Relay-Version: version B 2.10 5/3/83; site utzoo.UUCP Posting-Version: version B 2.10.2 9/5/84; site kitty.UUCP Path: utzoo!watmath!sunybcs!kitty!larry From: larry@kitty.UUCP (Larry Lippman) Newsgroups: net.ham-radio Subject: Re: Where can I get a Picturephone? Message-ID: <258@kitty.UUCP> Date: Wed, 7-Aug-85 09:29:38 EDT Article-I.D.: kitty.258 Posted: Wed Aug 7 09:29:38 1985 Date-Received: Wed, 7-Aug-85 23:49:27 EDT References: <28267ea6.1de6@apollo.uucp> Organization: Recognition Research Corp., Clarence, NY Lines: 31 > Any idea where I can find a working or restoreable pair of Western Electric > Picturephones? I'm looking for the real thing, not a work-alike. They are > all phone company property, I know, but regular phones have leaked out, so > why not picturephones? I too would love to tinker with some Picturephones (tm), but alas, I think they are AT&T's best kept secret - perhaps to hide what was a rather bad marketing blunder. I understand that there are *large* quantities of unused Picturephones along with anciliary apparatus like Picturephone line repeaters, special KTU equipment, etc. which are still squirreled away by AT&T Technologies and the [former] Bell System operating companies. Since the Picturephone was introduced ~1965, the electronic technology used in the apparatus is quite outdated by today's standards; the Bell System never sold enough systems to justify any newer design. If my data is correct, the Picturephone apparatus used *all* discrete components! As far as I have been able to observe, the Picturephone "Tele-conferencing Service" which is still offered by some of the [former] Bell System operating companies uses no apparatus in common with the original Picturephone station concept. I would be interested in obtaining some Picturephones to play with if someone knows of a legitimate source. Larry Lippman Recognition Research Corp. Clarence, New York UUCP {decvax,dual,rocksanne,rocksvax,watmath}!sunybcs!kitty!larry {rice,shell}!baylor!/ syr!buf!/ VOICE 716/741-9185 TELEX {via WUI} 69-71461 answerback: ELGECOMCLR "Have you hugged your cat today?"