What is it?

[twerppoet]

If you ever peaked behind a hotel desk (20 years ago) you might have seen one of these.

 

[KevinJS]

Looks like a telex.

 

[twerppoet]

Looks like a telex.

You're on the right track. These were very popular in U.S. hotels in the 90's. The Coast Guard also used a lot of them.

 

[twerppoet]

The company who made it is based in Canada, btw.

 

[KevinJS]

I refuse to believe I'm too young. How about a teletype?

 

[twerppoet]

No. It is a bit more modern than a teletype. I really wish I had a picture (that I own) of the various teletypes I've seen and worked on. That would be an awesome challenge. The handset hanging off the right should tell you what kind of system it's part of.

 

[KevinJS]

Analog switchboard

 

[twerppoet]

Well, I guess that's all I really asked for; though I was hoping for a bit more detail.

This is the operator/programing console for the Mitel SX-100/200 EPBX (Electronic Private Branch Exchange); a medium sized phone switch. And yes, it was analog. The very next generation, the SX 200D was digital. Mitel PBX's handled a lot of room service and wakeup calls in their time. They were even designed with many hotel/motel specific features.

Each of those little red dashes represented either an outside phone line or an internal (room) number.

All your's Kevin. I'll be going to sleep real soon now.

 

[KevinJS]

I was clutching at straws.

 

[twerppoet]

But you ended up making hay.

 

[Richard Brown]

Tell you guys what, some specialist collectors are emerging here, much as I expected.

Now that comment has decided that I must take my camera when we visit the Science Museum today...

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[KevinJS]

I'll have to throw it open. It's late here, and I haven't got anything ready. I'll start taking some photographs of odd angles ready for the next time I win one by a fluke!

 

[Richard Brown]

OK, I was hoping to answer a challenge before posting. The challenges have proved well. Very challenging!

Here's mine.

What is this part of?

What is it used for?

As a bonus, but not an essential question, how is it used?






The original image is definitely out of copyright.

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[Richard Brown]

This thread is too quiet. I'm out for most of the day,so I'm posting another picture.

My first question is now what is it?



To help a little, if you have a surveying or architectural background you should have an advantage. The item is less than 16" long.


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[AdmiralAdama]

Is it an early surveyor's wheel to measure distance?
AA