Interesting AE Tool Book Bought on eBay

[DavePEI]

Hi All:

I just purchased an interesting AE (Canada) tool catalogue from a book seller on eBay, described as:

"AE Automatic Electric Tools and Test Equipment catalog.  Canada.  No date.  Small tools, maintenance tools, large tools, central office test equipment, outside plant test equipment, safety equipment.

About 300 plus pages in binder."

http://www.ebay.ca/itm/390778944710?ssPageName=STRK:MEWNX:IT&_trksid=p3984.m1439.l2649

When I have time, I will consider scanning some or all of it for here. Meanwhile, her is a photo of the cover, and below a photo of the first page.



Dave

[AE_Collector]

There should be some interesting info in there Dave!

Looking at the pictures in the ebaY listing, we had those 300 pair access blocks for cable tagging on our frames but we had other than Amphenol Connectors on ours. Then when I read about it they were available with Amphenol or Cinch Jones connectors. That would be what we (BC Tel) had standardized on in all CO's.

Terry

[DavePEI]

There should be some interesting info in there Dave!

Looking at the pictures in the ebaY listing, we had those 300 pair access blocks for cable tagging on our frames but we had other than Amphenol Connectors on ours. Then when I read about it they were available with Amphenol or Cinch Jones connectors. That would be what we (BC Tel) had standardized on in all CO's.

Terry

Hi Terry:

Did you notice the page on the West Test sets... I am hoping it will list more recent items than the commonly available Bulletin 140-540 (1963). It also goes further than the usual tool listing also including not only Small tools, maintenance tools, but large tools, central office test equipment, outside plant test equipment, safety equipment. Also interesting to see a Canadian catalogue (sorry, guys -- that's the way we spell it!)

Can't wait until iit arrives! Youu know me and my interest in tools!

You won't believe it - I was over to the museum today, and the door has heaved even further with the frost, and I couldn't even get the deadbolt on the main door open. I can't wait till that darn frost gets out of the ground!

Dave

[DavePEI]

I spoke to Jeff Lamb in an email last night, and he took a good look at the listing. He agrees - this is a previously unknown catalogue which hasn't iuntil now made it into collectors hands. I will try very hard when it arrives to make sure it gets scanned and is made available...

Dave

[DavePEI]

This book was received this morning, and it is the best tool catalog I have!

A couple of sample pages, first the index, then a GMP lasher - yes, I will eventually scan for all!

Dave

[DavePEI]

I thought I would upload scans for the 2315 numbering kit, since we have had several discussions on these kits. They were made by Neuses, but both WE and AE sold versions.

Dave

[DavePEI]

An interesting excerpt from the Tool Catalogue...

Some years ago, I got a type 21 Wire Chief's Test Cabinet or Turret from Terry Biddlecombe. This cabinet was formerly in the Whistler, BC central office.



Below you will find a PDF scan of the catalogue pages covering the type 21.

Dave

[DavePEI]

Another interesting catalogue found for the Museum Tool collection and for use as a reference identifying a few oddball PK Neuses tools is a copy of their 1983 catalogue.

Dave

[DavePEI]

Monday's project was going through the AE book, reenforcing the loose leaf eyelets on each page. As a result of the book being so tightly packed, a number of the pages were pulling out. After re-enforcing the ripped eyelets, I decided to remove the last two sections from the binder and put them in another binder to loosen the pages so that they would be less likely to rip. Of course they will still all be available, but only inside a separate cover. Common loose leaf re-enforcements are being used to re-enforce the eyelets.

I would suggest this for anyone who had a binder full of important information in which pages are pulling out due to the binder being overfilled. Doing so will preserve it for the future.

Speaking of preservation, I really must get scanning the pages of the book so I can share it with others. I have to be in the mood first, as each page has to be scanned individually and with the book being 400 pages or so, it will take a very long time to scan. I promise to begin the process soon!

As a lot of you know by now, I find the telephone tools as interesting as phones themselves - this book will assist in identifying tools both here, and in the museum. I have a number of listings for tools for Western Electric, Northern Electric, and for British manufacturers which I use for this purpose, resulting in now very few tools being unidentified in the museum's extensive tool collection.

This catalogue is one of the comprehensive resources I have to date as it includes not only AE manufactured tools, but those made by other manufacturers and distributed through AE.

Dave

[TelePlay]

I thought I would upload scans for the 2315 numbering kit, since we have had several discussions on these kits.

For what it's worth, a 2315 went through two auctions on eBay recently and never sold.

Vintage-Industrial-Rubber-Stamp-Kit-Western-Electric-Phone-Gray-Metal-Box-R2315

Seller wanted $125 with free shipping. It has not been relisted, to date.

[DavePEI]

Hi John:

I can understand its not selling. I have two of them, one the Neuses N2315 version, and one of them, Northern Telecom's NR-2315 version - both exactly the same as this one and also made by Neuses, but I doubt I paid more than $50 for either.

Still, though, this one appears to be reasonably clean and complete. That is one of the major chores associated with these. Usually there is ink everywhere, and it takes a lot of work to clean them up.



Dave

[Scotophor]

Does the book have a copy of the label on the underside of the lid? If not, the one on eBay looks more readable than yours, Dave.

[DavePEI]

Does the book have a copy of the label on the underside of the lid? If not, the one on eBay looks more readable than yours, Dave.

THIS IS THE COPY WHICH WAS ON EBAY.

Nothing unclear about the book - it is in next to mint condition, so I don't understand your comment about its being unclear. Perhaps you were looking at the unclear reduced size of the N2315 pages (unclear to make them smaller for presenting here). Have a look at the type 51 test board PDF - it shows the book without size reduction.

The N2315 pages will appear larger if you mouse over them and left click the photo a couple of times - a new browser window will give you a view of them at 730 x 1000 which will appear clearer than the much reduced version the Forum shows by default. This is still reduced as compared to the full page scan as the full page scan is far too large to upload. (the rule is 1000 pixels or less for photos). I should have done those two pages in PDF, also, but wanted people to see the actual image as opposed to a downloadable PDF.

I also don't understand your comment, "A copy of the label inside the lid" neither mine, nor the photos on eBay show a label - the name is printed on the binder. There is a glossy Black insert page as page 1 inside also with the name. See the bottom photo on the topic. This is  also shown in the eBay photo (In fact, the one of that page I show is the eBay photo).

Dave

[AE_Collector]

I recall seeing that Neuses Inc catalog somewhere at work years ago. It looked very familiar.

Terry

[Scotophor]

Dave, I was comparing your photo in the 4th post above this one, to TelePlay's photo (from eBay) in the 5th post above this one. Your photo shows a label that is very inked up and practically impossible to read, while the one in TelePlay's post looks clean but damaged (or perhaps it has something stuck onto it). I was just wondering if the tool catalogue you just got, contains an exact copy of the label that comes inside the lid of these stamping kits. If it does, then for example, someone could make an enlargement of it to replace a label such as the one you showed, for restoration purposes.