a small town in the Kansas City area.

Jim S.

So 421-4066/4067 were dial tone lines from another central office thru which this board's operator would dial calls for the subscribers connected to this board?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Jim Stettler on May 13, 2017, 10:55:26 PM
All local lines routed thru the board, If you needed the rest of the world, the operator could dial it for you. The CO jacks are basically  "Long Lines" to the next town(s).
JimS.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: unbeldi on May 14, 2017, 12:58:40 PM
To me, the hypothesis of using a PBX as an exchange for a village seems unlikely for this region in the 1950s, especially when the trunk number on the board is inside a major city like Kansas City, right in the financial district.  That sounds like stuff for the dark ages, relatively speaking. In the 1950s, the push was strong toward a national numbering and routing plan.

816-421 is and probably always was serviced from the central offices at 1101 Mcgee St, Kansas City, MO, just about one half mile away from the location of that law firm that has the number assigned today.  The law firm was founded there in 1889 and has almost 150 lawyers today.  So, a 120 station board seems entirely appropriate for the 1950s.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on May 14, 2017, 01:45:30 PM
I think a little research may be able to give us a little more info. First would be to get an idea of the date range that this board was in service then check telephone and business directories to see if the law firm had the numbers back then as seen on the trunk jacks. Also check a reverse directory. I'll check with the city library and check with a reference librarian. Since the instruction card is dated 1955 I'll assume that would be a starting date. Being located in a major city when would a cord board have been replaced? 1970s? The only date I can find is on the buzzer. The buzzer in the board seems to be dated 1 85. I'm not sure that's a date?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Victor Laszlo on May 15, 2017, 12:24:42 PM
The instruction card is dated '55 because that's when it was printed.

How would a 555 operator ring party lines?  I have never seen cord circuits or attendant circuits for a 555 designed for party line service.

Does the BSP that describes the 555 mention that it can be used as a Central Office?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: unbeldi on May 15, 2017, 02:39:32 PM
Quote from: Victor Laszlo on May 15, 2017, 12:24:42 PM
The instruction card is dated '55 because that's when it was printed.

How would a 555 operator ring party lines?  I have never seen cord circuits or attendant circuits for a 555 designed for party line service.

Does the BSP that describes the 555 mention that it can be used as a Central Office?

No.

The standard station circuit of the 555 used a simple cut-off jack with lamp signal.  This greatly limits the operating range for stations.   If this board was actually used as a central office, then it should have line relays installed, I would think, and this was one of the options for the board, I believe, but only for long-line operations, IMHO.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on May 15, 2017, 03:11:21 PM
See BSP 536 550 110.

Maybe by using the two way ring down tie trunk one could ring party lines.

By the way 1952 1953 is what date range most of the parts of my 555 are stanped with.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: unbeldi on May 15, 2017, 04:26:41 PM
I believe the 555 could be equipped with 2-party line jack assemblies.  These provided a separate jack for the ring party and for the tip party.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Jim Stettler on May 16, 2017, 12:23:01 PM
I did some checking regarding WE 555 as a Office board vs a PBX.. I Was wrong, the WE 555 was ONLY used as a PBX. I musta been 'membering wrong. Sorry for the confusion.
Jim S.

I deleted the mis-information.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on May 16, 2017, 09:38:57 PM
Got the following from a source that had some Kansas City reverse directories. It appears they do not have directories for 1971 - 1976. Kansas City was served by Southwestern Bell Telephone. Would they have installed a new or refurbished 555 in the early 1970s?

Hello, and thank you for contacting the Missouri Valley Special Collections with your inquiry. I am attaching 5 pages from various years of cross reference directories we have for Kansas City. The 1963 and 1968 show the number 421-4066 as a listing for an Engraving Company. The number is not listed in the 1970 directory. In the 1977 and 1982 it is listed for the New Fredrick Hotel.

I hope this information is helpful, and please feel free to contact me directly with any additional questions.

Kara Evans
Collection Librarian/Archivist
--
Missouri Valley Special Collections
Kansas City Public Library
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: TelePlay on May 16, 2017, 09:42:15 PM
Tom,

Did you ask for 1950 to the mid 1960s? Or didn't they have that period?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: poplar1 on May 16, 2017, 10:38:40 PM
If the buzzer was replaced around 1985, then it seems likely that the 1982 listing for the New Fredrick Hotel is the right one.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: TelePlay on May 16, 2017, 10:49:09 PM
Quote from: poplar1 on May 16, 2017, 10:38:40 PM
If the buzzer was replaced around 1985, then it seems likely that the 1982 listing for the New Fredrick Hotel is the right one.

If that's the case, it's not there anymore. Demolished in 1997. Was a 10 story building. It was demolished to make way for the Charles Evans Whitaker Federal Courthouse.

     https://www.emporis.com/buildings/177426/frederick-hotel-kansas-city-mo-usa
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: unbeldi on May 16, 2017, 10:50:23 PM
The latest modification date of SD-66520 for the 555, that I have found, is August 1972.  Does your PBX not have schematics glued to the inside that show the date of modification ?

The 555 was certainly still marketed about that time, but had somewhat different appearance by then.

A hotel certainly seems like a probable environment for having a mezzanine, but I believe I have seen law offices with such features.   The address of that hotel was also just a couple of blocks away from the McGee central office.

Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on May 16, 2017, 11:35:17 PM
Nothing on the backboard and actually looks like nothing was ever there. I searched again and I found a 1972 date on what I think is a capacitor. The reverse directory spells the hotel as the The New Frederick Hotel while the info on the site spells it The New Fredrick Hotel.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Victor Laszlo on May 17, 2017, 02:36:48 PM
"I was wrong, the WE 555 was ONLY used as a PBX. I musta been 'membering wrong. Sorry for the confusion."

Thank you for the updated information.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on May 17, 2017, 09:09:55 PM
This board has cable tied down on the wiring blocks which has Amphenol  connectors on the other end. Where Amphenol connectors used on 555 boards from the very being of 555s being manufactored or at a later date?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on May 17, 2017, 09:24:43 PM
Definitely not.  Amphenol (57 series "micro-ribbon" type) were first used in the Bell System on 560 series key telephone sets, field trials I believe by NY Tel with F-series numbers instead of the conventional 560 codes.  I doubt 57 series connectors even existed in the late 40s when 555s first came out.

Another reason PBXs were probably never used for public exchange service: charge supervision issues.  A call initiated to a customer on any manual CO swbd must not have charge supervision until the called station answers.  A 555 has no provision for the operator (attendant really) to answer an incoming call from another exchange and get the order for the called local line without causing charge supervision to the calling customer.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 07, 2017, 08:34:30 PM
I obtained a power supply for the switchboard. Model 550005 made by Power Controls Inc in Connecticut. In fact I got two of them. One is branded Executone and the other is Isoetec which was bought out by Executone. I emailed the company and asked if they had any documentation on this model. Maybe there's info in the TCI library. Or does anyone have any?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: unbeldi on June 07, 2017, 09:30:13 PM
You also need a supply for ringing power, unless you are happy with using the hand generator.
For this reason, the key system supplies are very convenient to use if 24 volt talk battery is sufficient.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 07, 2017, 10:43:04 PM
Quote from: unbeldi on June 07, 2017, 09:30:13 PM
You also need a supply for ringing power, unless you are happy with using the hand generator.
For this reason, the key system supplies are very convenient to use if 24 volt talk battery is sufficient.
Many 555s were powered from a 101G key telephone system power plant, which used a selenium rectifier for the 18-26VDC filtered TALK battery supply. 

555s are rated to operate from 16-50V with appropriate voltage lamps installed in SD-66520-01. 

In large cities 555s were often powered from the serving CO, to which the trunks went, via cable pairs providing DC voltage and ringing.  As discussed in the related BLR article, they were explicitly designed to operate over a wide voltage range and at minimum operating current to optimize this kind of operation. 

This was a practice introduced with earlier manual PBX switchboards when many cities did not have commercial AC power because converting commercial DC power to operate telephone equipment was problematic.  The power conversion equipment needed to use motor-generators, which had a high maintenance requirement.

Most versions of the 101G also included a 20Hz ringing supply using saturated core magnetic devices to derive 20Hz from 60 Hz AC line power with no moving parts.  101Gs were superseded by the 20- and 30-types which provide 30Hz ringing rather than 20Hz and were generally not used to power PBXs.  The sound of ringers operating from 30Hz ringing current is quite different since the clapper operates 50% more times.  20Hz is more pleasant sounding.

I know someone who had and probably still has some 101Gs he'd like to sell.

I suggest uploading a larger version of the Power Controls power supply photo rather than the tiny 225x169 thumbnail so that people can read the specifications.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 08, 2017, 08:14:28 AM
Quote from: unbeldi on June 07, 2017, 09:30:13 PM
You also need a supply for ringing power, unless you are happy with using the hand generator.
For this reason, the key system supplies are very convenient to use if 24 volt talk battery is sufficient.

I should of specified that this power supply supplies 24vdc, 48vdc and 90vac. So I should be okay with the ringing.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: unbeldi on June 08, 2017, 08:56:42 AM
Quote from: Fabius on June 08, 2017, 08:14:28 AM
I should of specified that this power supply supplies 24vdc, 48vdc and 90vac. So I should be okay with the ringing.

Ah, you're right.  I looked it up, but didn't see the ringing output, sorry.

The supply only provides 1 A on the DC outputs, ea, so you may need the second unit, indeed, if you want to run your street on the PBX.


Input: 120VAC, 60Hz, 1A
Output:
48 VDC, 1A
24 VDC, 1A
90 VAC, 5W, 30 Hz

Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 19, 2017, 09:31:48 PM
Find another 1972 date on a tag as shown below

I am now looking for where to hook up the power supply. From what I read it is on the terminal block to the right? That one has a connector on a relatively short cable wired to the wire block. One of the connector leads goes to a lug on the metal frame (ground?) Does the connector plug into a power supply? if so which one? Thanks.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 19, 2017, 09:40:56 PM
Quote from: Fabius on June 19, 2017, 09:31:48 PM
Find another 1972 date on a tag as shown below

I am now looking for where to hook up the power supply. From what I read it is on the terminal block to the right? That one has a connector on a relatively short cable wired to the wire block. One of the connector leads goes to a lug on the metal frame (ground?) Does the connector plug into a power supply? if so which one? Thanks.
The power supply connections are not normally connectorized.  The power connections appear on a terminal strip at the base and are shown on the SD.  Do you have SD-66520-01?  It should be in the TCI library.

Page G2 Fig. 54 shows battery and ground terminations on the MISC. terminal strip:
BAT = term's 1, 2, 3 & 4
GRD = term's 45, 46, 47 & 48
+/- RINGING = term 22
RINGING GRD  = term 24

However there are some strapping options on this terminal strip so without knowing what's there it's impossible to say with certainty that it will work with just these connections.

There is an 8 pin Cinch-Jones plug like the one in your photo except chassis mounted, on the back of the 555 TEL unit and a 10 pin one on the front used to connect the dial lead connections from the terminal block under the dial mounting, and the headset jack leads, to the TEL unit.

BSP 536-550-210 para. 3.07 forward discusses grouping of multiple positions.  The 8 pin plug on the back of the TEL unit is for that.  That might explain your cable if it ended in a socket rather than plug but so far I don't see anything about a plug ended cable.

However regardless of that, the gender of your mystery plug is wrong to plug onto the TEL unit and I can't see from your photo where the other end of the cable terminating in the 8 contact plug goes.  Where does it go?  It seems unlikely someone would have connectorized the power with a C-J plug since that would require soldering the plug terminals in the field.  I'd expect a 25 pair cable to be used with multiple pairs paralleled to reduce feeder resistance.

If you need assistance interpreting SD-66520-01 just say so.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 19, 2017, 10:35:10 PM
The mystery plug goes to the wire block right where it is labeled AUX
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 19, 2017, 10:38:41 PM
There are 4 terminal blocks marked stations, trunks, aux at the bottom. Where would the terminal block for power be in relation to them?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 19, 2017, 10:40:42 PM
Quote from: Fabius on June 19, 2017, 10:38:41 PM
There are 4 terminal blocks marked stations, trunks, aux at the bottom. Where would the terminal block for power be in relation to them?
I just updated my earlier posting.  Refer back to it for details.  The SD shows power connected to one called MISC which also includes things like buzzer leads.

536-550-210 Iss. 4 ("Installation") Fig. 13 shows 3 terminals strips at the base but does not ID them.  Fig. 11 shows 2 rows of 3 terminal strips.  Fig. 17 titled "Rear view - Mounting detail for Tie Trunk and Manual Conference Circuit Eqpt Units" shows 4 terminals strips.  Do you have any optional jack units in the face of the swbd other than ordinary CO trunk units?  Do you have any horizontal relay mounting plates in the base of the swbd  in the relay rack plate mounting area at the bottom?  These might explain what AUX is for.

However to the best of my recollection all optional units have chassis mounted C-J plugs and the factory wiring harnesses which connect to them are terminated in C-J sockets.  Look for tags with J59013LL markings where "LL" are suffix letters.  If you find any they will identify the purpose of the unit or cable assembly from the Equipment Design Requirements (8xx division) BSP.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 19, 2017, 10:50:56 PM
There are pictures front and back at the being of this thread. Thanks for your help.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 19, 2017, 11:12:15 PM
Quote from: Fabius on June 19, 2017, 10:50:56 PM
There are pictures front and back at the being of this thread. Thanks for your help.
OK.  The photo of the front is good but the one of the back is quite blurry: shake or focus problem.  Nevertheless they're good enough to see nothing special installed. 

However although the TEL unit (extreme left viewed from the back) normally has a lot of vacant relay mounting spaces it seems like it might be incomplete, but it's hard to be sure due to the blurriness and cables in the way.  A better photo of the back would probably help.

I have a very complete set of 555 BSPs, SDs and even brochures, perhaps everything ever published so maybe everything except an actual 555  ;D.  Nothing actually shows a photo of the back nor drawing identifying the physical locations of the terminal blocks.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 20, 2017, 12:54:21 AM
BTW, a 555 normally has a sheet of plexiglass on top of the keyshelf raising the height of the surface to about the same as the metal strip at the left.  It protects the phenolic surface and provides a place to put instructions for the attendant for ready reference.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on June 20, 2017, 11:18:52 AM
No Tom, I dont have any extra parts from my board.

As to your mystery plug, really need to follow the wiring to see where it goes.

Usually the battery, ground, and ringing voltages were brought over on cable pairs from the CO.  but its also possible this was powered from a building battery, or even a WE power supply, like from a key system.  the plug could have been a customized way to connect power, but without tracing where it goes, its only speculation.

Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 20, 2017, 12:53:52 PM
Quote from: trainman on June 20, 2017, 11:18:52 AM

As to your mystery plug, really need to follow the wiring to see where it goes.

quote]

The plug is wired to the block on the bottom right. The block is marked AUX. There is one lead that is connected to the metal frame of the board.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 20, 2017, 01:05:23 PM
Quote from: Alex G. Bell on June 19, 2017, 11:12:15 PM

A better photo of the back would probably help.

This picture of the back should be better.I took it with a DSLR.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 20, 2017, 02:09:14 PM
Quote from: Fabius on June 20, 2017, 01:05:23 PM
This picture of the back should be better.I took it with a DSLR.
The R/H portion of the 4th TS seems to be marked "MISC" 1-52.  That's where power and other singular connections are made. 

To the left of that it's marked "TRKS" 1-14 on the fanning strip with T&R on the terminal insulation strips themselves, which is where the incoming trunks to the CO trunk units connect.

The cable, especially the bright yellow solid color conductor, looks like commercial Belden cable, not something a telco employee would have used.  If the jacket is silver rather than light olive gray, as it appears in comparison to the larger cables with Amphenol plugs, it's certainly commercial cable.  If it's stranded, ditto.  So this looks like something added by a previous owner.  The casters too unless you added them.

A close up of the MISC TS may reveal more.  The resolution is not high enough to see what term's the leads are connected to.

I'll review the appearance of your TEL unit to determine whether it looks complete.  I think the 2 relays under the (missing) cover is correct but my 556 TEL unit also has a B-type relay at the bottom near the aluminum cased IND or RET coil.
I have a spare 555 TEL unit I can dig out to look at even though I don't have a 555 swbd.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on June 20, 2017, 02:13:30 PM
What numbered terminals does that plug go to? The print only has the terminals shown by number.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on June 20, 2017, 02:15:03 PM
It looks like it goes to the power and ring terminals.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 20, 2017, 02:16:24 PM
Quote from: trainman on June 20, 2017, 11:18:52 AM
No Tom, I dont have any extra parts from my board.

As to your mystery plug, really need to follow the wiring to see where it goes.

Usually the battery, ground, and ringing voltages were brought over on cable pairs from the CO.  but its also possible this was powered from a building battery, or even a WE power supply, like from a key system.  the plug could have been a customized way to connect power, but without tracing where it goes, its only speculation.
Regardless of how it's powered, the power leads connect to the same term's on the MISC TS.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on June 20, 2017, 02:18:06 PM
Tom, go back to an earlier reply. Alex said what terminals the power and ring voltage attach to. Its on page 3.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 20, 2017, 02:29:14 PM
Quote from: trainman on June 20, 2017, 02:18:06 PM
Tom, go back to an earlier reply. Alex said what terminals the power and ring voltage attach to. Its on page 3.
Bear in mind that profile settings determine how many postings appear on a given member's screen and the order.  I set mine to the MAX and newest at the top.  So it's more useful to cite the reply # rather than the page # since page #s may differ according to a member's profile settings while message #s are constant.

The details I posted on power connections are in Reply #44. 

Page 2 for me is older Replies 1-9 while page 1 is 10-59.  When I open a topic the newest replies appear at the top.  I find that much more convenient.  As new replies are added the older 1st page will grow longer as early replies are pushed from page 1 to page 2 until the page size limit I have set is reached.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 20, 2017, 10:50:58 PM
Hopefully these are better pictures. Notice on the MISC block that some of the lugs are strapped together. Also the cable has two leads connected to the metal frame on the right. The connector attached to the cable that is wired down on the MISC block is the exact same type that is from the dial assembly.

Thanks for all the help.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on June 20, 2017, 10:55:54 PM
Yes. Some lugs will be strapped together. I dont recall which ones are strapped but some from 1 thru 4 are strapped. There is a frame ground, which is the one on the right, to the frame. An older cloth covered wire comes from the back of the terminal strips to the frame. Also looks like a wire or two to ground from that plug, perhaps.

This is from memory, but  1 through 4 is battery  -24v,  45, 46, 47, 48 is battery +24v,   and 22, 24 is ring voltage. Double check what Alex said a few posts back. I think im not correct with the polarity.


http://www.telephonecollectors.info/index.php/browse/cat_view/185-bruce-crawford-library/187-western-electric/213-sd-cd-66520-555-general-ckts


Toward the back of the SD document is a schematic of the terminal strips with its numbered terminals. And it shows whats strapped. Figure 54 on the SD drawing is what you want.


From your picture I figured out what they did. Keep in mind the terminals can be strapped from the front, as well as the back of the strip. They attached -24v to terminal 4 with is strapped with terminal 1 through 4.  Ground +24v went to frame ground, because of strapping is common with 46 through 48.  Ring is 21, because of strapping 21 is strapped to 22.  Drawing shows Ring voltage on 22, 24.

Since you have amphenol connectors from some of the station lines, you could get a modular patch panel with a amphenol connector on the back. Make wiring up some phones a little easier.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 20, 2017, 11:44:00 PM
Quote from: Fabius on June 20, 2017, 10:50:58 PM
Hopefully these are better pictures. Notice on the MISC block that some of the lugs are strapped together. Also the cable has two leads connected to the metal frame on the right. The connector attached to the cable that is wired down on the MISC block is the exact same type that is from the dial assembly.

Thanks for all the help.
You're welcome. 

Yes, some terminals need to be strapped together.  That's shown in the SD figure I cited earlier.  Do you have that SD?  Sooner or later you will need it and probably 66521-01 too.   

A switchboard framework needs to be grounded for safety so that a cross with a voltage source or leakage cannot create a safety hazard and also often it gets rid of crosstalk which may occur if the framework floats.  But see further comments near the end of this msg.

Yes, the connector on the end of the cable is the same type but 8 pins instead of 10.  Cinch-Jones 308 and 310 respectively, still being made I think by Beau or someone else.  Full part #s have prefix letters P or S for plug or socket and suffix letters indicating whether they are chassis mount (e.g. "AB" for angle bracket) or cable mount and the orientation of the hood cable exit hole.  Should be easy to find if you prefer to maintain connectorization of the power connections.

In Reply #44 I wrote: Page G2 Fig. 54 shows battery and ground terminations on the MISC. terminal strip:
BAT = term's 1, 2, 3 & 4
GRD = term's 45, 46, 47 & 48
+/- RINGING = term 22
RINGING GRD  = term 24

I see a heavy gauge RD lead on BAT term. 4.  Belden made some cables which had two 18AWG conductors (RD & BK) with the rest were 22AWG.  This appears to be that type of cable. 

BK appears to be connected to 36.  36 is the CC lead to the charge/discharge control circuit, something used when switchboards operated from storage batteries float charged over cable pairs from the CO.  This makes no sense.

OR is on 21 which is the terminal on which the internal factory wiring harness lead for the ringing feed to the internal resistance lamp terminates.  The feed from the ringing source is supposed to terminate on 20 with a strap between 20 & 21 so that ringing can be disconnected if necessary by removing the strap rather than having a lead with ringing on it not tied down to a terminal.

WH is on 25 which is the load side of the ringing lamp.  Various options call for it to be strapped to other terminals but no external lead connections.  This makes no sense, at least not for a single swbd. position as the power input cable.

GN & BR? are on the frame.  An arbitrary choice, neither right nor wrong.

YL, BL, VI are dead ended.

12 & 16 are strapped - as they should be.

24, 28 & 32 are strapped - ditto

25 & 29 are strapped - ditto

35 & 38 are strapped - this does not match the SD.  The SD shows 37 & 38 strapped.  Terminal 35 feeds a ground to the CO trunk circuits in the left and right panels and is fed from an external building or CO ground.

38, 39, 40, 41, 42, 43, 44 are strapped together on the factory side of the TS.  40 also terminates a lead to the framework so there is no reason to be tying cable leads to screws on the framework.

You really need to get yourself SD-66520-01 and look at pG2 Fig. 54.  There is a limit to how much I can recap here.  The PDF is readily available.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 21, 2017, 11:40:56 PM
Okay, I'll check out the SD.

Is the TEL (the one on the fare left) module missing anything?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 22, 2017, 12:25:01 AM
Quote from: Fabius on June 21, 2017, 11:40:56 PM
Okay, I'll check out the SD.

Is the TEL (the one on the far left) module missing anything?
Apparently not.  There is an 8 contact C-J plug on the back for grouping 2 positions but I believe it's optional.

2 U/UA type flat relays and one coil at the bottom is correct as far as I can see from the back photo.  The front has a number of coils but I cannot see them in the back photo so cannot say, but probably is complete.  A TT dial however requires a special appliqué ckt to be added.

The apparatus sheets of the SD will certainly allow you to confirm whether it's complete.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on June 22, 2017, 03:43:42 PM
http://www.telephonecollectors.info/index.php/browse/cat_view/185-bruce-crawford-library/187-western-electric/213-sd-cd-66520-555-general-ckts
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 22, 2017, 09:18:06 PM
Thanks
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on June 23, 2017, 11:12:50 AM
It looks like someone went and just tied all the grounds together for the outside circuits that would have had wires run from a distant place.  So, just connect Battery, Ground, and Ringing to the specified terminals and you will be fine
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 23, 2017, 11:25:32 PM
Quote from: trainman on June 23, 2017, 11:12:50 AM
It looks like someone went and just tied all the grounds together for the outside circuits that would have had wires run from a distant place.  So, just connect Battery, Ground, and Ringing to the specified terminals and you will be fine

I'll be doing that soon. I'm going to read the documentation then connect the power supply. First I got to make sure I have the fire extinguishers in place.

Since this board appears to be built in 1972 I assume the room phones were a
non-dial 500 set. Is there a certain model designation I should look for?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 23, 2017, 11:45:37 PM
Quote from: Fabius on June 23, 2017, 11:25:32 PM
I'll be doing that soon. I'm going to read the documentation then connect the power supply. First I got to make sure I have the fire extinguishers in place.

Since this board appears to be built in 1972 I assume the room phones were a
non-dial 500 set. Is there a certain model designation I should look for?
Fuses would work just as well or better than fire extinguishers.   ;D  And the power supply you bought is probably short circuit protected anyway.

Dates of manufacture are marked on the relay coil spool headers along with a mfg location code.  Cords have a date on the strain relief band at the terminal board end.

What do you mean by "certain model designation"?  The code for a manual 500 set?  That would be 500C or 500CR (retractile cord) or 500D/DR with dial.  They're actually marked C/D 500 on the bottom.

Phones with a message waiting lamp would be 500W/Y, 500W being manual and 500Y being dial.  I have to confess that I have never given any thought to the use of message waiting sets with a manual switchboard.  I have to assume it was done with a separate cabinet with a twist or push/pull key per room to control the MW lamp.  This is how it was done with dial PBXs in hospitality establishments. 

The MW lamp is a neon.  To light it the ground side of the loop at the normal contact of the jack would be switched by the key to a sufficiently + voltage so the total voltage across the loop in an idle state (before a plug is inserted) exceeds the 90VDC required to fire a neon lamp.  On dial PBXs -48V on the Ring & +48V on the tip meets the requirement.  The current through the neon lamp is too low to operate a line relay or light the LINE lamp until the handset is lifted.

Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: unbeldi on June 24, 2017, 09:39:59 AM
Quote from: Fabius on June 23, 2017, 11:25:32 PM
I'll be doing that soon. I'm going to read the documentation then connect the power supply. First I got to make sure I have the fire extinguishers in place.

Since this board appears to be built in 1972 I assume the room phones were a
non-dial 500 set. Is there a certain model designation I should look for?

The PBX is not exclusively intended for manual telephone sets.  The PBX has through-dialing capabilities.   Any station can request from the attendant to just get a central office trunk for direct dialing by the station user.  This is also required for night connections, when the switchboard power is off.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 24, 2017, 11:32:25 AM
Quote from: unbeldi on June 24, 2017, 09:39:59 AM
The PBX is not exclusively intended for manual telephone sets.  The PBX has through-dialing capabilities.   Any station can request from the attendant to just get a central office trunk for direct dialing by the station user.  This is also required for night connections, when the switchboard power is off.
Of course.  But in a hospitality setting only phones in the company's offices would be allowed to through-dial.  Room phones would be manual.

His question about what specific type of phone he was asking for the model # designation of is not clear so no one can answer it with certainty.  I suppose he probably knows the designation of dial type 500 sets.

Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 24, 2017, 02:57:32 PM
Quote from: Alex G. Bell on June 24, 2017, 11:32:25 AM

His question about what specific type of phone he was asking for the model # designation of is not clear so no one can answer it with certainty.  I suppose he probably knows the designation of dial type 500 sets.

Not being knowledgeable about 500 sets I was wondering how a manual set for use on a PBX would be marked.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Alex G. Bell on June 24, 2017, 03:30:55 PM
Quote from: Fabius on June 24, 2017, 02:57:32 PM
Not being knowledgeable about 500 sets I was wondering how a manual set for use on a PBX would be marked.
OK.  That's what I supposed and stated in my first reply to your question, #68.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on June 25, 2017, 12:23:37 PM
Basically what someone did when they added that connector for the power supply was, they tied each and every ground together and ran it to the frame. they did that for ease of connection. And connected battery to terminal 4.  so, basically you could just connect battery terminal 4, ground to the frame and it will work. and connect ringing current to the approproate terminals
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 25, 2017, 01:42:43 PM
Okay. I hope to fire it up soon. I'll just use a regular 500 or 302 set to test transmission  and ringing.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on June 29, 2017, 11:58:50 AM
One Tip. Clean the contacts of both Ringing keys on each cord unit.  If you find when you plug in, your supervisory lights dont act the way they should, or you cant hear or transmit from an extension, start here. Tip and Ring go through these contacts on the way to the cord plug. It took me a while, but when i was troubleshooting my board, I found dirty contacts on the Ringing key causes all sorts of problems.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on June 30, 2017, 12:17:24 AM
Thanks.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on November 04, 2017, 07:55:38 AM
Did you get this working?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on November 04, 2017, 08:21:25 AM
Quote from: trainman on November 04, 2017, 07:55:38 AM
Did you get this working?

Not yet. It;s all ready to go. I have the power supply and all I have to do is connect it on the wire block.
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: trainman on November 04, 2017, 01:37:51 PM
https://www.showmecables.com/by-category/patch-panels/patch-panels-patch-panels/telco-patch-panels/cat-3-female-telco-patch-panel-with-2-wire-rj11-ports-24-port

I like how your board still has the cables with Amphenol connectors on them. You can use a modular patch panel to easily connect pones. Just check the gender of the connector to get the right patch panel.

Or you can use a 66 block with an Amp connector and punch down the individiual station jack inside wire to the 66 block. got some flexibility here.

Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: rubey on July 26, 2018, 04:43:18 PM
Hi - I'm new to this group and would like to learn more about how to get my PBX 555 operational. I purchased two different power supplies but not sure which one to try first. Is there anyone in this forum who has the patience to walk a newbie through the set-up process? If this is the wrong forum my apologies. Perhaps I can be directed to the correct forum.  Thanks guys and look forward to some help on my retirement project!  Ruben
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: HarrySmith on July 26, 2018, 05:23:33 PM
Hi Ruben. Welcome to the asylum. If you read a little further back in this thread there is a detailed discussion about the power supplies & connections. There are options for the power supply. The one discussed here is a 101G. Happy reading!
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: rubey on July 26, 2018, 06:08:18 PM
I also have 20B2 power plant. will that work? The 101G I have is old and has a wire not connected to one of the posts. Not sure I want to use it until some more qualified than I can test it ensure it works properly. I got it un eBay and you know how that goes, buyer beware.

Thanks for the tip. I will read past posts to see if I can figure this out.

Ruben
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: HarrySmith on July 26, 2018, 06:20:08 PM
I believe either would work but I am not an expert. I do have a ton of documentation on the board I got from a list member some years ago. Everything you could possibly want to know about your board including wiring. Topic here: http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=18980.msg195163#msg195163
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on December 18, 2018, 09:28:50 PM
UPDATE

More information on my WECO 555 pbx used in the Fredric Hotel in Kansas City, MO. Other then listings in the reverse telephone directory and Kansas City business directory I had not found any more information. I knew that the hotel was demolished in the 1990s to make way for a Federal courthouse. Doing more research I found that just before being demolished the National Park Service did a Historic American Buildings Survey on the hotel to preserve pictures of the hotel and an informative narrative was written on the hotel.

My PBX 555 from this hotel has extensions for LOBBY and for MEZZANINE. The mezzanine is pictured but the picture was taken from below so you can't see much of what's on it. The lobby is pictured and a 554 wall phone can be seen.

The most exciting thing is the picture of rooms 111 and 112 which show non dial phones with what appears to be message waiting lamps. Now I'll get two identical phones and make number cards with the room numbers.

Link to the Library of Congress location where all the hotel pictures are located:

https://www.loc.gov/item/mo1269/


Here's the historical survey report link from the National Park Service:

http://lcweb2.loc.gov/master/pnp/habshaer/mo/mo1200/mo1269/data/mo1269data.pdf
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: RotarDad on December 18, 2018, 10:45:15 PM
Those pics are awesome.  I see the 500C (non-dial) phones but I don't see the message waiting light a 500W would have above the "4".  Those lobby chairs look like airliner seats.  Perhaps in the 50s-60s decor was designed to look like the jet age?
Title: Re: Finally Got A WECO 555
Post by: Fabius on December 19, 2018, 05:42:17 AM
Quote from: RotarDad on December 18, 2018, 10:45:15 PM
Those pics are awesome.  I see the 500C (non-dial) phones but I don't see the message waiting light a 500W would have above the "4". 

You are probably right. Just wishful thinking on my part.