Steppers?

Anyone know when "steppers" (step switch assembly) were invented--and by whom? I know that some early wallbox systems were "direct wired". Also, I have heard claims/rumors that Seeburg (maybe J.P. himself?) did it, and sold rights to Western Electric (Bell System) for use in "dial" phones ?? Ron Rich

Hello Ron,

I am not sure if I found anything helpful - but hopefully at least interesting.
I found a patent by Seeburg - the inventor was H.G. Jensen - called "Step Switch Contactor Assembly" - filed in 1963. This patent refers to others - the eldest one was filed in 1941 called "Telephone System" by W.P. Alpert. Another one is from 1952 - "Electrically Operated Accumulator" and a fourth from 1963, too - "Actuating Mechanism For A Thumb Wheel Type Switch".

These patents come as pdfs - I will email them to you directly.
I hope they will help somehow.

Kind regards - Hildegard

Hi Hildegard,
Thanks--I'll have a look at them when I get them.
Ron