[GreenKeys] Re: [Off Topic] Looking for WECO keypad

[Paul Wills]

On Mon, 20 Mar 2006 12:26:05 -0800 (PST), Sellam Ismail <sellam at vintagetech.com> wrote :

> On Wed, 8 Mar 2006, H.E.Robert wrote:
> 
> > Sheldon, Don, Sellam, and Fellow Listers at Large...
> > 
> > I don't know that Sellam was looking to construct a working
> > "Blue Box", technically an unlawful device**, but rather a
> > museum quality mock up of the WOZ device.  To that end, the
> > keypad shown in the link, is not a Western Electric keypad, as
> > the only two types I've seen, where the old "Test board" type,
> > with round keytops, that had switchboard mountings, (not portable).
> 
> Hi folks.
> 
> Yes, I intend to make a functional replica, which means it will output 
> actual MF tones.  I guess if anyone needed a pretext to bust me for 
> something then this will be it, but I'm sure my client will be pretty 
> unhappy if that comes to pass.
> 
> > In any event, the pictured pad looks more like an Automatic Electric,
> > or possibly a European manufactured device???  But I'm pretty sure It's
> > not Weco.
> 
> Thanks for the information.  I don't want to go off on a wild ostrich 
> chase, so knowing what kind of keypad this really is would be nice.  I 
> also thought it looked very Euro, but a stateside friend and contributor 
> to this here list swears it's WECO, and he's generally right about these 
> things.
> 
> > **With the out of band signaling used today i.e.; Signaling System 
> > Seven, they are useless!
> 
> Right, which makes one wonder why such a device would still be illegal, 
> even though it can't be used to commit any sort of crime.  Just one more 
> way for the MAN to keep you down!
> 
> 

Or you could search for "Berry 314A" on eBay right now and find several opportunities to 
buy a very nice "store bought" MF, DTMF and pulse sending test set that should easily 
emulate every type of in-band signaling you would want. 

I would guess that the phone companies aren't too interested in finding "home-brew" ones 
since commercial ones are so easy to get.

(They're even painted the proper blue!)

PDW