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I was told that Secretarial sets were popular in the Washington, DC area, where they were used in large, fancy apartment complexes with local PBXs. Label by the key on most models is marked: TEL LINE / SECRETARIAL 1. TEL LINE: Operates as a normal single line set. Ringer rings and can be answered directly. 2. SECRETARIAL: CO or PBX line is routed from the set to a secretary or answering service. e.g. when in conference or away from the office or apartment. A separate (second) line may be returned from the PBX to permit direct contact between the subscriber and the secretarial service. Sets after the 412 were apparently modified from standard production sets in the Western Electric distribution houses or refurb facilitites. In addition to the sets shown here, most two-line set BSPs have instructions to modify the set for secretarial service. Western Electric had been serving the needs of Secretairal Services since 1920 with several products. A January 1957 Bell Laboratories Record article describes the new 557A and B switchboards, which could also support remote secretarial services using switching in the central offices and line concentrators. Here's another business that was decimated by automation, after voicemail was introduced. ©2002-14 paulf. All rights reserved.
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Western Electric 412BC-4 See details in WE 300-types chart |
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Western Electric 512 The second ringer with square gong (and different ring tone) can be used to signal incoming calls from the secretarial service. (Requires a second line from the PBX.) See details in WE 500-types chart |
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Marked on bottom 512BCR Note the phenolic base for the buzzer and ringer. -- my lips are sealed.) |
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Western Electric 1512 Here's the follow-on model in early TouchTone! Also in green. Do you have photos of a 2512 (12-button set) to share? See details in WE 1500-types chart , WE 2500-types chart |
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The key label looks like the
same one designed
for the rotary set that's been cut to fit. |
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Western Electric 712BC Princess Modification instructions are included in the BSPs, including 502-701-101, issue 3, April 1977, Table D. This set was apparently modified and marked at a Western Electric distribution house or refurb facility. If there was a label near the key on this set, it was removed before the photo was taken. It probably wouldn't have survived a thorough housing cleaning and polishing. See details in WE Princess Sets (There are 1712 and 2712 Secretarial sets also) |
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| And here's a rotary Trimline
with a similar
switch and the same darned label designed for a rotary set! They
must have had a warehouse
full of them. Marked on a paper label on the bottom: AD1 MOD E 2110 |
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751C Panel Phone modified for Secretarial
Service Marked MOD E2012S FIG 5 B/C The label, designed for the 512 set, doesn't fit well here either. |
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