Five-line single cord switchboard, 1900-1909

Five-line single cord switchboard, Britsh, early 1900s

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Five-line single cord switchboard, Britsh, early 1900s
Science Museum Group Collection
© The Board of Trustees of the Science Museum

Five-line single cord switchboard, unknown maker, British, 1900-1909.

This telephone switchboard would have been used in small offices, where only a few telephone lines were needed. Each line terminates in a socket, called a 'jack', on the panel, and in a plug at the end of a cord. The sixth plug and jack are part of the operator's telephone circuit. To connect two subscribers the operator inserted the plug of the required subscriber's line into the jack of the caller's line.

Details

Category:
Telecommunications
Object Number:
1971-360
Materials:
wood (unidentified), metal (unknown) and cotton (fibre)
Measurements:
overall: 465 mm x 460 mm x 155 mm, 4.22kg
type:
switchboards
credit:
Donated by the Post Office Telecommunications Museum