mclek@gatech.edu (Larry E. Kollar) (08/16/89)
In <telecom-v09i0285m01@vector.dallas.tx.us> zygot!john@apple.com (John Higdon) writes: > If you live in an area that still has functional electromechanical CO equip- > ment, do whatever it takes to wangle a tour before it's all gone forever. During my summers as a teenager in Moline, MI (10-15 miles south of Grand Rapids), the rotary stepper exchange (616-877) building often had its doors left propped open. I'd just walk right in and look around; one of the Michigan Bell technicians there went to my church. They threw all sorts of old stuff out the back; I still have a few old Bell books and wiring maps of the area that I just picked off the ground & took home (hey, they threw it out; they must not want it anymore, right?). It was fun to watch the step relays going up, then across as someone dialed a number. On a hangup, the rotor would rapidly spin out of the contact area and drop: ker-chunk! Maybe these were more "modern" steppers than those someone else mentioned, which stepped out and down. LOTS of batteries; a whole wall of 'em (and plenty of NO SMOKING signs all over the place :-). I have no idea whether that rotary switch is still there; I doubt it. I seem to remember one of the techs saying they were gearing up to replace it. Anyone at Michigan Bell know when/if it was replaced? >[Moderator's Note: The Museum of Science and Industry in Chicago also has >such an exhibit in their Telecommunications Exhibit Area. It is fun to >watch. PT] I've been there too; it's fascinating. I particularly liked the "improvements in sound quality" part of the exhibit. -- Larry Kollar ...!gatech!dcatla!mclek : life BEGIN funds @ enough_to_retire < WHILE work REPEAT ;