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Advanced Search

Advanced Search is the Basic Search plus the capability to "filter" the results.
Enter Search terms separated by spaces (see Hints below).

Search Terms: Advanced Search

Here are a few examples of how you can use the search feature:

Entering this and that into the search form will return results with both "this" and "that".

Entering this not that into the search form will return results with "this" and not "that".

Entering this or that into the search form will return results with either "this" or "that".

Entering "this and that" (with quotes) into the search form will return results with the exact phrase "this and that".

Search results can also be filtered using a variety of criteria. Select one or more filters below to get started.

Search by Author

Search by Category

Search by Language

Search by Type

Hints:

Use the Basic Search's Search Terms format with and, or, not and "exact text"
Use filters to select from one database Category and/or data Type. For example:
- Category = Railway Telephones
- Type = Document

NOTE: Basic and Advanced searches currently may not find BSPs when numbers are entered with hyphens (e.g. 502-400-401). Try entering the number with spaces instead (e.g. 502 400 401) or use Google Search. We hope this will behave better in future software releases.

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!

Who's online

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.