Military Teletype TE-50B Toolkit Unboxing

I scored an apparently never used US Army toolkit for Teletypes! Weighs in at 31.3 lbs or 14 kg! Let's open it up!
Link to the TS-297/U multimeter manual scan seen in this episode: archive.org/details/multimeter-ts-297-u-manual-and-supplement
Scan of the tools list found in the box: archive.org/details/tool-equipment-te-50-b-signal-corps-us-army-order-no.-36781-ph-52
Scan of the tools map found in the box: archive.org/details/te-50-b-content-map
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[@graemedavidson499]

That toolkit is a wonder to behold. Quality throughout and so well preserved.

[@525Lines]

I collected WW2 stuff in the 70s and I have honestly never seen that kind of condition. It's extraordinary.

[@spunkmire2664]

Telegram Scammer alert

[@MeriaDuck]

That's a box full of unobtanium tools, and first time open even 😍

[@scowell]

What a fantastic find! I believe that goo on the tools is 'cosmoline'... the Army was very fond of it. The knife looks like a 'barlow', very useful. This should probably be on display in a museum.

[@carpetbomberz]

Color and consistency of that covering on the tools, I would vote for cosmoline as well.

[@MrMilarepa108]

And it should be used in the museum to service the museum's teletype.

[@TechGorilla1987]

You're correct and I saw your comment before I posted. That's the same thing you get when you buy a surplus Yugo or German Mauser rifle. No matter how many times I cleaned my Yugo Mauser, with enough rounds through on a hot day, it still oozed from pores in the metal.

[@soloban81]

Smells atrocious and looks like brown Vaseline.

[@TechGorilla1987]

@@soloban81 Except with the constancy of taffy.

[@tekvax01]

(11:56) Marc, I think the "bell seal bond paper" was for making splices in the old original non-annealed flaky copper wire uses for long-haul distribution lines! I remember a bell telephone tech in my childhood (the 1970s) repairing a damaged subscriber trunk, behind our house with those paper splices and talcum powder! The entire thing was then wrapped in rubber and lead! Incredibly labour-intensive way to repair a 100-pair trunk line!! I remember the rain had gotten into the cable because the "snack-stealing rodents" had eaten the lead casing! The entire cable was smoking and steaming from the heat and the water boiling from the multiple -48volt DC talk lines cooking in the wet paper!!

[@ShainAndrews]

All AC.

[@RickBaconsAdventures]

thats crazy

[@tekvax01]

@@ShainAndrews sorry that is simply not true...

[@NathanGibbs3]

Love the fact that Marc actually uses this stuff vs. turning them into display pieces. 🙂

[@CuriousMarc]

You bet, I have been using tools from this box regularly since I got it. The flat screwdrivers are now the best set I have, they got a workout on the teletypes and on the Bendix Air Data Computer. Also the 90 degree angled screwdriver and the screw-holding screwdrivers get used a lot. And the very flat wrenches. Just a nice set of nice tools.

[@624Dudley]

Hello, Marc - Union Tool Company is just one of an interesting and historic batch of companies from the northwest corner of Massachusetts. Just east of Orange is Athol, MA, the home of Starrett; a bit west is Greenfield, home to Greenfield Tap & Die, Union Twist Drill, and Millers Falls Tool among others. By the way, a bit further west is Adams, MA, the longtime home of Sprague Electric where some millions of capacitors were made. Sadly, apart from Starrett, all these companies have vanished.

[@chipholland9]

It's amazing how many of those tools we still used in the 1980's in the USAF. The specialized gauges in our bags were irreplaceable by that point. No Army multimeter though!

[@vincei4252]

Congrats on the kit, Marc. You can tell that a lot of effort and thought was put into making sure that the technician had every thing at hand . Very nice. Some contemporary companies whose sole aim is to produce more land fill should take note of the attitude 70+ years ago.

[@plextoob]

The context of the video took a sudden turn. I was born and raised in Niagara Falls (Ontario, Canada) where the Carborundum factory was. They hosted and maintained outdoor public swimming pools me my family and friends used to swim in often. This reminds me that Niagara Fals had many factories at the time: Zippo, Kellogs, Carborundum, and others. They are all gone now due to moving all that kind of production off-shore. Niagara Falls' economy is now mostly tourism (for The Falls) and the casinos. : ( Great to see that sandpaper and bring back memories and history.

[@twotone3070]

It's rough that the carborundum factory has gone.

[@pinrod1]

Ahhh yes, Neeyah Gara Falls, New York

[@andreilikayutub3496]

This is like a TTY Steve1989 video. The crossover I didn’t know I needed.

[@michaelmurray3422]

If you look at a 310 plug, you will see the use for the spring type screw driver. They are very small and the plunger holds the csrew to insert or remove it. We used them a lot in the phone company for some of the operator cords and butsets.

[@johnopalko5223]

I love these collections of specialized tools. This reminds me of the field service kit I used to schlep around downtown Chicago as a 19-year-old IBM Customer Engineer back in 1974, fixing typewriters in various companies' offices. Be careful of those left-hand threads. I broke off a hand cycle wheel in the op shaft of a Selectric because I forgot it was a LH thread and I thought it was just being stubborn. Fortunately I only did it once and that was during training. The instructor was able to drill it and extract it. I never knew they made left-handed EZ Outs.

[@Pistoletjes]

Now this is what I call a proper unboxing!

[@MrMilarepa108]

And it wouldn't have been overstated to call this unbox therapy either.

[@Nighthawke70]

Those mystery tools were non-sparking types. Phosphor-bronze, great for when you are in hazardous areas. The wrapped tools were preserved with Cosmoline. Thinners and cutters like Acetone, mineral spirits, or kerosene (but avoid the latter when possible, or when your firearm (or hardware) has been painted or blued). I've seen a lot of those tools around in my grandfather's and father's tool boxes, especially the long yellow handle screwdriver (that gripper at the end is for holding screws for those deep holes, not a grabber).

[@harmlesscreationsofthegree1248]

Absolutely amazing that it has survived in this condition! More amazing still that it found it’s way to you, one of the few people that can utilise, love, and preserve it. Sometimes amazing things happen in this world, and this is one of them 🙂

[@w9gb]

Marc - 11:56 Bell Sealed Bond Paper in manila envelope is used for Contact Cleaning (Switches, Relays) - Burnishing. Common with Bell Telephone System !!! Useful for Gold, Silver or Nickel plated Contact Cleaning. NEVER USE FILES or ABRASIVES.

[@CuriousMarc]

Thanks for the tip! We have plenty of old relays that could use that treatment.

[@nezu_cc]

Even though I will never need any of those old documents I still am grateful that you scan and archive them. Too many things are lost due to not being properly archived.

[@ironhead2008]

If I stumbled onto a kit like that, I'd probably wind up chucking my pawnshop Fluke multimeter for that awesome old school one. Gotta love something that's made to be used for decades and isn't full of plastic that snaps when you try to open it up to replace the battery.

[@timothyp8947]

Who knew that delving into a set of tools could be so fascinating: a real slice of history and the tools themselves in such lovely condition too. Just goes to show what a complex machine the teletype is if it needs such a large variety of specialist tools and gadgets to be able to maintain them.

[@Prifly70]

This is like going thru my dads tool area as a kid ! He was an electrical test engineer at Grumman and worked on the LEM. Not that I would ever go thru his tools and play with them...ever..nope...R.I.P dad ( of course I did...lol) Thanks for this video, and all the AGC and Apollo content.

[@DrFrank-xj9bc]

An I-Fix-It kit from the days back then. Beauty.

[@hymermobiler]

What a great find you must be very pleased with that xmas has come early!

[@av8bvma513]

13:10 That tape is vulcanized rubber, bonds to itself when wrapped. Awesome tool kit. Me Want!!!! ❤❤❤❤❤❤

[@rpavlik1]

Wow, what an interesting kit. Definitely very thoughtfully assembled, how many years of wisdom went in to that tool list! Thanks for your dedication to scanning and archival too.

[@L0wcash]

Absolutely fascinating stuff and amazing that it's all in such a wonderful condition!

[@russellhltn1396]

Interesting! I've seen some of those tools around as my dad used to work on Teletypes. Now I know where they came from.

[@MikeKobb]

What an absolutely fabulous artifact. Wow. So cool to see all of those tools in perfect shape. They certainly knew how to package it all so that it would be in good shape when it was needed.

[@tekvax01]

WOW!!! What a kit! amazing find Marc!!!

[@grahamornstein]

Thank you so much for always taking the time to scan manuals and documents you find!

[@motionsick]

I have a Teletype TS-659/UG Mobile Test Set from the US Navy Bureau of Ships. The thing is very cool has a rotating mechanism and a bunch of toggle switches in a little brief case.

[@milloons2847]

Hello there, At 10:45 is called a C-spanner. Also used to set the preload on the rear suspension of a motorbike, albeit a little sturdier. Always happy to find your postings.

[@RickBaconsAdventures]

in the US, we tend to call normal wrenches wrenches, and that a spanner wrench. Most people don't even know they exist and use screwdrivers and a hammer to adjust those motorbike shock preload nuts haha

[@milloons2847]

@@RickBaconsAdventures lol, Terms for tools across languages, regions and yours and my side of the Atlantic ... a babylonian speech confusion. ;-)

[@user2C47]

@@RickBaconsAdventures We also have similar wrenches but tiny for tightening nuts on wiring fittings. Unfortunately, nobody ever uses them and my company doesn't even have any, so we just have to make do with a hammer and a screwdriver.

[@RickBaconsAdventures]

@@user2C47 I've seen them on conduit fittings. Yeah, never too many mechanic tools on hand when doing wiring like that

[@SkyhawkSteve]

the knife looks very similar to the TL-29 electricians knife that I used when fixing aircraft in the Marines back in the 1970's. Cool tool box!!

[@MrSupro]

The pliers and adjustable wrench probably has cosmoline on them. It’s a sticky oil protectant that can protect metals for many decades if not disturbed.

[@Petertronic]

What things of beauty and a joy forever! This was like Steve1989 unboxing a perfectly preserved ration pack! I used to service professional studio VCR's in the 90's - and some of those would need a set of special odd type screwdrivers, same kind of spring tension guages and so on.

[@woodhonky3890]

That was too cool! Would love to see the tuning forks in action.

[@megatesla]

Content like this is priceless!!

[@andrewrixon2347]

I have in my toolkit a longer “Tommy wrench” called a spikes capstan. I used to use it for strips & clips binding when I first started in telecoms.

[@twotone3070]

I instinctively called it a "Spikes Capstan" I think we may have the same pedigree.

[@mgbrv8]

Absolutely love this

[@ronjohnson9690]

Looks like Christmas time came early here, and with it came great joy.

[@bradnelson3595]

That is an amazing lot of stuff in that case. And so well organized.

[@lerkzor]

Wow, I haven't seen a left-handed metric Crescent wrench since I was an apprentice! I think the curved wrench is called a fixed-hook spanner (as opposed to a fixed pin, adjustable pin, adjustable hook, or adjustable face spanners).

[@MarcelHuguenin]

Great score Marc! You made a great display with them at the end.

[@MLX1401]

Indeed, like straight from the suppliers catalogue (though obviously it would've been in b&w then) :D

[@simontay4851]

That small flat blade screw driver with the pin in the centre is beautiful and will be very useful.

[@fgaviator]

Amazing toolkit! Now you need to obtain some more teletypes for restoration - so you can put the toolkit to proper use! 😃 The teletypes you already have, are already perfectly restored, so you need new (unrestored) ones now... 🙂

[@mikem5043]

Wow what an awesome find!

[@bascomnextion5639]

The tools that had slots in the end are for very carefully bending the spring contacts for tension you do it at the very base of the spring not the contact end most of those tools were also used on a bimotional selector used in telephone exchanges.

[@twotone3070]

I recognise some of those tools from strowger days.

[@jaut-76]

More teletype yaaay. Been rewatching the 19 series because mine quit working

[@kaitlyn__L]

I love the more general-purpose bottom half, all sturdy, good vintage tools.

[@HeyBirt]

Think how much effort was put into creating the tool kit, let alone the whole Teletype. Deciding what tools are required, specifying them, designing the specialty tools, figuring out how to package them in a portable and safe manner. BTW, I once attended a training seminar, and the instructor told a story about the first job he got. His new boss sent him to search the entire DFW area for a 'metric adjustable wrench'. It was a few hours well spent, he learned to think for himself and not be gullible in one afternoon. :)

[@mm-hl7gh]

good tools in good hands. nice!

[@ShainAndrews]

Boeshield T9 is in order after you removed the Cosmoline. I don't know if I could bring myself to clean it off.

[@patrickmarmorat1126]

je suis impressionné par la quantité d'outils nécessaire pour entretenir et réparer ce télétype. Je n'imagine pas un appareil moderne, même militaire, être fourni avec une telle collection d'outils. Marc, vos vidéos sont une référence pour moi ! Good job !

[@chriholt]

Absolutely the best tool kit I have ever seen!

[@chaoticsystem2211]

That multimeter is indeed beautiful...

[@msylvain59]

Thin slots on vintage screws in a common thing, I already encountered this a lot, modern screwdrivers from the hardware store will sometimes not fit at all,.

[@1944GPW]

Fantastic kit! One tool I thought might have been included was a Spring Hook, one of the primary tools in a vintage IBM CE toolkit. Also that screw starter that only presses on the screw head seems odd, the IBM screw starters have types that have outward-clamping slot jaws operated by pressing the end of a thin brass barrel, and another type that has a spring-loaded axially rotating inner part of a jaw, that twists and holds the screw while placing.

[@R.Daneel]

I've been told you shouldn't hit tuning forks like that (hitting the actual forks). Apparently it can damage them or make them out of tune. I was told to tap the base on a table, like you did to listen to it, but more firmly. My source was a school music teacher, so it may be more of a concern with kids constantly smashing them onto stuff.

[@jaoswald]

The tip I heard long ago was to strike it only on your head.

[@douro20]

The Seal-Bond paper is for cleaning contacts. You would either use it dry or saturated with a cleaner such as TCE.

[@loosehandle1]

Awesome! I want to see the giant soldering iron clamped to a jeep battery and used.....

[@Drmcclung]

Some of those tools are aircraft grade specialty style, like the curved wrenches & flat nosed pliers. Not gonna lie, creamed my pants a little over some of that gear. Especially the multimeter! Sidenote I'm very surprised it didn't include a Zippo lighter, 3 packs of unfiltered Camel cigarettes and a sachet of instant coffee!

[@ironhead2008]

I wager whoever walked off with the gear puller walked off with those, lol.

[@Drmcclung]

@@ironhead2008 lol

[@ydonl]

Extremely terrific!

[@DanielRowe]

What a lovely tool set. Thanks for the look.

[@GrahamNicholson56]

10:43 - C spanners or sometimes known as hook and pin wrenches.

[@soniclab-cnc]

that meter is gorgeous

[@vincei4252]

13:05 I won't lie, I thought the rolls of foil covered tape were going to be snack donuts for the very hungry teletype tech. I mean they thought of everything else

[@campbellmorrison8540]

Incredible find, brand-new even more incredible.

[@ericlotze7724]

It would be one HELL of a task (as if this whole ordeal wasn’t a big enough task on it’s own), but getting the dimensions (and maybe even sketching up some CAD Models) of those tools, and maybe “spring-ey” -ness of the gauges etc may be worth doing. (In order of increasing need/complexity i guess lol) Some of them seemed niche, but rather novel/nifty (akin to that Fractal Vice that Someone Restored, then 3D Printed Versions now Exist etc)

[@pinfarmer]

That restoration was really impressive. Maybe you could help some folks restore their old mechanical slot machines. No one wants to tear one of those apart!

[@525Lines]

I've seen untouched WW2 surplus stuff before. I can smell it all with him.

[@adamwishneusky]

What a fun kit! Great find

[@f2007564]

I am watching like 10 minutes now and I realise that I haven't blinked yet 😀

[@AdventuresofGraywolf]

That was a great find! I just picked up an AN/ugc-74a teletype today to eventually RTTY on my ham radio. Very good condition but no power. Haven't tried troubleshooting yet. Looking now for schematics and any kind of troubleshooting steps or test equipment. A tool kit like this would be handy I'd bet. I have most of the normal tools but none of the specialty ones other than a dental pick kit. I've found a couple of operator's manuals and a couple of parts lists and maintenance manuals. Any idea where I'd get schematics, parts, or useful information?

[@gnetic86]

Join the Greenkeys list!

[@allalphazerobeta8643]

I wanted to see more of that tape measure. Is it engraved metal? I'm looking for other's but they seam to paint. It's possible the lights are playing tricks on me. Love to see these types of service kits with all the specialty tools! You should probably look into if you can regenerate that desiccant in the oven. Or add some new!

[@-r-495]

Gee, lovely set. Some of the tools reminded me of my old days in process control (pneumatic PID controls anyone?). Those devices had the flathead screws that only specific screwdrivers fitted and we used to use sewing machine oil instead of the expensive (sewing machine) oil the vendors sold. Maybe you’ll find an old Buerkert PID one day? Thank you 😊

[@-r-495]

by the way: Pb is definitely not healthy but most „old“ greases and oils aren’t either!

[@privateprivate5373]

Orange/Athol massachusetts is where Starret tools is from iirc

[@captainmother1268]

The only software required is the cheesecloth! Thanks for the great video!

[@techcafe0]

That was one of the most interesting and enjoyable unboxings i've seen on youtube, thank you.

[@hernancoronel]

Wow awesome Marc!

[@FUNKLABOR_DL1LEP]

just the right one to start my day at 6:10 MEZ / local time by breakfast with good coffee - Just to leave for work ❤

[@tiagokawata]

"Making confetti" 😂

[@brundaged1]

The tool at 11:00 is for adjusting leaf switch tension.

[@shamrock1961]

3M= Minnesota Mining & Manufacturing

[@genetomblin2883]

They were called pin plugs and sockets. The original Simpson 260 and the Triplet multi meters had pin plugs instead of Banana plugs

[@GordonjSmith1]

What a fantastic find!

[@tanner165]

I feel like I'm watching a Steve1989 video but for electronics. Love it

[@compwiz101]

Neat, I have one of those teletype test leads, never knew what it was for!

[@whiskeytuesday]

And as if there's not enough beautiful equipment on display, a Chopard chrono to tie it all together. edit: hat tip for the adjustable wrench line haha

[@medicallyunexplainedsymptoms]

10:54 Surely that's a toffee hammer for when the tech needed a snack 🙂

[@AsbestosMuffins]

the thing I always wonder about these things is who was manufacturing these or putting them together, was this something some group of armorers or military supply guys were assembling, did they go to some factory and contract this out? Who was in the business of making such a crazy assortment of tools and putting them together

[@TheStefanskoglund1]

Would expect that my predecessors as a communication tech/phone operator in Flygvapnet had access to tool boxes like this. The last guy which learned how to use the paper tape encryption machine began his national service in 1988 and i in 1989. Those tool box probable got thrown away into the skip when large invasion defense force was scrapped in mid 1990s

[@MrCarGuy]

The quality of tools during the peak of an empire versus the quality of tools now: An empire in sharp decline

[@nigozeroichi2501]

Nice n.o.s. kit, when I see old tools I try imagining who used them or in this case who packed it.

[@SubTroppo]

It would be interesting to know how much it would cost to replace the functionality of all these tools.

[@RickBaconsAdventures]

wow I would sure like to find another one of those adjustable wrenches. I collect examples of noteworthy excellence to actually use in my shop. Some of my favorites are actually from kippertool modern military toolkits. That one looked really tight

[@525Lines]

You collect adjustable wrenches?

[@RickBaconsAdventures]

@@525Lines Yeah, really nice ones. To actually use. I have probably 30 ranging from 4" to 24". I work on a lot of vastly different stuff and like super high quality tools. The best ones I have found are private labeled Proto brand in military kippertool kits. I have a set from Martin sprocket that are really tight, and a couple really old Crescent brand that are nice. The rest are odds and ends.

[@1944GPW]

Keep a lookout for vintage vehicle Swap Meets in your area, they are a great place to find vintage tools.

[@RickBaconsAdventures]

@@1944GPW Indeed

[@henryD9363]

It would be interesting to know when it was manufactured. But the manual cover said 1948 so it would have to be later.

[@erikdenhouter]

A beautiful new old stock capsule. (Don't forget to scan and publish the manual for the meter)

[@CuriousMarc]

Link for the scan is in the video description (aka doodly-doo)

[@erikdenhouter]

@@CuriousMarc Oh sorry, very nice doodly-doo service 😊

[@CuriousMarc]

@@erikdenhouter We aim to please ;-)

[@ranke]

I just love your vids!

[@darrenerickson1288]

Wow, a wrench that works BOTH Imperial and Metric??? They must have charged the government extra for that feature!!!

[@diabolicalartificer]

A nifty toolkit with some very useful tools. It must have cost a few $ to make back in the day.

[@mattikurkela8293]

13:20 That dark smelly tape looks almost like old self-vulcanizing (self-amalgamating) tape I used once. If that's what it is, you stretch it while applying, so much that it goes on whatever you want to protect about half as wide as it's on the roll (to activate the chemicals within the tape), and overlap generously. The tape layers should "melt" together into a single seamless waterproof rubbery coating.

[@MLX1401]

Oh, so it's like shrink wrap in a tape form?! Amazing! Propably not available anymore?

[@gordonwelcher9598]

I bought tape like this at the dollar store. The rubber was not the best quality.