WE 555 switchboard weight and possible disassembly?

[ChrisW6ATV]

Hi all-

I am going to pick up a 555 switchboard (cord board?) in the next week or less, so I want to figure out some logistics. I will find and read all of the BSPs for these boards, but I want to ask here in case any of you can give me a couple of quick answers also.

-Do you know the rough or approximate weight for one of these? (I know it depends on the configuration, so a weight range will be fine; this one is pretty loaded with line jacks and cord pairs.)

-Is it feasible to remove some of the components or external panels to reduce the weight for loading and transport? (I am highly mechanically able, and good with detail and documenting things for reassembly later.)

Thanks-

Chris

[rdelius]

They are very modular. stde panels and I think shelf will remove  .Modules unplug .

[ChrisW6ATV]

Thank you, rdelius. I started reading BSPs for the 555, and I saw the removable cord units. I appreciate your confirmation. By removing those and the desk and other panels, it should be much easier to handle, even if it is from 300 pounds to "only" 200 or similar. I also read that "two guys, a hand truck, and a pickup truck" can move a 555 switchboard. That works for me.   

[HarrySmith]

In case you did not see it I posted a link here to a ton of 555 docs. Everything you wanted, and did not want, about the board here:

https://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=18980.msg195163#msg195163

[ChrisW6ATV]

Thank you, Harry! That is a big help, to have those documents in one place.

Chris

[ChrisW6ATV]

Hi all-

I have the 555 in my possession.    As rdelius mentioned, I was able to remove all 15 of the cord units and the back panel (that just lifts off), and that made it much easier to load into my truck.

I did not yet look for or find a date on the main frame or elsewhere, but it does appear that all 15 of the cord units were "recapped" (60 uF electrolytic) in 1969, with modern-looking wires to their nearby terminals. All other wires in the units are an older "cloth-looking, maybe varnish-coated" type and I will learn the proper name for that wire type soon.

The board came with its plug-in handset, and it appears to have been entirely replaced with a new one in 1978, but its (curly) cable to the dual plug is hard-wired into the handset through an obviously modular-ready hole in the handle. (Maybe they re-used the existing cord? It is in decent shape still now.)

Maybe I should start a separate topic for the testing and setup of this board? (I do not see an "edit post" option; sometimes that lets a person change the subject title.)