Anyone from MIT's Tau Epsilon Phi around to confirm/deny that TEPaphone is still running? In the late 1990s/early 2000s, a friend of mine (a brother in TEP) told me about their PBX hand-wired from mechanical relays and stepping switches as a hobby project by one of their brothers a decade or two earlier. Apparently its creator was far more interested in the project than in his coursework, to disastrous effect.

If I recall correctly, every-other class, they needed to decide which brother was going to be the designated recipient of the handed-down arcane design and maintenance knowledge. I believe the title of office was Phone Master, and just like Sith Lords, there were always 2: master and apprentice.

On the plus side, it had a photo sensor sitting over the washer and dryer display lights, so dialling the extension for the washer or dryer would give a busy tone if in use, and a ring tone otherwise.