🚀 go-pugleaf

	The way the markets have been developing, there are umpteen sources
for cheap parts for WIRING supplied to discount department stores and small
electronics shops (usually MRO, the kind of folks that used to sell you
tubes), but the sets themselves are black boxes (understandable in light of
registration-when you're a ham, or mess around with your TV, the only one
you can electrocute is yourself).
	For the avid Seeker (there's one born every minute), there are
avenues of information. For whatever reason, most of the industrial
suppliers who have gotten into telephony have not been electronic, but
electrical, viz Graybar and (my favorite) Anixter. I think the rationale has
been based on what's used most by telephones is WIRE. Such firms will
usually have a "will call" desk, and if you can stand handing payment to a
secretary while looking at a room full of inside-salescritters, fine. The
response you get will probably vary greatly (I've never gotten any useful
information out of the local Graybar sales people, to the point where I
stopped trying years ago). I only found out a) that there was a local
Anixter office and b) they carried communications products in the midst of a
search for flexible power cable (I remebered them as essentially a supplier
to electrical utilities and contractors). The salesperson I deal with is
extremely helpful, but is often out of her depth, which leads me to the next
item: Catalogs!!!
	Catalogs are available from many suppliers (somtimes many catalogs,
from subdividing their line), and usually you have but to ask. You can then
ask for a manufacturer's data sheet, or the manufacturer's address, for MORE
CATALOGS!! Some are informative, some are firestarters. There are several
products I didn't know I wished someone made until I found a picture of it.
	Suppliers: Graybar, Anixter, Famous Telephone Supply, Buckeye
Telephone Supply, Toner (serving largely cable TV companies, but you never
know..).
	Manufacturers: Armiger, Reliable Electric, Siemon, Suttle, 3M,
TRW/Cinch, Thomas & Betts. The Armiger Catalog is a case in point: It
includes lists of descriptions and connections of RJ-cokebottle, very
intelligibly, and as up-to-date as your catalog is (they aren't real good
about updates, but they'll send a new catalog if you ask): Armiger and
Associates, 2525 Ridgmar Blvd. Fort Worth, Texas 76116, 817/737-2900.
	And that's just for wiring! Call your local supplier, or the
manufacturer for what in many cases strongly resembles BSPs. There usually
is information available, if only connection diagrams and schematics.
	I'll probably be quiet for another 6 months now, but feel free to
inquire if there's something you can't find. 

						Be well,
						Gene Hastings