In the Bamberg trials, 2 types of material were trialed. As we have noted SEL tested with full PVC called “Zweischicht PVC”, paper cards or “Papier”, and a thin PVC payer paper coated called “Einschicht PVC”

Issued cards of Paper type were serial numbered A
No. 00#### A
5E   = 13,350  print run 000001-013350  not confirmed  (002184-008887 noted)
40E = 8,400    print run 005000-013000  not confirmed  (007842-012765 noted)
80E = 12,000  print run 000001-012000  not confirmed  (000012-011686 noted)

“Einschicht PVC” were serial numbered F
No. 00#### F
5E   = Not manufactured
40E = 5,000 print run?  000001-005000 not confirmed  (000002-004922 noted)
80E = 600 print run       000001-000600 not confirmed  (000039-000076 noted)

SEL set up phonecard payphones (using the Copytex system) for the field trials in the city of Bamberg 1983-1985.
In this section we are please to show a comprehensive collection of the cards used in testing and field trials.
The copytex cards were initially designed for copy machines in universities, and other facilities, but Copytex had it’s initial market success with the Bamberg trials, and we know of NO significant copycard systems at the time of these test and trials 1980-1985. All of the cards shown here are part of the PHONECARD development of SEL. SEL were acquired by Alcatel in 1986, and Alcatel began developing it’s own version of the Copytex technology. This is why early Alcatel cards are actually of paper, with same position magstripe from around 1986-1987.

Please turn to Belgium Alcatel to see the connection:
Alcatel BELL

In the Bamberg trials, 2 types of material were trialed. As we have noted SEL tested with full PVC called “Zweischicht PVC”, paper cards or “Papier”, and a thin PVC payer paper coated called “Einschicht PVC”

Issued cards of Paper type were serial numbered A
No. 00#### A
5E   = 13,350  print run 000001-013350  not confirmed  (002184-008887 noted)
40E = 8,400    print run 005000-013000  not confirmed  (007842-012765 noted)
80E = 12,000  print run 000001-012000  not confirmed  (000012-011686 noted)

“Einschicht PVC” were serial numbered F
No. 00#### F
5E   = Not manufactured
40E = 5,000 print run?  000001-005000 not confirmed  (000002-004922 noted)
80E = 600 print run       000001-000600 not confirmed  (000039-000076 noted)

SEL set up phonecard payphones (using the Copytex system) for the field trials in the city of Bamberg 1983-1985.
In this section we are please to show a comprehensive collection of the cards used in testing and field trials.
The copytex cards were initially designed for copy machines in universities, and other facilities, but Copytex had it’s initial market success with the Bamberg trials, and we know of NO significant copycard systems at the time of these test and trials 1980-1985. All of the cards shown here are part of the PHONECARD development of SEL. SEL were acquired by Alcatel in 1986, and Alcatel began developing it’s own version of the Copytex technology. This is why early Alcatel cards are actually of paper, with same position magstripe from around 1986-1987.

Please turn to Belgium Alcatel to see the connection:
Alcatel BELL

The following are all the FD series we have identified as issued to SEL for testing and internal trials
FD022 (old copycheck)
FD024 (orange band)
FD044 (orange band)
FD074 (wave design)
FD103 (orange band)
FD144 (orange band)
FD234 (wave design reference card)
FD363 (orange band)
FD413 (orange band)
FD474 (wave design)
We have observed that all these FD numbers end in either a 3, or a 4, and cannot be a random pattern?? (except the FD022)
The only Deutsche Bundespost Bamberg card with FD number is the FITCE Regensburg card from 1985 with FD1265. The FD series 022-474 range in issue date from 1982 up to 1983.

After some initial testing early in 1980 with chip card technology from Turin, Italy, SEL began testing with Copytex later in November 1980. The chip technology was found to be of poor security, and SEL wanted an inexpensive card, that still retained features that were difficult to counterfeit. Copytex had developed a low priced paper card that employed “LICHTDURCHLASSIGKEIT”, a secret area on the card that allowed special light to pass through (infrared?) was used to authenticate the card before allowing magnetic units to be used from the magstripe. The goal was to set up phonecard payphones for the field trials in the city of Bamberg 1983-1985.
In this section we are please to show a very comprehensive look at the cards used in development.
The copytex cards were initially designed for copy machines in universities, and other facilities, but Copytex had it’s initial market success with the Bamberg trials, and we know of NO significant copycard systems at the time of these test and trials 1980-1985. All of the cards shown here are part of the PHONECARD development of SEL. SEL were acquired by Alcatel in 1986, and Alcatel began developing it’s own version of the Copytex technology. This is why early Alcatel cards are actually of paper, with same position magstripe from around 1986-1987.

Please turn to Belgium Alcatel to see the connection:
Alcatel BELL

The following are all the FD series we have identified as issued to SEL for testing and internal trials
FD022 (old copycheck)
FD024 (orange band)
FD044 (orange band)
FD074 (wave design)
FD103 (orange band)
FD144 (orange band)
FD234 (wave design reference card)
FD363 (orange band)
FD413 (orange band)
FD474 (wave design)
We have observed that all these FD numbers end in either a 3, or a 4, and cannot be a random pattern?? (except the FD022)
The only Deutsche Bundespost Bamberg card with FD number is the FITCE Regensburg card from 1985 with FD1265. The FD series 022-474 range in issue date from 1982 up to 1983.

After some initial testing early in 1980 with chip card technology from Turin, Italy, SEL began testing with Copytex later in November 1980. The chip technology was found to be of poor security, and SEL wanted an inexpensive card, that still retained features that were difficult to counterfeit. Copytex had developed a low priced paper card that employed “LICHTDURCHLASSIGKEIT”, a secret area on the card that allowed special light to pass through (infrared?) was used to authenticate the card before allowing magnetic units to be used from the magstripe. The goal was to set up phonecard payphones for the field trials in the city of Bamberg 1983-1985.
In this section we are please to show a very comprehensive look at the cards used in development.
The copytex cards were initially designed for copy machines in universities, and other facilities, but Copytex had it’s initial market success with the Bamberg trials, and we know of NO significant copycard systems at the time of these test and trials 1980-1985. All of the cards shown here are part of the PHONECARD development of SEL. SEL were acquired by Alcatel in 1986, and Alcatel began developing it’s own version of the Copytex technology. This is why early Alcatel cards are actually of paper, with same position magstripe from around 1986-1987.

Please turn to Belgium Alcatel to see the connection:
Alcatel BELL

For some reason the early 5 unit gratis cards were shown as 1.15DM instead of 1.25DM, and the 20DM cards with bonus 5 units are shown as either 21.15DM or 21.16DM. Anyone with info on this please contact the museum.
This is the first single thin PVC layer series (Einschicht PVC) with the new stylized Copycheck design and orange stripe. This design is used up to FD series 413, but these first PVC have no FD number, but were issued just after the FD022 with the old Copycheck design.

After some initial testing early in 1980 with chip card technology from Turin, Italy, SEL began testing with Copytex later in November 1980. The chip technology was found to be of poor security, and SEL wanted an inexpensive card, that still retained features that were difficult to counterfeit. Copytex had developed a low priced paper card that employed “LICHTDURCHLASSIGKEIT”, a secret area on the card that allowed special light to pass through (infrared?) was used to authenticate the card before allowing magnetic units to be used from the magstripe. The goal was to set up phonecard payphones for the field trials in the city of Bamberg 1983-1985.
In this section we are please to show a very comprehensive look at the cards used in development.
The copytex cards were initially designed for copy machines in universities, and other facilities, but Copytex had it’s initial market success with the Bamberg trials, and we know of NO significant copycard systems at the time of these test and trials 1980-1985. All of the cards shown here are part of the PHONECARD development of SEL. SEL were acquired by Alcatel in 1986, and Alcatel began developing it’s own version of the Copytex technology. This is why early Alcatel cards are actually of paper, with same position magstripe from around 1986-1987.

Please turn to Belgium Alcatel to see the connection:
Alcatel BELL