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Western Electric Component Databooks

Started by segaloco, December 10, 2024, 04:43:44 PM

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segaloco

I had the fortune of securing the attached databook of an eBay auction some time ago, it contains components like comparators and op amps provided by WECo at the time for various AT&T projects.  It refers to other databooks in the series, presumably WECo was distributing these internally to their engineering and R&D groups in Bell Labs much like companies like National, Fairchild, Ti, etc. distributed such books for general EE shops.

Does anyone happen to have or know if other such WECo databooks are preserved?  In the long run I do intend to scan this or at least catalog the information contained within to some degree to facilitate others analyzing WECo circuits from this timeframe.  In particular, I'm interested in other catalogues as I've gotten my hands on a WECo MAC-8 MACTutor single board computer and would love to thoroughly document the circuit, components and all.  If you do have such books sitting around collecting dust, I'll happily pay you for them, although at this time this is more of a "what is out there" than a WTB, I've got enough other projects on my plate that I'm not hurting for this information ASAP.  Additionally, if there are any existing WECo component databases, I'll gladly help resolve deltas between this book and that information.

HarrySmith

There are several libraries with a lot of info. I do not know if this specific topic is covered. Both the phone clubs, ATCA & TCI  have extensive libraries of documents. Also there is a museum, I do not recall which, that has a large library. A member of the clubs has one online, Sam Etler. I do not have his info at hand. I am sure at least some of them would be interested in hosting it if they do not already have it.
Harry Smith
ATCA 4434
TCI

"There is no try,
there is only
do or do not"

segaloco

I found a small amount of component information on TCI here: https://www.telephonecollectors.info/index.php/browse/technical-library/western-electric-1/component-specifications

Unfortunately it doesn't appear any materials from the late 70s and early 80s are there.  There is a Solid State Devices catalog that I assume was for similar purposes.  I can't find the year on it but it bears a pre-1969 insignia and typeface for Western Electric.  Aside, the exposition of transistor technology in the intro of this guide is excellent, certainly recommended for those trying to get down and dirty with transistor theory.  Still, certainly a helpful reference for the circuit components described therein.  Of note, the Solid State Devices appear to be of a different family than the Silicon Integrated Components, there are with a 103A in SSD being a composite of 5 100A-type diodes but 103A in SIC referring to a crystal oscillator.

For the record, the other catalog references I can find in this September 1976 databook are:

Silicon Integrated Circuits - Digital Families
- This contains things like logic gates, ALUs, for instance the WE 41U Quad NAND gate of which there are a few on the MACTutor board.  This is the one I'd be most interested in tracking down.

Bell System Integrated Circuits
- There are at least two volumes, V2 is referenced as containing information specific to beam-lead ICs as opposed to packaged ICs described in this catalog.

So at the very least there is a sister publication with the digital components like gates, adders, latches, etc. and then a second set of manuals pertinent to other families at least including beam-lead stuff around this time.

One factor is that most of the information I'm seeking isn't directly related to components found inside run-of-the-mill telephones, but rather the components assembled in a KTU, ESS circuit pack, Dimension PBX unit, the "computery" stuff WECo was producing in the later years.  I suspect this will limit the places this degree of technical literature and information has been catalogued and paid attention to.