Ominous cable drums in cellar. Please help me identify.

Hello.

After opening a drywall protrusion in our cellar, I found an odd concoction of cables and drums, sparsely labeled. The larger drum is connected to a one-inch black cable coming from outside. The smaller drum is connected to the larger one. (See photo below)

The larger of the drums appears to have a shielding mantle with a warning label in four languages (“Caution. Pressure should not exceed 14 psig/100 kPa. Air must be released before opening”). It is approx. 20 inches long and 8-10 inches in diameter. It connects to an old NYNEX box, which has a thin telephone cable emerging from it.

The smaller drum is also approx. 20 inches long and 4 inches in diameter. Three thin telephone cables emerge from the smaller drum.

No other labels are found on this equipment. Beyond telephone cables, I see no other data cables on these drums. Coax cables come from a different feed.

I’ve contacted Verizon – they claim it’s not theirs. I’ve stopped by a Spectrum store – they claim it’s not theirs. I am unaware of easements (going back to attorney to verify). The lady at Spectrum suggested that the equipment likely doesn’t belong to a provider at all.

This stuff is in a brownstone in Harlem, Mount Morris area.

If anyone has ideas of what these are or whom to contact, I would appreciate.

[IMG_cellar_drums](//muut.com/u/brownstoner/s3/:brownstoner:SPbQ:img_cellar_drums.jpg.jpg)

lozadorealty

in General Discussion 6 years and 3 months ago

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Guest User | 4 years and 10 months ago

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love the update! i completely agree, if it’s not used and you can get it out, get it out. just out of curiosity – how long did it take to get it out?

lozadorealty | 4 years and 10 months ago

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I wanted to report on the final outcome:

I scheduled with Verizon; they removed the equipment including cable that fed the building. It was largely dead/unused. I do feel that it’s important to remove unused stuff like this and not merely covering it.

GreenThinker | 6 years and 3 months ago

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I say put back the drywall cover and forget about it.

yudashasom | 6 years and 3 months ago

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Public Service Commission

RobertGMarvin

in General Discussion 6 years and 3 months ago

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Verizon is the successor to NYNEX, so they’re probably responsible. If they’re uncooperative I suggest that you contact the Public Service Commission–that should get results.

lozadorealty | 6 years and 3 months ago

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Thanks! I most certainly agree on the “cutting cable” comment. Unfortunately, Verizon is being very difficult. 1. they claim they can’t service me because I’m not a customer (won’t even consider me sending my photo to them); 2. they claim that the equipment is not theirs. Spectrum also claims it’s not theirs.

If anyone has an idea of a good company department to target, please let me know. Appreciate it!

Lurker | 6 years and 3 months ago

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I would call the phone company to come physically check it out before you do anything—cutting phone wires is at least a state if not federal crime.

eman134 | 6 years and 3 months ago

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thats a phone line splice box used to splice multipair copper cables, probably splicing together dead copper cables that are no longer in use since most of Verizon is now carried on fiber. If the old Nynex box is no longer in use, it is basically garbage