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Contribute Files to the TCI Library

Please help us find and archive copies of all telephony documents.  Even if your document looks similar to one in the Library, check to see if it might be a different printing (year, issue number, etc.).  Contents were often changed from edition to edition, so we prefer to store copies of them all.

Currently, an administrator must upload any new files. Send a brief note describing your contribution using the "Contact Us" link in the Menu Bar. An administrator will respond with further instructions on how to send the files.

Please include a brief description for each file:

DESCRIPTION: It helps if each file is accompanied with a short text description (a few sentences max) including appropriate keywords. This is added to the on-line description so the file will be found by common searches.

FILE FORMAT: .pdf files scanned at a minimum of 300 dpi are preferred. Good quality documents in other formats are also welcome. Bookmarks and OCR are helpful, especially for large documents.

TCI Library footers should be at least .25 inch from the page bottom if possible, as many printers do not print a full page and many users do not reduce (resize) pages before printing. Please use one of these footers:

TCI Library: www.telephonecollectors.info
Downloaded from the TCI Library: www.telephonecollectors.info

Please save any pdfs so they are compatible with Acrobat 5.

FILENAMES: To make life easier for Library users who download files to their personal systems, filenames should contain several relevant keywords separated by underscores. Common abbreviations help keep filenames short.

Please avoid spaces and special characters other than underscore, hyphen and period in filenames, as they confuse some sort or backup programs. Use hyphens and periods only where used in manufacturer document numbers and underscores everywhere you'd normally see a space. Use "i" instead of spelling out "Issue" to save space. Please abbreviate dates in MmmYY format (unless the date is also important) to conserve space. If only the year is known, please show all 4 digits (YYYY, e.g. 1927).

For example, for BSPs and similar technical reference archives, use a filename indicating the Document number_Issue Number_Date_Brief Title:

  • C38.902NY_iB_Feb60_Wall_Receiver_Amp.pdf
  • C38.904NY_iA_Oct58_Keysets_Receiver_Amp.pdf
  • 512-730-400_i4_Sep79_4A_Speakerphone_Connections.pdf

For articles in documents, use Date_Publication Name_Start page_Article Title (abbreviated). For example:

  • 65jun_BLR_p214_No1_ESS.pdf
  • 60nov_BSTJ_p1381_Signaling_Systems.pdf
  • 68jan_BTM_p16_Innovate.pdf

This way when files are downloaded the file indexes are sorted to allow browsing by document number/date.

Notes: BLR = Bell Laboratories Record, BTM = Bell Telephone Magazine, etc.

SENDING FILES:

A small number of files can be sent to an administrator by email.  Individual files up to slightly over 20MB have been successfully sent by email.

For large files or batches of files, posting them temporarily to a file sharing service or FTP site is preferable. Send an email to an administrator including instructions and passwords, if needed, to access your site of choice. We may be able to provide temporary storage for uploads.

Your contributions are appreciated. Contact us using the "Contact Us" link for details.

New User?

Read the articles under "Introduction" in the black menu bar above.

Recent Contributors

Thanks for new documents from Ed Palazzo, Bruce Patterson, Jon Kolger, Paul Ivester, Len Hicken, Paul Fassbender, Fred Haynes, Kurt Rudolph, Wade ("Kellogg KITT"), the Connections Museum, Rick Walsh, Jeff Lamb, Jeremy Walters, Mark Cuccia, Alan David, Harry Joseph, Charlie Terry, Karl Brose, Dennis Hock, Tim Griffin, Remco Enthoven, and Steve Cichorsky.

Please send a file to add your name to this list!

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Hints for using the TCI Library

"Menu Bar" for site navigation.
Many menu choices are hidden until you mouse over words in the black Menu Bar (above).  If you want help getting started, see the links under the word "Introduction" in the Menu Bar.
 
The user interface is oriented toward the user’s choice to either Browse or Search for information.  The Browse the Library menu entry offers many quick links to move around the Library quickly.  Try it!

Three search options.
The Library’s keyword-based searches, called Basic Search and Advanced Search, accept keywords as short as 2 characters (WE, AE, etc.) and search strings up to 255 characters.  If you get more than 1,000 items, refine your search or try the Google Search option.
 
When selected from the Menu Bar, Google only searches for files in the TCI Library.
 
Library INBOX.
The INBOX may hold some files that have been submitted but not fully processed into the Library.  These are often topics of current discussion on the TCI Email Group. Items in the INBOX are not found using Basic or advanced searches, but ARE found by a Google Search.
 
Remember to check the INBOX if you don't find something with the other searches.
 
Finding BSPs.
Many BSPs are currently only identified by BSP number. If a text search doesn’t produce a BSP, try looking in one of the many BSP index documents to find a BSP number for the product you are researching just as you would do if referencing a paper library of the BSPs. Then enter the BSP number in the search box.
 
Finding CDs and SDs.
Some related CDs and SDs are filed in different areas. Try searching for just the numeric portion of the name.  Remember to check the INBOX if you don't find something with the Basic or Advanced searches -- or use the Google search.
 
Compact Category Listing.
When browsing, to change the category listing view from normal to compact, click on Browse the Library in the black menu bar.
 
To change from compact to normal view, click on Document Repository in the drop down under Browse the Library.

 

 

Telephone Collectors International was incorporated under the laws of the state of Kansas on May 13, 1986. The goal of the organization is "to educate the public, as well as the members of the Corporation, regarding the history of telephony, the value of old telephones and related items, their collectability and preservation; to research telephone history and publish and provide literature thereon; to promote the public exhibition of old telephones and related items; and to promote common courtesies and guidelines for use by the public." Telephone Collectors International is recognized by the Internal Revenue Service as a 501(c)(3) organization, to which U.S. tax deductible contributions can be made.