Path: utzoo!utgpu!news-server.csri.toronto.edu!rpi!zaphod.mps.ohio-state.edu!swrinde!elroy.jpl.nasa.gov!lll-winken!telecom-request From: kent@sunfs3.bos.camex.com (Kent Borg) Newsgroups: comp.dcom.telecom Subject: Re: Anyone Remember the "Tele-Trainer"? Message-ID: Date: 27 Mar 91 22:16:40 GMT Sender: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu Organization: Camex Inc., Boston MA Lines: 40 Approved: Telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Submissions-To: telecom@eecs.nwu.edu X-Administrivia-To: telecom-request@eecs.nwu.edu X-Telecom-Digest: Volume 11, Issue 248, Message 12 of 13 In article jkg@prism.gatech.edu (Jim Greenlee) writes: > In article kitty!larry@uunet.uu.net > (Larry Lippman) writes: >> There was once >> a time when any school or little theater group could simply call >> their local Bell System business office and ask to borrow a >> Teletrainer for the duration of a theater production. > Indeed - I remember someone bringing a Teletrainer to my first-grade > class one day (this was in the mid-60's - I don't remember it being > referred to as a Teletrainer, but the setup was just as Larry > described). There was a small box that was controlled by the > "operator", and two telephones that were used by the "caller" and > "callee" (I don't think either of the phones had dials). Yes, I remember it too. I remember which end of the school we were in that day, but am not sure the grade. First grade sounds plausable. Our's had dials, this would have been around 1966. I was under the impression at the time that you needed to dial seven digits, even the correct ones. Thinking back on it now, knowing what I do about demos, I tend to think that that was not true. I can't recount any experiances using it with because other kids got called on -- I was never the teacher's pet. I do remember at the time understanding that operators do not decide who gets busy signals. I think I thought the idea strange and asked about it, was told that operators don't really do that. I then criticized the accuracy of the lesson, saying that it was inaccurate. In retrospect, I understand better and better why I was never the pet. Kent Borg internet: kent@camex.com AOL: kent borg H:(617) 776-6899 W:(617) 426-3577