26 Sep
2008
26 Sep
'08
4:51 p.m.
John -
If you don't have any luck and want me to contact the folks at the MIT
Museum I have a few contacts there (as well as being an alum). I just
sold them some General Radio stuff. As space is limited there as most
places, if there are any dimensions available that would be helpful. If
you want out of the loop just send me their contact info off list and
I'll pursue it.
John Kuenzig
John McNamara wrote:
During the period 1962-1966, members of the Tech Model Railroad Club
of MIT conceived and constructed an unusual use for telephone
equipment that functioned essentially as a combinatorial network.
Specifically, they used five10x10 crossbar switches and more than 100
wire-spring relays to construct a control system for their large
HO-gauge model railroad. Pictures of this control system can be seen
at http://tmrc.mit.edu/progress/images.tcl?year=2002&month=5&day=26p;day=26.
Like all good electromechanical telephone systems, it remained in
service for almost 40 years, even surviving a move between buildings.
In 2002, it was replaced by an electronic system (not related to
telephone systems) and retired to the New England Museum of Telephony
("The Telephone Museum") in Ellsworth, Maine, where it has been stored
since that time. Unfortunately, the folks at that museum have decided
to "de-accession" it, as it is not really part of their mission, and
is taking up too much space. It is also likely to get damaged by
future activities near its present location. If you have confirmed
that someone or some organization would like it, please let me know.
The deadline before scrapping begins is October 15th.