Any Known Surviving First Gen WECo 5ESS/3B20D Switches?

[segaloco]

Hello, I was curious if anyone here is aware of a surviving 5ESS from the Western Electric days, the ones incorporating a 3B20D processor and the DMERT UNIX system.  I've been engaged in quite a bit of study surrounding the internal Bell System movements of UNIX in the early 80s (as opposed to the commercial movements) and the 5ESS systems appear to be one of the last times if not the last time Western Electric was directly involved in a project concerning UNIX considering the breakup of the Bell System and spinoff of ATTIS soon thereafter.  Word out in the world there is the 3B20D survives somewhat in a DMERT emulator produced by Lucent/Bell Labs.  Anyone got the 3B20D goods?  Thank you!

[ka1axy]

I know Telecommunications Museum in Seattle has a 5ESS, but not any further details.

[TelePlay]

Phil hasn't logged on since Jan '22 so don't know his status. He is into switching stuff and could help.

His email (if it hasn't changed) is in his profile:

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=932

Maybe someone else knows more about Phil.

That's all I know that might help you.

[HarrySmith]

The clubs have a lot more Switchers.
Maybe ask there?
ATCA & TCI

[segaloco]

Sounds like I finally just need to take that trip down to Seattle then. Glad I'm close, it keeps coming up that thing after thing I'm researching lives in some museum somewhere in Seattle.

[SUnset2]

Try contacting the Connections Museum.  Someone there could probably tell you which version their 5ESS is.
https://www.telcomhistory.org/connections-museum-seattle-exhibits/electronic-switching/

[G-Man]

Sounds like I finally just need to take that trip down to Seattle then. Glad I'm close, it keeps coming up that thing after thing I'm researching lives in some museum somewhere in Seattle.

Contact Dylan Cruz. He is a very sharp guy in this area and I believe he is currently in the process of retrieving a working 5ESS to add to his collection.

[G-Man]

Phil hasn't logged on since Jan '22 so don't know his status. He is into switching stuff and could help.

His email (if it hasn't changed) is in his profile:
http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?action=profile;u=932

Maybe someone else knows more about Phil.
That's all I know that might help you.

Phil continues to post on both the Central Office and TCI lists, albeit his last posts on both was September 22.