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Semi-Postpay payphone operation question

Started by RotoTech99, April 01, 2015, 09:00:15 AM

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RotoTech99

From: RotoTech99
Dear Forum:

My question is about how semi-postpay operation with a AE LPB- 86-55 paystation works... If I understand correctly, depositing the first nickel permits dial tone and dialing after lifting the handset, then depositing the 2nd nickel puts the transmitter in circuit. Is this right?

Does depositing a dime or quarter do both of these steps?

My experience with a AE payphone is that if you hang up before finishing dialing, or if you get a busy signal, hanging up causes a coin refund.. Is that right?

Any info. to explain is welcomed, Thank you.
RotoTech99

G-Man

The following document from the TCI Library gives a very detailed explanation of operation for the AECo  LPB-86-55 and other Semi-Postpay paystations.

G-Man

Here is an excerpt:

1.2 Supervision of coin collection is not required
for local service. The calling party
has unlimited access to the line (without depositing
coins), for dialing and talking to the
operator, or for completing connections to
local stations. The caller hears the called
party answer before he must deposit required
coins. Thus, if a call is incomplete for any
reason, no coins are deposited. When the called
party answers, battery to the paystation reverses.
The paystation coin control mechanism
short-circuits the transmitter and shunts the
receiver to enforce coin collection. Coins deposited
trip a restoring mechanism, removing
the transmission block. The parties converse.
Battery does not reverse on calls to or through
the toll operator's position. T h e paystation
coin control relay remains unoperated, and
coin collection is supervised by the toll operator.
These coins strike a bell or a gong,
producing audible signals conveyed to the
supervising operator by a special resonator
transmitter inside the paystation. The operator
can easily identify the sounds.
When the called party replaces the handset,
: battery reverses back to normal, allowing the
coin control to reset instantly upon release of
the connection by the calling party.
For local service, semi-postpay paystations
may be equipped for collection of one dime
(only), one dime or two nickels, or single
nickels.

RotoTech99

From: RotoTech99:

Thanks for the replies... can you put a answer in simpler layman's terms for me?  I am a "noob" newbie when it comes to AE pay phones, please? The AE practices help, but they are a bit wordy.

I'll also admit I am not sure if my LPB-86-55 is configured for 1 or 2 coin operation


Phonesrfun

#4
Quote from: RotoTech99 on April 01, 2015, 09:00:15 AM
From: RotoTech99
Dear Forum:

My question is about how semi-postpay operation with a AE LPB- 86-55 paystation works... If I understand correctly, depositing the first nickel permits dial tone and dialing after lifting the handset, then depositing the 2nd nickel puts the transmitter in circuit. Is this right?

Does depositing a dime or quarter do both of these steps?

My experience with a AE payphone is that if you hang up before finishing dialing, or if you get a busy signal, hanging up causes a coin refund.. Is that right?

Any info. to explain is welcomed, Thank you.
RotoTech99


Your last statement refers to a prepay pay phone.

With Semi Post Pay, you hear dial tone from the beginning.  You don't deposit any coins to get it going.  After lifting the receiver and hearing dial tone you dial the phone number and when the called party answers, the payphone transmitter is muted until you deposit the coin(s).    Depositing the coin(s) un-mutes the transmitter allowing you to carry on a conversation.  If you don't deposit a coin, the person you call won't hear you until you do.  Calls to an operator do not mute the transmitter.

Also, with Semi-Post Pay, when you deposit the coin, the coin is collected.  It is never returned.  Once you deposit the coin and the transmitter is un-muted, the coin goes right into the coin vault.  You don't want to deposit the coin until the party answers or you will lose it.

Semi-post pay phones of the time could be put on a standard phone line as long as that line reversed the line current when the called party answered.  That reversal of current is what caused the relay inside the pay phone to mute the transmitter until the coin was deposited.   Prepay phones, on the other hand needed specialized line circuits at the central office to control the payphone.



-Bill G

G-Man

Quote from: RotoTech99 on April 01, 2015, 07:00:30 PM
From: RotoTech99:

Thanks for the replies... can you put a answer in simpler layman's terms for me?  I am a "noob" newbie when it comes to AE pay phones, please? The AE practices help, but they are a bit wordy.

I'll also admit I am not sure if my LPB-86-55 is configured for 1 or 2 coin operation

It would be very difficult to further simplify the non-technical description contained in this AE practice, however, let me highlight the most salient portions:

1.2 Supervision of coin collection is not required
for local service. The calling party
has unlimited access to the line (without depositing
coins), for dialing and talking to the
operator, or for completing connections to
local stations.
The caller hears the called
party answer before he must deposit required
coins.
Thus, if a call is incomplete for any
reason, no coins are deposited.
When the called
party answers, battery to the paystation reverses.
The paystation coin control mechanism
short-circuits the transmitter and shunts the
receiver to enforce coin collection. Coins deposited
trip a restoring mechanism, removing
the transmission block. The parties converse.
Battery does not reverse on calls to or through
the toll operator's position. T h e paystation
coin control relay remains unoperated, and
coin collection is supervised by the toll operator.
These coins strike a bell or a gong,
producing audible signals conveyed to the
supervising operator by a special resonator
transmitter inside the paystation. The operator
can easily identify the sounds.
When the called party replaces the handset,
: battery reverses back to normal, allowing the
coin control to reset instantly upon release of
the connection by the calling party.
For local service, semi-postpay paystations
may be equipped for collection of one dime
(only), one dime or two nickels, or single
nickels.




G-Man

QuoteI'll also admit I am not sure if my LPB-86-55 is configured for 1 or 2 coin
operation

If your paystation truly is a LPB-86-55, then it is arranged to accept either two nickels or one dime for the initial deposit. Of course a quarter would also work but that is not relevant to our discussion.

Also, have you connected it and if so, are you having actual problems with it?

That brings us to ask how you determined it is an actual LPB-86-55 paystation. If it has a tag describing it as such, then the next question is whether or not that it is still equipped as it was when it came from the factory.

RotoTech99

From: RotoTech99:

Dear G-Man:  I found the model # on the sets' ID plate, on top of the set.

I am yet to really get into it and give it the "run-through", but I anticipate no issues.

I do have a question though... It has a 78ohm relay, and a blue jumper installed.. The blue jumper is on Terminals 1 and 6 of the upper case terminal strip. The schematic doesn't show the jumper, but does show the relay. The jumper has spade lugs, so it must be a factory or shop installation.

Why would both be present? And for what purpose?