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Sets were for use on the government's AUTOVON (AUTOmatic VOice Network) system, which connected sites worldwide. It's key features include the ability to use 4-wire connections to minimize echo on long distance connections, the use of priority codes to give preference to higher priority communications when the system was operating at capacity, "hot line" dialing and conferencing. A brief overview of the system may be found in "Bell Laboratories Record," April 1968. An internet search on AUTOVON will provide more technical details and background information. PRIORITY LEVELS
The appropriate priority code was dialed with an "important" call, such as a command and control call. If needed, calls starting with routine level and going up to the level below the dialed level were preempted. The lower priority users got a tone sequence indicating their call was being preempted. Standard 500 and 2500-series sets were used for routine callers, who did not have the need or authority to preempt other callers. They may be found on other pages of this site (see links above). BSPs for Autovon sets were moved from division 502 to division 529 when it was created for "Station Apparatus and Equipment intended solely for specially-engineered lines, not for general telephone use." This happened sometime before the publication of the 10/68 division 502 index. This information is hard to find, as the BSPs and technical data were not generally distributed. Later division indexes had a heart icon next to the BSPs, indicating: "a new or reissued item which, because of its limited need, will not be distributed on standing order except through coded distribution. Additional copies may be obtained by placing regular (one-time) orders." This page is intended to be a quick summary of the models produced and major functions. Western catalogs and technical documentation only show the models that were in production or service at the publication date. To understand the full scope of models produced we must compile data from many years of documents. Each model had suffix letters that defined variations. Details can be found in the Bell System technical documentation (e.g. BSPs - Bell System Practices). Most info in the chart is from manufacturer catalogs and ads plus discussions on the ATCA and TCI listservs. No claim is made regarding accuracy or completeness. If you're enjoying looking at this level of detail and haven't joined one of the phone clubs yet, see the links page. If you're identifying a phone, you still need to check the internal components as many phones were refurbed and had internal components changed or removed. If done in a Bell System refurb facility, the code on the bottom was usually repainted or remarked. Many independent shops or field mods were not remarked with the accurate model number. When buying sets, watch out for standard phones that have been modified to look like Autovon sets, by replacing the dial and faceplate. While these look like proper sets to the casual observer, closer scrutiny will generally show the lack of a ringer control on the left side (sets with N1A ringer), the required 4-wire circuitry inside and the proper markings on the bottom plate.   As with the 500 seeries, a W suffix indicates sets made without Bell System markings, and M indicates a Modular set. More details on set coding are found on the 500-series page. For color information, see: Phones in color! This page is a work in progress. Please send comments, additions and corrections. Last update: 7 Nov 2010 |
| Model | Major Functions | BSP |
| 66 type dials |
16-button dials with
Autovon-specific keys: "star," A, FO, F, I and P. Available with opaque or translucent (lighted) keys. (Photo above right.) |
501-164-123 529-120-106 |
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67
type dials |
Card Dialer
with 16-button dial with Autovon-specific keys: "star," A, FO, F, I and
P. |
501-164-124 529-120-106 |
| 1008 |
Adjunct with rotary dial, for
addition to AUTOVON sets. (Photo above left.) Used when an AUTOVON set user dialed out to a line that supported only rotary dialing. |
501-164-127 529-120-112 |
| 1066 |
Adjunct with AUTOVON dial.
(Photo above right.) |
529-120-116 |
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Automatic Electric Autovon Set Built in the same housing as the AE880 speakerphones and similar products. See: speakae.htm |
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Automatic Electric Autovon Adjunct |
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