ODD Pound and Star buttons on a 2500 phone

[allnumbedup]

Does anyone have an opinion on what to make of these odd pound and star buttons on a late model 2500? It is an ITT shell with a white exclusion key. The bottom looks to be ITT in its labeling which I could not quite make out but it starts with 2500 on a silver cadmium base with round feet. My guess is some type of immediately pre-divestiture data phone because I think the bottom has a 1986 date. "S"end and "R"eceive maybe?

https://www.ebay.com/itm/154781602754

Seemed unusual enough that I bought it when the seller accepted by $35 offer with free shipping.  If anyone has an idea, I can hopefully share more when I get my hands on it. JC

[Jim Stettler]

That phone has an auto-dialer built in.
Those buttons are for store and recall.

ISTR that the pull plunger is used as part of the number storage sequence.


Jim

[allnumbedup]

thank you, that makes sense. well I guess I will find some kind of non-analog 1980's circuitry or chip inside when I get it then. Interesting it is in a 2500 and I am anxious to date the phone.  I assumed the 1980's touch-a-matic type phones and attachments were the first auto dialing phones after card dialers but I guess that would be a big design leap.  The modular jack from the station cord is broken but I wonder if it  might be a 6 line data port--it looks wider than an RJ11---so maybe the autodialing function is part of a business system and not inside the phone. also I just noticed that the listing on ebay was called "VINTAGE ITT GREEN TOUCH TONE MODULAR DESK PHONE AVOCADO ARMY PEA SOUP PUKE GREEN" --to each his own I guess.

[Jim Stettler]

  The modular jack from the station cord is broken but I wonder if it  might be a 6 line data port--it looks wider than an RJ11---

It is probably just the appearance of the jack.
Jacks on some  ITT and SC phones look fatter because they didn't do a direct copy of WE.

Handset jacks are 4 position and 4 conductors
line jacks are 6 position with 2.3.4.6 conductors
RJ45 configuration data jacks are 8 position and usually 8 conductor.  You usually don't see these on desk phones.
JMO,
Jim



Handset are 4P usually 4C for a standard handset , 2C for a modular candlestick receiver
Standard line jack  is 6P  either 2C, 3C , 4C or 6C 
a data type jack is 8P and usually 8C

Handset =4P4C
WE mod phones usually have a 6P3C jack
RJ45 configuration  is usually 8P8C