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diff --git a/33437-8.txt b/33437-8.txt new file mode 100644 index 0000000..950ffdb --- /dev/null +++ b/33437-8.txt @@ -0,0 +1,13005 @@ +The Project Gutenberg EBook of Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, +Vol. 2, by Kempster Miller and George Patterson and Charles Thom and Robert Millikan and Samuel McMeen + +This eBook is for the use of anyone anywhere at no cost and with +almost no restrictions whatsoever. You may copy it, give it away or +re-use it under the terms of the Project Gutenberg License included +with this eBook or online at www.gutenberg.org + + +Title: Cyclopedia of Telephony and Telegraphy, Vol. 2 + A General Reference Work on Telephony, etc. etc. + +Author: Kempster Miller + George Patterson + Charles Thom + Robert Millikan + Samuel McMeen + +Release Date: August 15, 2010 [EBook #33437] + +Language: English + +Character set encoding: ISO-8859-1 + +*** START OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TELEPHONY AND TELEGRAPHY, VOL 2 *** + + + + +Produced by Ronald Holder, Stephen H. Sentoff and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + + + + + + +[Illustration: THOMAS A. EDISON Pioneer Electrical Investigator and +Inventor of Numerous Telegraph, Telephone, Lighting, and Other +Electrical Devices.] + + + + +Cyclopedia + +of + +Telephony and Telegraphy + +_A General Reference Work on_ + +TELEPHONY, SUBSTATIONS, PARTY LINE SYSTEMS, PROTECTION, MANUAL +SWITCHBOARDS, AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS, POWER PLANTS, SPECIAL +SERVICE FEATURES, CONSTRUCTION, ENGINEERING, +OPERATION, MAINTENANCE, TELEGRAPHY, WIRELESS +TELEGRAPHY AND TELEPHONY, ETC. + +_Prepared by a Corps of_ + +TELEPHONE AND TELEGRAPH EXPERTS, AND ELECTRICAL ENGINEERS OF +THE HIGHEST PROFESSIONAL STANDING + +_Illustrated with over Two Thousand Engravings_ + +FOUR VOLUMES + +CHICAGO + +AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CORRESPONDENCE + +1919 + + +COPYRIGHT, 1911, 1912, +BY +AMERICAN SCHOOL OF CORRESPONDENCE + + +COPYRIGHT, 1911, 1912 +BY +AMERICAN TECHNICAL SOCIETY + + +Entered at Stationers' Hall, London +All Rights Reserved + + + + +Authors and Collaborators + + * * * * * + +KEMPSTER B. MILLER, M.E. +Consulting Engineer and Telephone Expert Of the Firm of McMeen and +Miller, Electrical Engineers and Patent Experts, Chicago +American Institute of Electrical Engineers +Western Society of Engineers + + * * * * * + +GEORGE W. PATTERSON, S.B., Ph.D. +Head, Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan + + * * * * * + +CHARLES THOM +Chief of Quadruplex Department, Western Union Main Office, New York City + + * * * * * + +ROBERT ANDREWS MILLIKAN, Ph.D. +Associate Professor of Physics, University of Chicago +Member, Executive Council, American Physical Society + + * * * * * + +SAMUEL G. McMEEN +Consulting Engineer and Telephone Expert Of the Firm of McMeen and +Miller, Electrical Engineers and Patent Experts, Chicago +American Institute of Electrical Engineers +Western Society of Engineers + + * * * * * + +LAWRENCE K. SAGER, S.B., M.P.L. +Patent Attorney and Electrical Expert +Formerly Assistant Examiner, U.S. Patent Office + + * * * * * + +GLENN M. HOBBS, Ph.D. +Secretary, American School of Correspondence +Formerly Instructor in Physics, University of Chicago +American Physical Society + + * * * * * + +CHARLES G. ASHLEY +Electrical Engineer and Expert in Wireless Telegraphy and Telephony + + * * * * * + +A. FREDERICK COLLINS +Editor, _Collins Wireless Bulletin_ +Author of "Wireless Telegraphy, Its History, Theory, and Practice" + + * * * * * + +FRANCIS B. CROCKER, E.M., Ph.D. +Head, Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University +Past-President, American Institute of Electrical Engineers + + * * * * * + +MORTON ARENDT, E.E. +Instructor in Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New York + + * * * * * + +EDWARD B. WAITE +Head, Instruction Department, American School of Correspondence +American Society of Mechanical Engineers +Western Society of Engineers + + * * * * * + +DAVID P. MORETON, B.S., E.E. +Associate Professor of Electrical Engineering, Armour Institute of +Technology +American Institute of Electrical Engineers + + * * * * * + +LEIGH S. KEITH, B.S. +Managing Engineer with McMeen and Miller, Electrical Engineers and +Patent Experts Chicago +Associate Member, American Institute of Electrical Engineers + + * * * * * + +JESSIE M. SHEPHERD, A.B. +Associate Editor, Textbook Department, American School of Correspondence + + * * * * * + +ERNEST L. WALLACE, B.S. +Assistant Examiner, United States Patent Office, Washington, D. C. + + * * * * * + +GEORGE R. METCALFE, M.E. +Editor, _American Institute of Electrical Engineers_ +Formerly Head of Publication Department, Westinghouse Elec. & Mfg. Co. + + * * * * * + +J. P. SCHROETER +Graduate, Munich Technical School +Instructor in Electrical Engineering, American School of Correspondence + + * * * * * + +JAMES DIXON, E.E. +American Institute of Electrical Engineers + + * * * * * + +HARRIS C. TROW, S.B., _Managing Editor_ +Editor-in-Chief, Textbook Department, American School of Correspondence + + +Authorities Consulted + + +The editors have freely consulted the standard technical literature of +America and Europe in the preparation of these volumes. They desire to +express their indebtedness particularly to the following eminent +authorities, whose well-known works should be in the library of every +telephone and telegraph engineer. + +Grateful acknowledgment is here made also for the invaluable +co-operation of the foremost engineering firms and manufacturers in +making these volumes thoroughly representative of the very best and +latest practice in the transmission of intelligence, also for the +valuable drawings, data, suggestions, criticisms, and other courtesies. + + * * * * * + +ARTHUR E. KENNELY, D.Sc. +Professor of Electrical Engineering, Harvard University. +Joint Author of "The Electric Telephone," "The Electric Telegraph," +"Alternating Currents," "Arc Lighting," "Electric Heating," "Electric +Motors," "Electric Railways," "Incandescent Lighting," etc. + + * * * * * + +HENRY SMITH CARHART, A.M., LL.D. +Professor of Physics and Director of the Physical Laboratory, University +of Michigan. +Author of "Primary Batteries," "Elements of Physics," "University +Physics," "Electrical Measurements," "High School Physics," etc. + + * * * * * + +FRANCIS B. CROCKER, M.E., Ph.D. +Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Columbia University, New +York; Past-President, American Institute of Electrical Engineers. +Author of "Electric Lighting;" Joint Author of "Management of Electrical +Machinery." + + * * * * * + +HORATIO A. FOSTER +Consulting Engineer; Member of American Institute of Electrical +Engineers; Member of American Society of Mechanical Engineers. +Author of "Electrical Engineer's Pocket-Book." + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM S. FRANKLIN, M.S., D.Sc. +Professor of Physics, Lehigh University. +Joint Author of "The Elements of Electrical Engineering," "The Elements +of Alternating Currents." + + * * * * * + +LAMAR LYNDON, B.E., M.E. +Consulting Electrical Engineer; Associate Member of American Institute +of Electrical Engineers; Member, American Electro-Chemical Society. +Author of "Storage Battery Engineering." + + * * * * * + +ROBERT ANDREWS MILLIKAN, Ph.D. +Professor of Physics, University of Chicago. +Joint Author of "A First Course in Physics," "Electricity, Sound and +Light," etc. + + * * * * * + +KEMPSTER B. MILLER, M.E. +Consulting Engineer and Telephone Expert; of the Firm of McMeen and +Miller, Electrical Engineers and Patent Experts, Chicago. +Author of "American Telephone Practice." + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM H. PREECE +Chief of the British Postal Telegraph. +Joint Author of "Telegraphy," "A Manual of Telephony," etc. + + * * * * * + +LOUIS BELL, Ph.D. +Consulting Electrical Engineer; Lecturer on Power Transmission, +Massachusetts Institute of Technology. +Author of "Electric Power Transmission," "Power Distribution for +Electric Railways," "The Art of Illumination," "Wireless Telephony," +etc. + + * * * * * + +OLIVER HEAVISIDE, F.R.S. +Author of "Electro-Magnetic Theory," "Electrical Papers," etc. + + * * * * * + +SILVANUS P. THOMPSON, D.Sc., B.A., F.R.S., F.R.A.S. +Principal and Professor of Physics in the City and Guilds of London +Technical College. +Author of "Electricity and Magnetism," "Dynamo-Electric Machinery," +"Polyphase Electric Currents and Alternate-Current Motors," "The +Electromagnet," etc. + + * * * * * + +ANDREW GRAY, M.A., F.R.S.E. +Author of "Absolute Measurements in Electricity and Magnetism." + + * * * * * + +ALBERT CUSHING CREHORE, A.B., Ph.D. +Electrical Engineer; Assistant Professor of Physics, Dartmouth College; +Formerly Instructor in Physics, Cornell University. +Author of "Synchronous and Other Multiple Telegraphs;" Joint Author of +"Alternating Currents." + + * * * * * + +J. J. THOMSON, D.Sc., LL.D., Ph.D., F.R.S. +Fellow of Trinity College, Cambridge University; Cavendish Professor of +Experimental Physics, Cambridge University. +Author of "The Conduction of Electricity through Gases," "Electricity +and Matter." + + * * * * * + +FREDERICK BEDELL, Ph.D. +Professor of Applied Electricity, Cornell University. +Author of "The Principles of the Transformer;" Joint Author of +"Alternating Currents." + + * * * * * + +DUGALD C. JACKSON, C.E. +Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Massachusetts Institute of +Technology; Member, American Institute of Electrical Engineers, etc. +Author of "A Textbook on Electromagnetism and the Construction of +Dynamos;" Joint Author of "Alternating Currents and Alternating-Current +Machinery." + + * * * * * + +MICHAEL IDVORSKY PUPIN, A.B., Sc.D., Ph.D. +Professor of Electro-Mechanics, Columbia University, New York. +Author of "Propagation of Long Electric Waves," and "Wave-Transmission +over Non-Uniform Cables and Long-Distance Air Lines." + + * * * * * + +FRANK BALDWIN JEWETT, A.B., Ph.D. +Transmission and Protection Engineer, with American Telephone & +Telegraph Co. +Author of "Modern Telephone Cable," "Effect of Pressure on Insulation +Resistance." + + * * * * * + +ARTHUR CROTCH +Formerly Lecturer on Telegraphy and Telephony at the Municipal Technical +Schools, Norwich, Eng. +Author of "Telegraphy and Telephony." + + * * * * * + +JAMES ERSKINE-MURRAY, D.Sc. +Fellow of the Royal Society of Edinburgh; Member of the Institution of +Electrical Engineers. +Author of "A Handbook of Wireless Telegraphy." + + * * * * * + +A. H. McMILLAN, A.B., LL.B. +Author of "Telephone Law, A Manual on the Organization and Operation of +Telephone Companies." + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM ESTY, S.B., M.A. +Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Lehigh University. +Joint Author of "The Elements of Electrical Engineering." + + * * * * * + +GEORGE W. WILDER, Ph.D. +Formerly Professor of Telephone Engineering, Armour Institute of +Technology. +Author of "Telephone Principles and Practice," "Simultaneous Telegraphy +and Telephony," etc. + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM L. HOOPER, Ph.D. +Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, Tufts College. +Joint Author of "Electrical Problems for Engineering Students." + + * * * * * + +DAVID S. HULFISH +Technical Editor, _The Nickelodeon_; Telephone and Motion-Picture +Expert; Solicitor of Patents. +Author of "How to Read Telephone Circuit Diagrams." + + * * * * * + +J. A. FLEMING, M.A., D.Sc. (Lond.), F.R.S. +Professor of Electrical Engineering in University College, London; Late +Fellow and Scholar of St. John's College, Cambridge; Fellow of +University College, London. +Author of "The Alternate-Current Transformer," "Radiotelegraphy and +Radiotelephony," "Principles of Electric Wave Telegraphy," "Cantor +Lectures on Electrical Oscillations and Electric Waves," "Hertzian Wave +Wireless Telegraphy," etc. + + * * * * * + +F. A. C. PERRINE, A.M., D.Sc. +Consulting Engineer; Formerly President, Stanley Electric Manufacturing +Company; Formerly Professor of Electrical Engineering, Leland Stanford, +Jr. University. +Author of "Conductors for Electrical Distribution." + + * * * * * + +A. FREDERICK COLLINS +Editor, _College Wireless Bulletin_. +Author of "Wireless Telegraphy, Its History, Theory and Practice," +"Manual of Wireless Telegraphy," "Design and Construction of Induction +Coils," etc. + + * * * * * + +SCHUYLER S. WHEELER, D.Sc. +President, Crocker-Wheeler Co.; Past-President, American Institute of +Electrical Engineers. +Joint Author of "Management of Electrical Machinery." + + * * * * * + +CHARLES PROTEUS STEINMETZ +Consulting Engineer, with the General Electric Co.; Professor of +Electrical Engineering, Union College. +Author of "The Theory and Calculation of Alternating-Current Phenomena," +"Theoretical Elements of Electrical Engineering," etc. + + * * * * * + +GEORGE W. PATTERSON, S.B., Ph.D. +Head of Department of Electrical Engineering, University of Michigan. +Joint Author of "Electrical Measurements." + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM MAVER, Jr. +Ex-Electrician Baltimore and Ohio Telegraph Company; Member of the +American Institute of Electrical Engineers. +Author of "American Telegraphy and Encyclopedia of the Telegraph," +"Wireless Telegraphy." + + * * * * * + +JOHN PRICE JACKSON, M.E. +Professor of Electrical Engineering, Pennsylvania State College. +Joint Author of "Alternating Currents and Alternating-Current +Machinery." + + * * * * * + +AUGUSTUS TREADWELL, Jr., E.E. +Associate Member, American Institute of Electrical Engineers. +Author of "The Storage Battery, A Practical Treatise on Secondary +Batteries." + + * * * * * + +EDWIN J. HOUSTON, Ph.D. +Professor of Physics, Franklin Institute, Pennsylvania; Joint Inventor +of Thomson-Houston System of Arc Lighting; Electrical Expert and +Consulting Engineer. +Joint Author of "The Electric Telephone," "The Electric Telegraph," +"Alternating Currents," "Arc Lighting," "Electric Heating," "Electric +Motors," "Electric Railways," "Incandescent Lighting," etc. + + * * * * * + +WILLIAM J. HOPKINS +Professor of Physics in the Drexel Institute of Art, Science, and +Industry, Philadelphia. +Author of "Telephone Lines and their Properties." + +[Illustration: GROSSE POINT EXCHANGE RACK Detroit Home Telephone +Company, Detroit, Mich. _The Dean Electric Co._] + +[Illustration: LINE SIDE OF LARGE MAIN DISTRIBUTING FRAME] + + + + +Foreword + + +The present day development of the "talking wire" has annihilated both +time and space, and has enabled men thousands of miles apart to get into +almost instant communication. The user of the telephone and the +telegraph forgets the tremendousness of the feat in the simplicity of +its accomplishment; but the man who has made the feat possible knows +that its very simplicity is due to the complexity of the principles and +appliances involved; and he realizes his need of a practical, working +understanding of each principle and its application. The Cyclopedia of +Telephony and Telegraphy presents a comprehensive and authoritative +treatment of the whole art of the electrical transmission of +intelligence. + +The communication engineer--if so he may be called--requires a knowledge +both of the mechanism of his instruments and of the vagaries of the +current that makes them talk. He requires as well a knowledge of plants +and buildings, of office equipment, of poles and wires and conduits, of +office system and time-saving methods, for the transmission of +intelligence is a business as well as an art. And to each of these +subjects, and to all others pertinent, the Cyclopedia gives proper space +and treatment. + +The sections on Telephony cover the installation, maintenance, and +operation of all standard types of telephone systems; they present +without prejudice the respective merits of manual and automatic +exchanges; and they give special attention to the prevention and +handling of operating "troubles." The sections on Telegraphy cover both +commercial service and train dispatching. Practical methods of wireless +communication--both by telephone and by telegraph--are thoroughly +treated. + +The drawings, diagrams, and photographs incorporated into the Cyclopedia +have been prepared especially for this work; and their instructive value +is as great as that of the text itself. They have been used to +illustrate and illuminate the text, and not as a medium around which to +build the text. Both drawings and diagrams have been simplified so far +as is compatible with their correctness, with the result that they tell +their own story and always in the same language. + +The Cyclopedia is a compilation of many of the most valuable Instruction +Papers of the American School of Correspondence, and the method adopted +in its preparation is that which this School has developed and employed +so successfully for many years. This method is not an experiment, but +has stood the severest of all tests--that of practical use--which has +demonstrated it to be the best yet devised for the education of the +busy, practical man. + +In conclusion, grateful acknowledgment is due to the staff of authors +and collaborators, without whose hearty co-operation this work would +have been impossible. + + + + +Table of Contents + +VOLUME II + + +MANUAL SWITCHBOARDS _By K. B. Miller and S. G. McMeen_[A] Page[B] 11 + +Common-Battery Switchboards--Line Signals--Cord +Circuit--Lamps--Mechanical Signals--Relays--Jacks--Switchboard +Assembly--Transfer Switchboard--Transfer Lines--Handling +Transfers--Multiple Switchboard--Busy Test--Influence of +Traffic--Magneto-Multiple Switchboard--Multiple Boards: Series, +Branch-Terminal, Modern Magneto, Common-Battery--Western Electric No. 1 +Relay Board--Western Electric No. 10 Board--Types of Multiple +Boards--Apparatus--Trunking--Western Electric and Kellogg Trunk Circuits + +AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS _By K. B. Miller and S. G. McMeen_ Page 135 + +Automatic vs. Manual--Operation--Selecting Switch--Line Switch--Trunking +Systems--Two- and Three-Wire Systems--Subscriber's Station +Apparatus--First and Second Selector Operation--Connector--Release after +Conversation--Multi-Office System--Automatic Sub-Offices--Rotary +Connector--Party Lines--Two-Wire Automatic System--Lorimer +System--Central-Office Apparatus--Operation--Automanual +System--Operation--Subscriber's Apparatus--Operator's +Equipment--Switching Equipment--Distribution of Calls--Connection--Speed + +POWER PLANTS AND BUILDINGS _By K. B. Miller and S. G. McMeen_ Page 227 + +Currents Employed--Types--Operator's Transmitter Supply--Ringing-Current +Supply--Auxiliary Signaling Current--Primary Sources--Duplicate +Apparatus--Storage Batteries--Power +Switchboards--Circuits--Central-Office Building--Arrangement of +Apparatus--Manual Offices--Automatic Offices + +SPECIAL SERVICE FEATURES _By K. B. Miller and S. G. McMeen_ Page 271 + +Private-Branch Exchanges--Switchboards--Supervision--With Automatic +Offices--Battery Supply--Ringing Current--Inter-Communicating +Systems--Magneto System--Common-Battery Systems--Types--Long-Distance +Switching--Operator's Orders--Trunking--Way Stations--Traffic--Measured +Service--Charging--Rates--Toll Service--Local Service + +TELEGRAPH AND RAILWAY WORK _By K. B. Miller and S. G. McMeen_ Page 321 + +Phantom, Simplex, and Composite Circuits--Ringing--Railway +Composite--Telephone Train Dispatching--Railroad +Conditions--Transmitting Orders--Apparatus--Telephone Equipment--Types +of Circuits--Test Boards--Blocking Sets--Dispatching on Electric +Railways + +REVIEW QUESTIONS Page 359 + +INDEX Page 373 + +[Footnote A: For professional standing of authors, see list of Authors +and Collaborators at front of volume.] + +[Footnote B: For page numbers, see foot of pages.] + +[Illustration: PORTION OF TERMINAL ROOM OF LARGE COMMON-BATTERY OFFICE +Prospect Office, New York Telephone Co.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXII + +THE SIMPLE COMMON-BATTERY SWITCHBOARD + + +=Advantages of Common-Battery Operation.= The advantages of the +common-battery system of operation, alluded to in Chapter XIII, may be +briefly summarized here. The main gain in the common-battery system of +supply is the simplification of the subscribers' instruments, doing away +with the local batteries and the magneto generators, and the +concentration of all these many sources of current into one single +source at the central office. A considerable saving is thus effected +from the standpoint of maintenance, since the simpler common-battery +instrument is not so likely to get out of order and, therefore, does not +have to be visited so often for repairs, and the absence of local +batteries, of course, makes the renewal of the battery parts by members +of the maintenance department, unnecessary. Another decided advantage in +the common-battery system is the fact that the centralized battery +stands ready always to send current over the line when the subscriber +completes the circuit of the line at his station by removing his +receiver from its hook. The common-battery system, therefore, lends +itself naturally to the purposes of automatic signaling, since it is +only necessary to place at the central office a device in the circuit of +each line that will be responsive to the current which flows from the +central battery when the subscriber removes his receiver from its hook. +It is thus that the subscriber is enabled automatically to signal the +central office when he desires a connection; and as will be shown, it is +by the same sort of means, associated with the cord circuits used in +connecting his line with some other line, that the operator is +automatically notified when a disconnection is desired, the cessation of +current through the subscriber's line when he hangs up his receiver +being made to actuate certain responsive devices which are associated +with the cord at that time connected with his line, and which convey the +proper disconnect signal to the operator. + +Concentration of sources of energy into a single large unit, the +simplification of the subscriber's station equipment, and the ready +adaptability to automatic signaling from the subscriber to the central +office are, therefore, the reasons for the existence of the +common-battery system. + +=Common Battery vs. Magneto.= It must not be supposed, however, that the +common-battery system always has advantages over the magneto system, and +that it is superior to the magneto or local-battery system for all +purposes. It is the outward attractiveness of the common-battery system +and the arguments in its favor, so readily made by over-zealous +salesmen, that has led, in many cases, to the adoption of this system +when the magneto system would better have served the purpose of utility +and economy. + +To say the least, the telephone transmission to be had from +common-battery systems is no better than that to be had from +local-battery systems, and as a rule, assuming equality in other +respects, it is not as good. It is perhaps true, however, that under +average conditions common-battery transmission is somewhat better, +because whereas the local batteries at the subscribers' stations in the +local-battery system are not likely to be in uniformly first-class +condition, the battery in a common-battery system will be kept up to its +full voltage except under the grossest neglect. + +The places in which the magneto, or local-battery, system is to be +preferred to the common-battery system, in the opinion of the writers, +are to be found in the small rural communities where the lines have a +rather great average length; where a good many subscribers are likely to +be found on some of the lines; where the sources of electrical power +available for charging storage batteries are likely either not to exist, +or to be of a very uncertain nature; and where it is not commercially +feasible to employ a high-grade class of attendants, or, in fact, any +attendant at all other than the operator at the central office. + +In large or medium-sized exchanges it is always possible to procure +suitable current for charging the storage batteries required in +common-battery systems, and it is frequently economical, on account of +the considerable quantity of energy that is thus used, to establish a +generating plant in connection with the central office for developing +the necessary electrical energy. In very small rural places there are +frequently no available sources of electrical energy, and the expense of +establishing a power plant for the purpose cannot be justified. But even +if there is an electric light or railway system in the small town, so +that the problem of available current supply does not exist, the +establishment of a common-battery system with its storage battery and +the necessary charging machinery requires the daily attendance at the +central office of some one to watch and care for this battery, and this, +on account of the small gross revenue that may be derived from a small +telephone system, often involves a serious financial burden. + +There is no royal road to a proper decision in the matter, and no sharp +line of demarcation may be drawn between the places where common-battery +systems are superior to magneto and _vice versā_. It may be said, +however, that in the building of all new telephone plants having over +about 500 local subscribers, the common-battery system is undoubtedly +superior to the magneto. If the plant is an old one, however, and is to +be re-equipped, the continuance of magneto apparatus might be justified +for considerably larger exchanges than those having 500 subscribers. + +Telephone operating companies who have changed over the equipment of old +plants from magneto to common battery have sometimes been led into +rather serious difficulty, owing to the fact that their lines, while +serving tolerably well for magneto work, were found inadequate to meet +the more exacting demands of common-battery work. Again in an old plant +the change from magneto to common-battery equipment involves not only +the change of switchboards, but also the change of subscribers' +instruments that are otherwise good, and this consideration alone often, +in our opinion, justifies the replacing of an old magneto board with a +new magneto board, even if the exchange is of such size as to demand a +small multiple board. + +Where the plant to be established is of such size as to leave doubt as +to whether a magneto or a common-battery switchboard should be employed, +the questions of availability of the proper kind of power for charging +the batteries, the proper kind of help for maintaining the batteries and +the more elaborate central-office equipment, the demands and previous +education of the public to be served, all are factors which must be +considered in reaching the decision. + +It is not proper to say that anything like all exchanges having fewer +than 500 local lines, should be equipped with magneto service. Where all +the lines are short, where suitable power is available, and where a good +grade of attendants is available--as, for instance, in the case of +private telephone exchanges that serve some business establishment or +other institution located in one building or a group of buildings--the +common-battery system is to be recommended and is largely used, even +though it may have but a dozen or so subscribers' lines. It is for such +uses, and for use in those regular public-service exchange systems where +the conditions are such as to warrant the common-battery system, and yet +where the number of lines and the traffic are small enough to be handled +by such a small group of operators that any one of them may reach over +the entire face of the board, that the simple non-multiple +common-battery system finds its proper field of usefulness. + +=Line Signals.= The principles and means by which the subscriber is +enabled to call the central-office operator in a common-battery system +have been referred to briefly in Chapter III. We will review these at +this point and also consider briefly the way in which the line signals +are associated with the connective devices in the subscribers' lines. + +_Direct-Line Lamp._ The simplest possible way is to put the line signal +directly in the circuit of the line in series with the central-office +battery, and so to arrange the jack of the corresponding line that the +circuit through the line signal will be open when the operator inserts a +plug into that jack. This arrangement is shown in Fig. 307 where the +subscriber's station at the left is indicated in the simplest of its +forms. It is well to repeat here that in all common-battery manual +systems, the subscriber's station equipment, regardless of the +arrangement or type of its talking and signaling apparatus, must have +these features: First, that the line shall be normally open to direct +currents at the subscriber's station; second, that the line shall be +closed to direct currents when the subscriber removes his receiver from +its hook in making or in answering a call; third, that the line +normally, although open to direct currents, shall afford a proper path +for alternating or varying currents through the signal receiving device +at the sub-station. The subscriber's station arrangement shown in Fig. +307, and those immediately following, is the simplest arrangement that +possesses these three necessary features for common-battery service. + +[Illustration: Fig. 307. Direct-Line Lamp] + +Considering the arrangement at the central office, Fig. 307, the two +limbs of the line are permanently connected to the tip and sleeve +contacts of the jack. These two main contacts of the jack normally +engage two anvils so connected that the tip of the jack is ordinarily +connected through its anvil to ground, while the sleeve of the jack is +normally connected through its anvil to a circuit leading through the +line signal--in this case a lamp--and the common battery, and thence to +ground. The operation is obvious. Normally no current may flow from the +common battery through the signal because the line is open at the +subscriber's station. The removal of the subscriber's receiver from its +hook closes the circuit of the line and allows the current to flow +through the lamp, causing it to glow. When the operator inserts the plug +into the jack, in response to the call, the circuit through the lamp is +cut off at the jack and the lamp goes out. + +This arrangement, termed the direct-line lamp arrangement, is largely +used in small common-battery telephone systems where the lines are very +short, such as those found in factories or other places where the +confines of the exchange are those of a building or a group of +neighboring buildings. Many of the so-called private-branch exchanges, +which will be considered more in detail in a later chapter, employ this +direct-line lamp arrangement. + +[Illustration: Fig. 308. Direct-Line Lamp with Ballast] + +_Direct-Line Lamp with Ballast._ Obviously, however, this direct-line +lamp arrangement is not a good one where the lines vary widely in length +and resistance. An incandescent lamp, as is well known, must not be +subjected to too great a variation in current. If the current that is +just right in amount to bring it to its intended degree of illumination +is increased by a comparatively small amount, the life of the lamp will +be greatly shortened, and too great an increase will result in the +lamp's burning out immediately. On the other hand, a current that is too +small will not result in the proper illumination of the lamp, and a +current of one-half the proper normal value will just suffice to bring +the lamp to a dull red glow. With lines that are not approximately +uniform in length and resistance the shorter lines would afford too +great a flow of current to the lamps and the longer lines too little, +and there is always the danger present, unless means are taken to +prevent it, that if a line becomes short-circuited or grounded near the +central office, the lamp will be subjected to practically the full +battery potential and, therefore, to such a current as will burn it out. +One of the very ingenious and, we believe, promising methods that has +been proposed to overcome this difficulty is that of the iron-wire +ballast, alluded to in Chapter III. This, it will be remembered, +consists of an iron-wire resistance enclosed in a vacuum chamber and so +proportioned with respect to the flow of current that it will be +subjected to a considerable heating effect by the amount of current that +is proper to illuminate the lamp. As has already been pointed out, +carbon has a negative temperature coefficient, that is, its resistance +decreases when heated. Iron, on the other hand, has a positive +temperature coefficient, its resistance increasing when heated. When +such an iron-wire ballast is put in series with the incandescent lamp +forming the line signal, as shown in Fig. 308, it is seen that the +resistance of the carbon in the lamp filament and of the iron in the +ballast will act in opposite ways when the current increases or +decreases. An increase of current will tend to heat up the iron wire of +the ballast and, therefore, increase its resistance, and the ballast is +so proportioned that it will hold the current that may flow through the +lamp within the proper maximum and minimum limits, regardless of the +resistance of the line in which the lamp is used. This arrangement has +not gone into wide use up to the present time. + +_Line Lamp with Relay._ By far the most common method of associating the +line lamp with the line is to employ a relay, of which the actuating +coil is in the line circuit, this relay serving to control a local +circuit containing the battery and the lamp. This arrangement and the +way in which these parts are associated with the jack are clearly +indicated in Fig. 309. Here the relay may receive any amount of current, +from the smallest which will cause it to pull up its armature, to the +largest which will not injure its winding by overheat. Relays may be +made which will attract their armatures at a certain minimum current and +which will not burn out when energized by currents about ten times as +large, and it is thus seen that a very large range of current through +the relay winding is permissible, and that, therefore, a very great +latitude as to line resistance is secured. On the other hand, it is +obvious that the lamp circuit, being entirely local, is of uniform +resistance, the lamp always being subjected, in the arrangement shown, +to practically the full battery potential, the lamp being selected to +operate on that potential. + +[Illustration: Fig. 309. Line Lamp with Relay] + +_Pilot Signals._ In the circuits of Figs. 307, 308, and 309, but a +single line and its associated apparatus is shown, and it may not be +altogether clear to the uninitiated how it is that the battery shown in +those figures may serve, without interference of any function, a larger +number of lines than one. It is to be remembered that this battery is +the one which serves not only to operate the line signals, but also to +supply talking current to the subscribers and to supply current for the +operation of the cord-circuit signals after the cord circuits are +connected with the lines. + +In Fig. 310 this matter is made clear with respect to the association of +this common battery with the lines for operating the line signals, and +also another important feature of common-battery work is brought out, +viz, the pilot lamp and its association with a group of line lamps. +Three subscribers' lines only are shown, but this serves clearly to +illustrate the association of any larger number of lines with the common +battery. Ignoring at first the pilot relay and the pilot lamp, it will +be seen that each of the tip-spring anvils of the jacks is connected to +a common wire _1_ which is grounded. Each of the sleeve-contact anvils +is connected through the coil of the line relay to another common wire +_2_, which connects with the live side of the common battery. Obviously, +therefore, this arrangement corresponds with that of Fig. 309, since the +battery may furnish current to energize any one of the line relays upon +the closure of the circuit of the corresponding line. Each of the relay +armatures in Fig. 310 is connected to ground. + +Here we wish to bring out an important thing about telephone circuit +diagrams which is sometimes confusing to the beginner, but which really, +when understood, tends to prevent confusion. The showing of a separate +ground for each of the line-relay armatures does not mean that literally +each one of these armatures is connected by a separate wire to earth, +and it is to be understood that the three separate grounds shown in +connection with these relay armatures is meant to indicate just such a +set of affairs as is shown in connection with the tip-spring anvils of +the jacks, all of which are connected to a common wire which, in turn, +is grounded. Obviously, the result is the same, but in the case of this +particular diagram it is seen that a great deal of crossing of lines is +prevented by showing a separate ground at each one of the relay +armatures. The same practice is followed in connection with the common +battery. Sometimes it is very inconvenient in a complicated diagram to +run all of the wires that are supposed to connect with one terminal of +the battery across the diagram to represent this connection. It is +permissible, therefore, and in fact desirable, that separate battery +symbols be shown wherever by so doing the diagram will be simplified, +the understanding being, in the absence of other information or of other +indications, that the same battery is referred to, just as the same +ground is referred to in connection with the relay armatures in the +figure under discussion. + +Each line lamp in Fig. 310 is shown connected on one hand to its +corresponding line relay contact and on the other hand to a common wire +which leads through the winding of the pilot relay to the live side of +the battery. It is obvious here that whenever any one of the line relays +attracts its armature the local circuit containing the corresponding +lamp and the common battery will be closed and the lamp illuminated. + +Whenever any line relay operates, the current, which is supplied to its +lamp, must come through the pilot-relay winding, and if a number of line +relays are energized, then the current flow of the corresponding lamps +must flow through this relay winding. Therefore, this relay winding must +be of low resistance, so that the drop through its winding may not be +sufficient to interfere with the proper burning of the lamps, even +though a large number of lamps be fed simultaneously through it. The +pilot relay must be so sensitive that the current, even through one +lamp, will cause it to attract its armature. When it does attract its +armature it causes illumination of the pilot lamp in the same way that +the line relays cause the illumination of the line lamps. + +The pilot lamp, which is commonly associated with a group of line lamps +that are placed on any one operator's position of the switchboard, is +located in a conspicuous place in the switchboard cabinet and is +provided with a larger lens so as to make a more striking signal. As a +result, whenever any line lamp on a given position lights, the pilot +lamp does also and serves to attract the attention, even of those +located in distant portions of the room, to the fact that a call exists +on that position of the board, the line lamp itself, which is +simultaneously lighted, pointing out the particular line on which the +call exists. + +Pilot lamps, in effect, perform similar service to the night alarm in +magneto boards, but, of course, they are silent and do not attract +attention unless within the range of vision of the operator. They are +used not only in connection with line lamps, but also in connection with +the cord-circuit lamps or signals, as will be pointed out. + +[Illustration: Fig. 311. Battery Supply Through Impedance Coils] + +[Illustration: Fig. 312. Battery Supply through Repeating Coils] + +[Illustration: Fig. 313. Battery Supply with Impedance Coils and +Condensers] + +=Cord Circuit.= _Battery Supply._ Were it not for the necessity of +providing for cord-circuit signals in common-battery switchboards, the +common-battery cord circuit would be scarcely more complex than that for +magneto working. Stripped of all details, such as signals, ringing and +listening keys, and operator's equipment, cord circuits of three +different types are shown in Figs. 311, 312, and 313. These merely +illustrate the way in which the battery is associated with the cord +circuits and through them with the line circuits for supplying current +for talking purposes to the subscribers. It is thought that this matter +will be clear in view of the discussion of the methods by which current +is supplied to the subscribers' transmitters in common-battery systems +as discussed in Chapter XIII. While the arrangements in this respect of +Figs. 311, 312, and 313 illustrate only three of the methods, these +three are the ones that have been most widely and successfully used. + +_Supervisory Signals._ The signals that are associated with the cord +circuits are termed supervisory signals because of the fact that by +their means the operator is enabled to supervise the condition of the +lines during times when they are connected for conversation. The +operation of these supervisory signals may be best understood by +considering the complete circuits of a simple switchboard and must be +studied in conjunction with the circuits of the lines as well as those +of the cords. + +[Illustration: Fig. 314. Simple Common-Battery Switchboard] + +_Complete Circuit._ Such complete circuits are shown in Fig. 314. The +particular arrangement indicated is that employed by the Kellogg +Company, and except for minor details may be considered as typical of +other makes also. Two subscribers' lines are shown extending from +Station A and Station B, respectively, to the central office. The line +wires are shown terminating in jacks in the same manner as indicated in +Figs. 307, 308, and 309, and their circuits are normally continued from +these jacks to the ground on one side and to the line relay and battery +on the other. The jack in this case has three contacts adapted to +register with three corresponding contacts in each of the plugs. The +thimble of the jack in this case forms no part of the talking circuit +and is distinct from the two jack springs which form the line terminals. +It and the auxiliary contact _1_ in each of the plugs with which it +registers, are solely for the purpose of co-operating in the control of +the supervisory signals. + +The tip and sleeve strands of the cord are continuous from one plug to +the other except for the condensers. The two batteries indicated in +connection with the cord circuit are separate batteries, a +characteristic of the Kellogg system. One of these batteries serves to +supply current to the tip and sleeve strand of the cord circuit through +the two windings _3_ and _4_, respectively, of the supervisory relay +connected with the answering side of the cord circuit, while the other +battery similarly supplies current through the windings _5_ and _6_ of +the supervisory relay associated with the calling side of the cord +circuit. The windings of these relays, therefore, act as impedance coils +and the arrangement by which battery current is supplied to the cord +circuits and, therefore, to the lines of the connected subscribers, is +seen to be the combined impedance coil and condenser arrangement +discussed in Chapter XIII. + +As soon as a plug is inserted into the jack of a line, the line relay +will be removed from the control of the line, and since the two strands +of the cord circuit now form continuations of the two line conductors, +the supervisory relay will be substituted for the line relay and will be +under control of the line. Since all of the current which passes to the +line after a plug is inserted must pass through the cord-circuit +connection and through the relay windings, and since current can only +flow through the line when the subscriber's receiver is off its hook, it +follows that the supervisory relays will only be energized after the +corresponding plug has been inserted into a jack of the line and after +the subscriber has removed his receiver. Unlike the line relays, the +supervisory relays open their contacts to break the local circuits of +the supervisory lamps _7_ and _8_ when the relay coils are energized, +and to close them when de-energized; but the armatures of the +supervisory relays do alone control the circuits of the supervisory +lamps. These circuits are normally held open in another place, that is, +between the plug contacts _1_ and the jack thimbles. It is only, +therefore, when a plug is inserted into a jack and when the supervisory +relay is de-energized, that the supervisory lamp may be lighted. When a +plug is inserted into a jack and when the corresponding supervisory +relay is de-energized, the circuit may be traced from ground at the +cord-circuit batteries through the left-hand battery, for instance, +through lamp _7_, thence through the contacts of the supervisory relay +to the contact _1_ of the plug, thence through the thimble of the jack +to ground. When a plug is inserted into the jack, therefore, the +necessary arrangements are completed for the supervisory lamp to be +under the control of the subscriber. Under this condition, whenever the +subscriber's receiver is on its hook, the circuit of the line will be +broken, the supervisory relay will be de-energized, and the supervisory +lamp will be lighted. When, on the other hand, the subscriber's receiver +is off its hook, the circuit of the line will be complete, the +supervisory relay will be energized, and the supervisory lamp will be +extinguished. + +_Salient Features of Supervisory Operation._ It will facilitate the +student's understanding of the requirements and mode of operation of +common-battery supervisory signals in manual systems, whether simple or +multiple, if he will firmly fix the following facts in his mind. In +order that the supervisory signal may become operative at all, some act +must be performed by the operator--this being usually the act of +plugging into a jack--and then, until the connection is taken down, the +supervisory signal is under the control of the subscriber, and it is +displayed only when the subscriber's receiver is placed on its hook. + +_Cycle of Operations._ We may now trace through the complete cycle of +operations of the simple common-battery switchboard, the circuits of +which are shown in Fig. 314. Assume all apparatus in its normal +condition, and then assume that the subscriber at Station A removes his +receiver from its hook. This pulls up the line relay and lights the line +lamp, the pilot relay also pulling up and lighting the common pilot lamp +which is not shown. In response to this call, the operator inserts the +answering plug and throws her listening key _L.K._ The operator's +talking set is thus bridged across the cord circuit and she is enabled +to converse with the calling subscriber. The answering supervisory lamp +_7_ did not light when the operator inserted the answering plug into the +jack, because, although the contacts in the lamp circuit were closed by +the plug contact _1_ engaging the thimble of the jack, the lamp circuit +was held open by the attraction of the supervisory relay armature, the +subscriber's receiver being off its hook. Learning that the called-for +subscriber is the one at Station B, the operator inserts the calling +plug into the jack at that station and presses the ringing key _R.K._, +in order to ring the bell. The act of plugging in, it will be +remembered, cuts off the line-signaling apparatus from connection with +that line. As the subscriber at Station B was not at his telephone when +called and his receiver was, therefore, on its hook, the insertion of +the calling plug did not energize the supervisory relay coils _5_ and +_6_, and, therefore, that relay did not attract its armature. The +supervisory lamp _8_ was thus lighted, the circuit being from ground +through the right-hand cord-circuit battery, lamp _8_, back contacts of +the supervisory relay, third strand of the cord to contact _1_ of the +calling plug, and thence to ground through the thimble of the jack. The +lighting of this lamp is continued until the party at Station B responds +by removing his receiver from its hook, which completes the line +circuit, energizes relay windings _5_ and _6_, causes that relay to +attract its armature, and thus break the circuit of the lamp _8_. Both +supervisory lamps remain out as long as the two subscribers are +conversing, but when either one of them hangs up his receiver the +corresponding supervisory relay becomes de-energized and the +corresponding lamp lights. When both of the lamps become illuminated, +the operator knows that both subscribers are through talking and she +takes down the connection. + +Countless variations have been worked in the arrangement of the line and +cord circuits, but the general mode of operation of this particular +circuit chosen for illustration is standard and should be thoroughly +mastered. The operation of other arrangements will be readily understood +from an inspection of the circuits, once the fundamental mode of +operation that is common to all of them is well in mind. + +=Lamps.= The incandescent lamps used in connection with line and +supervisory signals are specially manufactured, but differ in no sense +from the larger lamps employed for general lighting purposes, save in +the details of size, form, and method of mounting. Usually these lamps +are rated at about one-third candle-power, although they have a somewhat +larger candle-power as a rule. They are manufactured to operate on +various voltages, the most usual operating pressures being 12, 24, and +48 volts. The 24-volt lamp consumes about one-tenth of an ampere when +fully illuminated, the lamp thus consuming about 2.4 watts. The 12- and +48-volt lamps consume about the same amount of energy and corresponding +amounts of current. + +[Illustration: Fig. 315. Switchboard Lamp] + +_Lamp Mounting._ The usual form of screw-threaded mounting employed in +lamps for commercial lighting was at first applied to the miniature +lamps used for switchboard work, but this was found unsatisfactory and +these lamps are now practically always provided with two contact strips, +one on each side of the glass bulb, these strips forming respectively +the terminals for the two ends of the filament within. Such a +construction of a common form of lamp is shown in Fig. 315, where these +terminals are indicated by the numerals _1_ and _2_, _3_ being a dry +wooden block arranged between the terminals at one end for securing +greater rigidity between them. + +[Illustration: Fig. 316. Line Lamp Mounting] + +The method of mounting these lamps is subject to a good deal of +variation in detail, but the arrangement is always such that the lamp is +slid in between two metallic contacts forming terminals of the circuit +in which the lamp is to operate. Such an arrangement of springs and the +co-operating mounting forming a sort of socket for the reception of +switchboard lamps is referred to as a _lamp jack_. These are sometimes +individually mounted and sometimes mounted in strips in much the same +way that jacks are mounted in strips. A strip of lamp jacks as +manufactured by the Kellogg Company is shown in Fig. 316. The +opalescent lens is adapted to be fitted in front of the lamp after it +has been inserted into the jack. Fig. 317 gives an excellent view of an +individually-mounted lamp jack with its lamp and lens, this also being +of Kellogg manufacture. This figure shows a section of the plug shelf +which is bored to receive a lamp. In order to protect the lamps and +lenses from breakage, due to the striking of the plugs against them, a +metal shield is placed over the lens, as shown in this figure, this +being so cut away as to allow sufficient openings for the light to shine +through. Sometimes instead of employing lenses in front of the lamps, a +flat piece of translucent material is used to cover the openings of the +lamp, this being protected by suitable perforated strips of metal. A +strip of lamp jacks employing this feature is shown in Fig. 318, this +being of Dean manufacture. An advantage of this for certain types of +work is that the flat translucent plate in front of the lamp may readily +carry designating marks, such as the number of the line or something to +indicate the character of the line, which marks may be readily changed +as required. + +[Illustration: Fig. 317. Supervisory Lamp Mounting] + +[Illustration: Fig. 318. Line Lamp Mounting] + +[Illustration: Fig. 319. Individual Lamp Jacks] + +In the types made by some manufacturers the only difference between the +pilot lamp and the line lamp is in the size of the lens in front of it, +the jack and the lamp itself being the same for each, while others use a +larger lamp for the pilot. In Fig. 319 are shown two individual lamp +jacks, the one at the top being for supervisory lamps and the one at the +bottom being provided with a large lens for serving as a pilot lamp. + +[Illustration: TERMINAL ROOM APPARATUS IN PROCESS OF INSTALLATION +Installed by Dean Electric Company at Detroit, Mich.] + +=Mechanical Signals.= As has been stated the so-called mechanical +signals are sometimes used in small common-battery switchboards instead +of lamps. Where this is done the coil of the signal, if it is a line +signal, is substituted in the line circuit in place of the relay coil. +If the signals are used in connection with cord circuits for supervisory +signals, their coils are put in the circuit in place of the supervisory +relay coils. (These signals are referred to in Chapter III in connection +with Fig. 23.) They are so arranged that the attraction of the armature +lifts a target on the end of a lever, and this causes a display of color +or form. The release of the armature allows this target to drop back, +thus obliterating the display. Such signals, often called _visual +signals_ and _electromagnet signals_, should be distinguished from the +drops considered in connection with magneto switchboards in which the +attraction of the armature causes the display of the signal by the +falling of a drop, the signal remaining displayed until restored by some +other means, the restoration depending in no wise on when the armature +is released. + +_Western Electric._ The mechanical signal of the Western Electric +Company, shown in Fig. 320, has a target similar to that shown in Fig. +254 but without a latch. It is turned to show a different color by the +attraction of the armature and allowed to resume its normal position +when the armature is released. + +[Illustration: Fig. 320. Mechanical Signal] + +_Kellogg._ Fig. 321 gives a good idea of a strip of mechanical signals +as manufactured by the Kellogg Company. This is known as the _gridiron_ +signal on account of the cross-bar striping of its target. The white +bars on the target normally lie just behind the cross-bars on the shield +in front, but a slight raising of the target--about one-eighth of an +inch--exposes these white bars to view, opposite the rectangular +openings in the front shield. + +[Illustration: Fig. 321. Strip of Gridiron Signals] + +_Monarch._ In Fig. 322 is shown the visual signal manufactured by the +Monarch Telephone Company. + +[Illustration: Fig. 322. Mechanical Signal] + +=Relays.= The line relays for common-battery switchboards likewise +assume a great variety of forms. The well-known type of relay employed +in telegraphy would answer the purpose well but for the amount of room +that it occupies, as it is sometimes necessary to group a large number +of relays in a very small space. Nearly all present-day relays are of +the single-coil type, and in nearly all cases the movement of the +armature causes the movement of one or more switching springs, which are +thus made to engage or disengage their associated spring or springs. One +of the most widely used forms of relays has an L-shaped armature hung +across the front of a forwardly projecting arm of iron, on the +knife-edge corner of which it rocks as moved by the attraction of the +magnet. The general form of this relay was illustrated in Fig. 95. +Sometimes this relay is made up in single units and frequently a large +number of such single units are mounted on a single mounting plate. This +matter will be dealt with more in detail in the discussion of +common-battery multiple switchboards. In other cases these relays are +built _en bloc_, a rectangular strip of soft iron long enough to afford +space for ten relays side by side being bored out with ten cylindrical +holes to receive the electromagnets. The iron of the block affords a +return path for the lines of force. The L-shaped armatures are hung over +the front edge of this block, so that their free ends lie opposite the +magnet cores within the block. This arrangement as employed by the +Kellogg Company is shown in two views in Figs. 323 and 324. + +[Illustration: Fig. 323. Strip of Relays] + +[Illustration: Fig. 324. Strip of Relays] + +A bank of line relays especially adapted for small common-battery +switchboards as made by the Dean Company, is shown in Fig. 325. + +[Illustration: Fig. 325. Bank of Relays] + +=Jacks.= The jacks in common-battery switchboards are almost always +mounted in groups of ten or twenty, the arrangement being similar to +that discussed in connection with lamp strips. Ordinarily in +common-battery work the jack is provided with two inner contacts so as +to cut off both sides of the signaling circuit when the operator plugs +in. A strip of such jacks is shown in Fig. 326. + +[Illustration: Fig. 326. Strip of Cut-Off Jacks] + +Ringing and listening keys for simple common-battery switchboards differ +in no essential respect from those employed in magneto boards. + +[Illustration: Fig. 327. Details of Lamp, Plug, and Key Mounting] + +=Switchboard Assembly.= The general assembly of the parts of a simple +common-battery switchboard deserves some attention. The form of the +switchboard need not differ essentially from that employed in magneto +work, but ordinarily the cabinet is somewhat smaller on account of the +smaller amount of room required by its lamps and jacks. An excellent +idea of the line jacks and lamps, plugs, keys, and supervisory signals +may be obtained from Fig. 327, which is a detail view taken from a +Kellogg board. In the vertical panel of the board above the plug shelf +are arranged the line jacks and the lamps in rows of twenty each, each +lamp being immediately beneath its corresponding jack. Such jacks are +ordinarily mounted on 1/2-inch centers both vertically and horizontally, +so that a group of one hundred lamps and line jacks will occupy a space +only slightly over 10 by 5 inches. Such economy of space is not required +in the simple magneto board, because the space might easily be made +larger without in any way taxing the reach of the operator. The reason +for this comparatively close mounting is a result, not of the +requirements of the simple non-multiple common-battery board itself, but +of the fact that the jack strips and lamp strips, which are required in +very large numbers in multiple boards, have to be mounted extremely +close together, and as the same lamp strips and jack strips are often +available for simple switchboards, an economy in manufacture is effected +by adherence to the same general dimensions. + +[Illustration: Fig. 328. Simple Common-Battery Switchboard with +Removable Relay Panel] + +A rear view of a common form of switchboard cabinet, known as the +_upright type_ and manufactured by the Dean Company, is shown in Fig. +328. In this all the relays are mounted on a hinged rack, which, when +opened out as indicated, exposes the wiring to view for inspection or +repairs. Access to both sides of the relays is thus given to the +repairman who may do all his work from the rear of the board without +disturbing the operator. + +Fig. 329 shows a three-position cabinet of Kellogg manufacture, this +being about the limit in size of boards that could properly be called +simple. Obviously, where a switchboard cabinet must be made of greater +length than this, _i. e._, than is required to accommodate three +operators, it becomes too long for the operators to reach all over it +without undue effort or without moving from their seats. The so-called +_transfer board_ and the _multiple board_ (to be considered in +subsequent chapters), constitute methods of relief from such a condition +in larger exchanges. + +[Illustration: Fig. 329. Three-Position Lamp Board] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIII + +TRANSFER SWITCHBOARD + + +When the traffic originating in a switchboard becomes so great as to +require so many operators that the board must be made so long that any +one of the operators cannot reach over its entire face, the simple +switchboard does not suffice. Either some form of transfer switchboard +or of multiple switchboard must be used. In this chapter the transfer +switchboard will be briefly discussed. + +The transfer switchboard is so named because its arrangement is such +that some of the connections through it are handled by means of two +operators, the operator who answers the call transferring it to another +operator who completes the connection desired. + +=Limitations of Simple Switchboard.= Conceive a number of simple magneto +switchboards, or a number of common-battery switchboards, arranged side +by side, their number being so great as to form, by their combination, a +board too long for the ordinary cords and plugs to reach between its +extremities. On each of these simple switchboards, which we will say are +each of the one-position type, there terminates a group of subscribers' +lines so great in number, considering the traffic on them, that the +efforts of one operator will just about be taxed to properly attend to +their calls during the busiest hours of the day. If, now, these +subscribers would be sufficiently accommodating to call for no other +subscribers than those whose lines terminate on the same switchboard +section or on one of the immediately adjacent switchboard sections, all +would be well, but subscribers will not be so restricted. They demand +universal service; that is, they demand the privilege of having their +own lines connected with the line of any other person in the exchange. +Obviously, in the arrangement just conceived, any operator may answer +any call originating at her own board and complete the connection with +the desired subscriber if that subscriber's jack terminates on her own +section or on one of the adjacent ones. Beyond that she is powerless +unless other means are provided. + +=Transfer Lines.= In the transfer board these other means consist in the +provision of groups of local trunk lines or transfer lines extending +from each switchboard position to each other non-adjacent switchboard +position. When an operator receives a call for some line on a +non-adjacent position, having answered this call with her answering +plug, she inserts the calling plug into the jack of one of these +transfer lines that leads to the proper other section. The operator at +that section is notified either verbally or by signal, and she completes +the connection between the other end of the transfer line and the line +of the called subscriber; the connection between the two subscribers +thus being effected through the cords of the two operators in question +linked together by the transfer line. Such a transfer line as just +described, requiring the connection at each of its ends by one of the +plugs of the operator's cord pair, is termed a _jack-ended trunk_ or a +_jack-ended transfer line_ because each of its ends terminates in a +jack. + +[Illustration: Fig. 330. Jack-Ended Transfer Circuit] + +There is another method of accomplishing the same general result by the +employment of the so-called _plug-ended trunk_ or _plug-ended transfer +line_. In this the trunk or transfer line terminates at one end, the +answering end, in a jack as before, and the connection is made with it +by the answering operator by means of the calling plug of the pair with +which she answered the originating call. The other end of this trunk, +instead of terminating in a jack, ends in a plug and the second operator +involved in the connection, after being notified, picks up this plug and +inserts it in the jack of the called subscriber, thus completing the +connection without employing one of her regular cord pairs. + +_Jack-Ended Trunk._ In Fig. 330 are shown the circuits of a commonly +employed jack-ended trunk for transfer boards. The talking circuit, as +usual, is shown in heavy lines and terminates in the tip and sleeve of +the transfer jacks at each end. The auxiliary contacts in these jacks +and the circuits connecting them are absolutely independent of the +talking circuit and are for the purpose of signaling only, the +arrangement of the jacks being such that when a plug is inserted, the +spring _1_ will break from spring _2_ and make with spring _3_. +Obviously, the insertion of a plug in either of the jacks will establish +such connections as to light both lamps, since the engagement of spring +_1_ with spring _3_ in either of the jacks will connect both of the +lamps in multiple across the battery, this connection including always +the contacts _1_ and _2_ of the other jack. From this it follows that +the insertion of a plug in the other end of the trunk will, by breaking +contact between springs _1_ and _2_, put out both the lamps. One plug +inserted will, therefore, light both lamps; two plugs inserted or two +plugs withdrawn will extinguish both lamps. + +[Illustration: Fig. 331. Jack-Ended Transfer Circuit] + +If an operator located at one end of this trunk answers a call and finds +that the called-for subscriber's line terminates within reach of the +operator near the other end of this trunk, she will insert a calling +plug, corresponding to the answering plug used in answering a call, into +the jack of this trunk and thus light the lamp at both its ends. The +operator at the other end upon seeing this transfer lamp illuminated +inserts one of her answering plugs into the jack, and by means of her +listening key ascertains the number of the subscriber desired, and +immediately inserts her calling plug into the jack of the subscriber +wanted and rings him in the usual manner. The act of this second +operator in inserting her answering plug into the jack extinguishes the +lamp at her own end and also at the end where the call originated, thus +notifying the answering operator that the call has been attended to. As +long as the lamps remain lighted, the operators know that there is an +unattended connection on that transfer line. Such a transfer line is +called a _two-way_ line or a _single-track_ line, because traffic over +it may be in either direction. In Fig. 331 is shown a trunk that +operates in a similar way except that the two lamps, instead of being +arranged in multiple, are arranged in series. + +[Illustration: Fig. 332. Jack- and Plug-Ended Transfer Circuit] + +_Plug-Ended Trunk._ In Fig. 332 is shown a plug-ended trunk, this +particular arrangement of circuits being employed by the Monarch Company +in its transfer boards. This is essentially a one-way trunk, and traffic +over it can pass only in the direction of the arrow. Traffic in the +opposite direction between any two operators is handled by another trunk +or group of trunks similar to this but "pointed" in the other direction. +For this reason such a system is referred to as a _double-track_ system. +The operation of signals is the same in this case as in Fig. 330, except +that the switching device at the left-hand end of the trunk instead of +being associated with the jack is associated with the plug seat, which +is a switch closely associated with the seat of a plug so as to be +operated whenever the plug is withdrawn from or replaced in its seat. +The operation of this arrangement is as follows: Whenever an operator at +the right-hand end of this trunk receives a call for a subscriber whose +line terminates within the reach of the operator at the left-hand end of +the trunk, she inserts the calling plug of the pair used in answering +the calling subscriber into the jack of the trunk, and thus lights both +of the trunk lamps. The operator at the other end of the trunk, seeing +the trunk lamp lighted, raises the plug from its seat and, having +learned the wishes of the calling subscriber, inserts this plug into the +jack of the called subscriber without using one of her regular pairs. +When she raised the trunk plug from its seat, she permitted the long +spring _1_ of the plug seat switch to rise, thus extinguishing both +lamps and giving the signal to the originating operator that the trunk +connection has received attention. On taking down the connection, the +withdrawal of the plug from the right hand of the trunk lights both +lamps, and the restoring of the trunk plug to its normal seat again +extinguishes both lamps. + +=Plug-Seat Switch.= The plug-seat switch is a device that has received a +good deal of attention not only for use with transfer systems, but also +for use in a great variety of ways with other kinds of manual switching +systems. The placing of a plug in its seat or withdrawing it therefrom +offers a ready means of accomplishing some switching or signaling +operation automatically. The plug-seat switch has, however, in spite of +its possibilities, never come into wide use, and so far as we are aware +the Monarch Telephone Manufacturing Company is the only company of +prominence which incorporates it in its regular output. The Monarch +plug-switch mechanism is shown in Fig. 333, and its operation is +obvious. It may be stated at this point that one of the reasons why the +plug-seat switch has not been more widely adopted for use, is the +difficulty that has been experienced due to lint from the switchboard +cords collecting on or about the contact points. In the construction +given in the detailed cut, upper part, Fig. 333, is shown the means +adopted by the Monarch Company for obviating this difficulty. The +contact points are carried in the upper portion of an inverted cup +mounted on the under side of the switchboard shelf, and are thus +protected, in large measure, from the damaging influence of dust and +lint. + +[Illustration: Fig. 333. Plug-Seat Switch] + +[Illustration: Fig. 334. Order-Wire Arrangement] + +=Methods of Handling Transfers.= One way of giving the number of the +called subscriber to the second operator in a transfer system is to +have that operator listen in on the circuit after it is continued to her +position and receive the number either from the first operator or from +the subscriber. Receiving it from the first operator has the +disadvantage of compelling the first operator to wait on the circuit +until the second operator responds; receiving it from the subscriber has +the disadvantage of sometimes being annoying to him. This, however, is +to be preferred to the loss of time on the part of the originating +operator that is entailed by the first method. A better way than either +of these is to provide between the various operators working in a +transfer system, a so-called _order-wire_ system. An order wire, as +ordinarily arranged, is a circuit terminating at one end permanently in +the head receiver of an operator, and terminating at the other end in a +push button which, when depressed, will connect the telephone set of the +operator at that end with the order wire. The operator at the +push-button end of the order wire may, therefore, at will, communicate +with the other operator in spite of anything that the other operator may +do. An order-wire system suitable for transfer switchboards consists in +an order wire leading from each operator's receiver to a push button at +each of the other operator's positions, so that every operator has it +within her power to depress a key or button and establish communication +with a corresponding operator. When, therefore, an operator in a +transfer system answers a call that must be completed through a transfer +circuit, she establishes connection with that transfer circuit and then +informs the operator at the other end of that circuit by order wire of +the number of the trunk and the number of the subscriber with which that +trunk is to be connected. Fig. 334 shows a system of order-wire buttons +by means of which each operator may connect her telephone set with that +of every other operator in the room, the number in this case being +confined to three. Assuming that each pair of wires leading from the +lower portion of this figure terminates respectively in the operator's +talking apparatus of the three respective operators, then it is obvious +that operator No. 1, by depressing button No. 2, will connect her +telephone set with that of operator No. 2; likewise that any operator +may communicate with any other operator by depressing the key bearing +the corresponding number. + +=Limitations of Transfer System.= It may be stated that the transfer +system at present has a limited place in the art of telephony. The +multiple switchboard has outstripped it in the race for popular approval +and has demonstrated its superiority in practically all large manual +exchange work. This is not because of lack of effort on the part of +telephone engineers to make the transfer system a success in a broad +way. A great variety of different schemes, all embodying the fundamental +idea of having one operator answer the call and another operator +complete it through a trunk line, have been tried. In San Francisco, the +Sabin-Hampton system was in fairly successful service and served many +thousands of lines for a number of years. It was, however, afterwards +replaced by modern multiple switchboards. + +_Examples of Obsolete Systems._ The Sabin-Hampton system was unique in +many respects and involved three operators in each connection. It was +one of the very first systems which employed automatic signaling +throughout and did away with the subscribers' generators. It did not, +however, dispense with the subscribers' local batteries. + +Another large transfer system, used for years in an exchange serving at +a time as many as 5,000, was employed at Grand Rapids, Michigan. This +was later replaced by an automatic switchboard. + +[Illustration: Fig. 335. Three-Position Transfer Switchboard] + +=Field of Usefulness.= The real field of utility for the transfer system +today is to provide for the growth of simple switchboards that have +extended beyond their originally intended limits. By the adding of +additional sections to the simple switchboard and the establishment of a +comparatively cheap transfer system, the simple boards may be made to do +continued service without wasting the investment in them by discarding +them and establishing a completely new system. However, switchboards are +sometimes manufactured in which the transfer system is included as a +part of the original equipment. In Fig. 335 is shown a three-position +transfer switchboard, manufactured by the Monarch Telephone Company. At +first glance the switchboard appears to be exactly like those described +in Chapter XXI, but on close observation, the transfer jacks and signals +may be seen in the first and third positions, just below the line jacks +and signals. There is no transfer equipment in the second position of +this switchboard because the operator at that position is able to reach +the jacks of all the lines and, therefore, is able to complete all calls +originating on her position without the use of any transfer equipment. +Referring to Fig. 301, which illustrates a two-position simple +switchboard, it may readily be seen that if the demands for telephone +service in the locality in which this switchboard is installed should +increase so as to require the addition of more switchboard positions, +this switchboard could readily be converted to a transfer switchboard by +placing the necessary transfer jacks and signals in the vacant space +between the line jacks and clearing-out drops. + +[Illustration: CABLE TURNING SECTIONS, BETWEEN A AND B BOARDS Cortlandt +Office, New York Telephone Co.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXIV + +PRINCIPLES OF THE MULTIPLE SWITCHBOARD + + +=Field of Utility.= The multiple switchboard, unlike the transfer board, +provides means for each operator to complete, without assistance, a +connection with any subscriber's line terminating in the switchboard no +matter how great the number of lines may be. It is used only where the +simple switchboard will not suffice; that is, where the number of lines +and the consequent traffic is so great as to require so many operators +and, therefore, so great a length of board as to make it impossible for +any one operator to reach all over the face of the board without moving +from her position. + +=The Multiple Feature.= The fundamental feature of the multiple +switchboard is the placing of a jack for every line served by the +switchboard within the reach of every operator. This idea underlying the +multiple switchboard may be best grasped by merely considering the +mechanical arrangement and grouping of parts without regard to their +details of operation. The idea is sometimes elusive, but it is really +very simple. If the student at the outset will not be frightened by the +very large number of parts that are sometimes involved in multiple +switchboards, and by the great complexity which is apparent in the +wiring and in the action of these parts; and will remember that this +apparent complexity results from the great number of repetitions of the +same comparatively simple group of apparatus and circuits, much will be +done toward a mastery of the subject. + +The multiple switchboard is divided into sections, each section being +about the width and height that will permit an ordinary operator to +reach conveniently all over its face. The usual width of a section +brought about by this limitation is from five and one-half to six feet. +Such a section affords room for three operators to sit side by side +before it. Now each line, instead of having a single jack as in the +simple switchboard, is provided with a number of jacks and one of these +is placed on each of the sections, so that each one of the operators may +have within her reach a jack for each line. It is from the fact that +each line has a multiplicity of jacks, that the term multiple +switchboard arises. + +_Number of Sections._ Since there is a jack for each line on each +section of the switchboard, it follows that on each section there are as +many jacks as there are lines; that is, if the board were serving 5,000 +lines there would be 5,000 jacks. Let us see now what it is that +determines the number of sections in a multiple switchboard. In the +final analysis, it is the amount of traffic that arises in the busiest +period of the day. Assume that in a particular office serving 5,000 +lines, the subscribers call at such a very low rate that even at the +busiest time of the day only enough calls are made to keep, say, three +operators busy. In this case there would be no need for the multiple +switchboard, for a single section would suffice. The three operators +seated before that section would be able to answer and complete the +connections for all of the calls that arose. But subscribers do not call +at this exceedingly low rate. A great many more calls would arise on +5,000 lines during the busiest hour than could be handled by three +operators and, therefore, a great many more operators would be required. +Space has to be provided for these operators to work in, and as each +section accommodates three operators the total number of sections must +be at least equal to the total number of required operators divided by +three. + +Let us assume, for instance, that each operator can handle 200 calls +during the busy hour. Assume further that during the busy hour the +average number of calls made by each subscriber is two. One hundred +subscribers would, therefore, originate 200 calls within this busy hour +and this would be just sufficient to keep one operator busy. Since one +operator can handle only the calls of one hundred subscribers during the +busy hour, it follows that as many operators must be employed as there +are hundreds of subscribers whose lines are served in a switchboard, and +this means that in an exchange of 5,000 subscribers, 50 operators' +positions would be required, or 16-2/3 sections. Each of these sections +would be equipped with the full 5,000 jacks, so that each operator could +have a connection terminal for each line. + +_The Multiple._ These groups of 5,000 jacks, repeated on each of the +sections are termed multiple jacks, and the entire equipment of these +multiple jacks and their wiring is referred to as the multiple. It will +be shown presently that the multiple jacks are only used for enabling +the operator to connect with the called subscriber. In other words these +jacks are for the purpose of enabling each operator to have within her +reach any line that may be called for regardless of what line originates +the call. We will now consider what arrangements are provided for +enabling the operator to receive the signal indicating a call and what +provisions are made for her to answer the call in response to such a +signal. + +=Line Signals.= Obviously it is not necessary to have the line signals +repeated on each section of the board as are the multiple jacks. If a +line has one definite place on the switchboard where its signal may be +received and its call may be answered, that suffices. Each line, +therefore, in addition to having its multiple jacks distributed one on +each section of the switchboard, has a line signal and an individual +jack immediately associated with it, located on one only of the +sections. This signal usually is in the form of a lamp and is termed the +line signal, and this jack is termed the answering jack since it is by +means of it that the operator always answers a call in response to the +line signal. + +_Distribution of Line Signals._ It is evident that it would not do to +have all of these line signals and answering jacks located at one +section of the board for then they would not be available to all of the +operators. They are, therefore, distributed along the board in such a +way that one group of them will be available to one operator, another +group to another operator, and so on; the number of answering jacks and +signals in any one group being so proportioned with respect to the +number of calls that come in over them during the busy hour that it will +afford just about enough calls to keep the operator at that position +busy. + +We may summarize these conditions with respect to the jack and +line-signal equipment of the multiple switchboard by saying that each +line has a multiple jack on each section of the board and in addition to +this has on one section of the board an answering jack and a line +signal. These answering jacks and line signals are distributed in groups +along the face of the board so that each operator will receive her +proper quota of the originating calls which she will answer and, by +virtue of the multiple jack, be able to complete the connections with +the desired subscribers without moving from her position. + +=Cord Circuits.= Each operator is also provided with a number of pairs +of cords and plugs with proper supervisory or clearing-out signals and +ringing and listening keys, the arrangement in this respect being +similar to that already described in connection with the simple +switchboard. + +=Guarding against Double Connections.= From what has been said it is +seen that a call originating on a given line may be answered at one +place only, but an outgoing connection with that line may be made at any +position. This fact that a line may be connected with when called for at +any one of the sections of the switchboard makes necessary the provision +that two or more connections will not be made with the same line at the +same time. For instance, if a call came in over a line whose signal was +located on the first position of the switchboard for a connection with +line No. 1,000, the operator at the first position would connect this +calling line with No. 1,000 through the multiple jack on the first +section of the switchboard. Assume now that some line, whose signal was +located on the 39th position of the switchboard, should call also for +line No. 1,000 while that line was still connected with the first +calling subscriber. Obviously confusion would result if the operator at +the 39th position, not knowing that line No. 1,000 was already busy, +should connect this second line with it, thereby leaving both of the +calling subscribers connected with line No. 1,000, and as a result all +of these three subscribers connected together. + +The provisions for suitable means for preventing the making of a +connection with a line that is already switched at some other section of +the switchboard, has offered one of the most fertile fields for +invention in the whole telephone art. The ways that have been proposed +for accomplishing this are legion. Fortunately common practice has +settled on one general plan of action and that is to so arrange the +circuits that whenever a line is switched at one section, such an +electrical condition will be established on the forward contacts of all +of its multiple jacks that any operator at any other section in +attempting to make a connection with that line will be notified of the +fact that it is already switched by an audible signal, which she will +receive in her head receiver. On the other hand the arrangement is such +that when a line is not busy, _i. e._, it is not switched at any of the +positions of the switchboard, the operator on attempting to make a +connection with such a line will receive no such guarding signal and +will, therefore, proceed with the connection. + +We may liken a line in a multiple switchboard to a lane having a number +of gates giving access to it. One of these gates--the answering jack--is +for the exclusive use of the proprietor of that lane. All of the other +gates to the lane--the multiple jacks--are for affording means for the +public to enter. But whenever any person enters one of these gates, a +signal is automatically put up at all of the other gates forbidding any +other person to enter the lane as long as the first person is still +within. + +[Illustration: Fig. 336. Principle of Multiple Switchboard] + +=Diagram Showing Multiple Board Principle.= For those to whom the +foregoing description of the multiple board is not altogether clear, the +diagram of Fig. 336 may offer some assistance. Five subscribers' lines +are shown running through four sections of a switchboard. Each of these +lines is provided with a multiple jack on each section of the board. +Each line is also provided with an answering jack and a line signal on +one of the sections of the board. Thus the answering jacks and the line +signals of lines _1_ and _2_ are shown in Section I, that of line _4_ is +shown in Section II, that of line _3_ in Section III, and that of line +_5_ in Section IV. At Section I, line _1_ is shown in the condition of +having made a call and having had this call answered by the operator +inserting one of her plugs into its answering jack. In response to the +instructions given by the subscriber, the operator has inserted the +other plug of this same pair in the multiple jack of line _2_, thus +connecting these two lines for conversation. At Section III, line _3_ is +shown as having made a call, and the operator as having answered by +inserting one of her plugs into the answering jack. It happens that the +subscriber on line _3_ requests a connection with line _1_, and the +condition at Section III is that where the operator is about to apply +the tip of the calling plug to the jack of line _1_ to ascertain whether +or not that line is busy. As before stated, when the contact is made +between the tip of the calling plug and the forward contact of the +multiple jack, the operator will receive a click in the ear (by means +that will be more fully discussed in later chapters), this click +indicating to her that line _1_ is not available for connection because +it is already switched at some other section of the switchboard. + +=Busy Test.= The busy signal, by which an operator in attempting to make +a connection is informed that the line is already busy, has assumed a +great variety of forms and has brought forth many inventions. It has +been proposed by some that the insertion of a plug into any one of the +jacks of a line would automatically close a little door in front of each +of the other jacks of the line, therefore making it impossible for any +other operator to insert a plug as long as the line is in use. It has +been proposed by others to ring bells or to operate buzzers whenever the +attempt was made by an operator to plug into a line that was already in +use. Still others have proposed to so arrange the circuits that the +operator would get an electric shock whenever she attempted to plug into +a busy line. The scheme that has met with universal adoption, however, +is that the operator shall, when the tip of her calling plug touches the +forward contact of the jack of a line that is already switched, receive +a click in her telephone which will forbid her to insert the plug. The +absence of this click, or silence in her telephone, informs her that she +may safely make the connection. + +_Principle._ The means by which the operator receives or fails to +receive this click, according to whether the line is busy or idle, vary +widely, but so far as the writers are aware they all have one +fundamental feature in common. The tip of the calling plug and the test +contact of all of the multiple jacks of an idle line must be absolutely +at the same potential before the test, so that no current will flow +through the test circuit when the test is actually made. The test +thimbles of all the jacks of a busy line must be at a different +potential from the tip of the test plug so that a current will flow and +a click result when the test is made. + +_Potential of Test Thimbles._ It has been found an easy matter to so +arrange the contacts in the jacks of a multiple switchboard that +whenever the line is idle the test thimbles of that line will be a +certain potential, the same as that of all the unused calling plug tips. +It has also been easy to so arrange these contacts that the insertion of +a plug into any one of the jacks will, by virtue of the contacts +established, change the potential of all the test thimbles of that line +so that they will be at a different potential from that of the tips of +the calling plugs. It has not been so easy, however, to provide that +these conditions shall exist under all conditions of practice. A great +many busy tests that looked well on paper have been found faulty in +practice. As is always the case in such instances, this has been true +because the people who considered the scheme on paper did not foresee +all of the conditions that would arise in practice. Many busy-test +systems will operate properly while everything connected with the +switchboard and the lines served by it remains in proper order. But no +such condition as this can be depended on in practice. Switchboards, no +matter how perfectly made and no matter with how great care they may be +installed and maintained, will get out of order. Telephone lines will +become grounded or short-circuited or crossed or opened. Such +conditions, in a faulty busy-test system, may result in a line that is +really idle presenting a busy test, and thus barring the subscriber on +that line from receiving calls from other lines just as completely as if +his line were broken. On the other hand, faulty conditions either in the +switchboard or in the line may make a line that is really busy, test +idle, and thus result in the confusion of having two or more subscribers +connected to the same line at the same time. + +_Busy-Test Faults._ To show how elusive some of the faults of a busy +test may be, when considered on paper, it has come within the +observation of the writers that a new busy-test system was thought well +enough of by a group of experienced engineers to warrant its +installation in a group of very large multiple switchboards, the cost of +which amounted to hundreds of thousands of dollars, and yet when so +installed it developed that a single short-circuited cord in a position +would make the test inoperative on all the cords of that +position--obviously an intolerable condition. Luckily the remedy was +simple and easily applied. + +In a well-designed busy-test system there should be complete silence +when the test is made of an idle line, and always a well-defined click +when the test is made of a busy line. The test on busy lines should +result in a uniform click regardless of length of lines or the condition +of the apparatus. It does not suffice to have a little click for an idle +line and a big click for a busy line, as practice has shown that this +results in frequent errors on the part of the operators. + +Good operating requires that the tip of the calling plug be tapped +against the test thimble several times in order to make sure of the +state of the called line. + +In some multiple switchboards the arrangement has been such that the +jacks of a line would test busy as soon as the subscriber on that line +removed his receiver from its hook to make a call, as well as while any +plug was in any jack of that line. The advocates of this added feature, +in connection with the busy test, have claimed that the receiver, when +removed from its hook in making a call, should make the line test busy +and that a line should not be connected with when the subscriber's +receiver was off its hook any more than it should be when it was already +connected with at some other section of the switchboard. While it is +true that a line may be properly termed busy when the subscriber has +removed his receiver in order to make a call, it is not true that there +is any real necessity for guarding against a connection with it while he +is waiting for the operator to answer. Leaving the line unguarded for +this brief period may result in the subscriber, who intended to make the +call, having to defer his call until he has conversed with the party who +is trying to reach him. This cannot be said to be a detriment to the +service, however, since the second party gets the connection he desires +much sooner than he otherwise would, and the first party may still make +his first intended call as soon as he has disposed of the party who +reached him while he was waiting for his own operator to answer. It may +be said, therefore, in connection with this matter of making the line +test busy as soon as a subscriber has removed his receiver from the +hook, that it is not considered an essential, and in case of those +switchboard systems which naturally work out that way it is not +considered a disadvantage. + +=Field of Each Operator.= It was stated earlier in this chapter that as +each section accommodated three operators, the total number of sections +in a switchboard will be at least one-third the total number of required +operators. This thought needs further development, for to stop at that +statement is to arrive somewhat short of the truth. In order to do this +it is necessary to consider the field in the multiple, reached by each +operator. The section is of such size, or should be, that an operator +seated in the center position of it may, without undue effort, reach all +over the multiple. But the operator at the right-hand position cannot +reach the extreme left portion of the multiple of that section, nor can +the operator at the left reach the extreme right. How then may each +operator reach a jack for every line? Remembering that the multiple +jacks are arranged exactly the same in each section, each jack always +occupying the same relative position, it is easy to see that while the +operator at a right-hand position of a section cannot reach the +left-hand third of the multiple in her own section, she may reach the +left-hand third of the multiple in the section at her right, and this, +together with the center and right-hand thirds of her own section, +represents the entire number of lines. So it is with the left-hand +operator at any section, she reaches two-thirds of all the lines in the +multiple of her own section and one-third in that of the section at her +left. + +_End Positions._ This makes it necessary to inquire about the operators +at the end positions of the entire board. To provide for these the +multiple is extended one-third of a section beyond them, so as to supply +at the ends of the switchboard jacks for those lines which the end +operators cannot reach on their own sections. Sometimes instead of +adding these end sections to the multiple for the end operators, the +same result is accomplished by using only the full and regular sections +of the multiple, and leaving the end positions without operators' +equipment, as well as without answering jacks, line signals, and cords +and plugs, so that in reality the end operator is at the middle position +of the end section. This, in our opinion, is the better practice, since +it leaves the sections standard, and makes it easier to extend the +switchboard in length, as it grows, by the mere addition of new sections +without disturbing any of the old multiple. + +=Influence of Traffic.= We wish again to emphasize the fact that it is +the traffic during the busiest time of day and not the number of lines +that determine the size of a multiple switchboard so far as its length +is concerned. The number of lines determines the size of the multiple in +any one section, but it is the amount of traffic, the number of calls +that are made in the busiest period, that determines the number of +operators required, and thus the number of positions. Had this now very +obvious fact been more fully realized in the past, some companies would +be operating at less expense, and some manufacturers would have sold +less expensive switchboards. + +The whole question as to the number of positions boils down to how many +answering jacks and line signals may be placed at each operator's +position without overburdening the operator with incoming traffic at the +busy time of day. Obviously, some lines will call more frequently than +others, and hence the proper number of answering jacks at the different +positions will vary. Obviously, also, due to changes in the personnel of +the subscribers, the rates of calling of different groups of lines will +change from time to time, and this may necessitate a regrouping of the +line signals and answering jacks on the positions; and changes in the +personnel of the operators or in their skill also demand such +regrouping. + +_Intermediate Frame._ The intermediate distributing frame is provided +for this purpose, and will be more fully discussed in subsequent +chapters. Suffice it to say here that the intermediate distributing +frame permits the answering jacks and line signals to be shifted about +among the operators' positions, so that each position will have just +enough originating traffic to keep each of the operators economically +busy during the busiest time of the day. + + + + +CHAPTER XXV + +THE MAGNETO MULTIPLE SWITCHBOARD + + +=Field of Utility.= The principles of the multiple switchboard set forth +in the last chapter were all developed long before the common-battery +system came into existence, and consequently all of the first multiple +switchboards were of the magneto type. Although once very widely used, +the magneto multiple switchboard has almost passed out of existence, +since it has become almost universal practice to equip exchanges large +enough to employ multiple boards with common-battery systems. +Nevertheless there is a field for magneto multiple switchboards, and in +this field it has recently been coming into increasing favor. In those +towns equipped with magneto systems employing simple switchboards or +transfer switchboards, and which require new switchboards by virtue of +having outgrown or worn out their old ones, the magneto multiple +switchboard is frequently found to best fit the requirements of economy +and good practice. The reason for this is that by its use the magneto +telephones already in service may be continued, no change being required +outside of the central office. Furthermore, with the magneto multiple +switchboard no provision need be made for a power plant, which, in towns +of small size, is often an important consideration. Again, many +companies operate over a considerable area, involving a collection of +towns and hamlets. It may be that all of these towns except one are +clearly of a size to demand magneto equipment and that magneto equipment +is the standard throughout the entire territory of the company. If, +however, one of the towns, by virtue of growth, demands a multiple +switchboard, this condition affords an additional argument for the +employment of the magneto multiple switchboard, since the same standards +of equipment and construction may be maintained throughout the entire +territory of the operating company, a manifest advantage. On the other +hand, it may be said that the magneto multiple switchboard has no proper +place in modern exchanges of considerable size--say, having upward of +one thousand subscribers--at least under conditions found in the United +States. + +Notwithstanding the obsolescence of the magneto multiple switchboard for +large exchanges, a brief discussion of some of the early magneto +multiple switchboards, and particularly of one of the large ones, is +worth while, in that a consideration of the defects of those early +efforts will give one a better understanding and appreciation of the +modern multiple switchboard, and particularly of the modern multiple +common-battery switchboard, the most highly organized of all the manual +switching systems. Brief reference will, therefore, be made to the +so-called series multiple switchboard, and then to the branch terminal +multiple switchboard, which latter was the highest type of switchboard +development at the time of the advent of common-battery working. + +[Illustration: Fig. 337. Series Magneto Multiple Switchboard] + +=Series-Multiple Board.= In Fig. 337 are shown the circuits of a series +magneto multiple switchboard as developed by the engineers of the +Western Electric Company during the eighties. As is usual, two +subscribers' lines and a single cord circuit are shown. One side of each +line passes directly from the subscriber's station to one side of the +drop, and also branches off to the sleeve contact of each of the jacks. +The other side of the line passes first to the tip spring of the first +jack, thence to the anvil of that jack and to the tip spring of the next +jack, and so on in series through all of the jacks belonging in that +line to the other terminal of the drop coil. Normally, therefore, the +drop is connected across the line ready to be responsive to the signal +sent from the subscriber's generator. The cord circuit is of the +two-conductor type, the plugs being provided with tip and sleeve +contacts, the tips being connected by one of the flexible conductors +through the proper ringing and listening key springs, and the sleeve +being likewise connected through the other flexible conductor and the +other springs of the ringing and listening keys. It is obvious that when +any plug is inserted into a jack, the circuit of the line will be +continued to the cord circuit and at the same time the line drop will be +cut out of the circuit, because of the lifting of the tip spring of the +jack from its anvil. Permanently connected between the sleeve side of +the cord circuit and ground is a retardation coil _1_ and a battery. +Another retardation coil _2_ is connected between the ground and a +point on the operator's telephone circuit between the operator's head +receiver and the secondary of her induction coil. These two retardation +coils have to do with the busy test, the action of which is as follows: +normally, or when a line is not switched at the central office, the test +thimbles will all be at substantially ground potential, _i. e._, they +are supposed to be. The point on the operator's receiver circuit which +is grounded through the retardation coil _2_ will also be of ground +potential because of that connection to ground. In order to test, the +operator always has to throw her listening key _L.K._ into the listening +position. She also has to touch the tip of the calling plug _P_c to a +sleeve or jack of the line that is being tested. If, therefore, a test +is made of an idle or non-busy line, the touching of the tip of the +calling plug with the test thimble of that line will result in no flow +of current through the operator's receiver, because there will be no +difference of potential anywhere in the test circuit, which test circuit +may be traced from the test thimble of the line under test to the tip of +the calling plug, thence through the tip strand of the cord to the +listening key, thence to the outer anvil of the listening key on that +side, through the operator's receiver to ground through the impedance +coil _2_. If, however, the line had already been switched at some other +section by the insertion of either a calling or answering plug, all of +the test thimbles of that line would have been raised to a potential +above that of the ground, by virtue of the battery connected with the +sleeve side of the cord circuit through the retardation coil _1_. If the +operator had made a test of such a line, the tip of her testing plug +would have found the thimble raised to the potential of the battery and, +therefore, a flow of current would occur which would give her the busy +click. The complete test circuit thus formed in testing a busy line +would be from the ungrounded pole of the battery through the impedance +coil _1_ associated with the cord that was already in connection with +the line, thence to the sleeve strand of that cord to the sleeve of the +jack at which the line was already switched, thence through that portion +of the line circuit to which all of the sleeve contacts were connected, +and therefore to the sleeve or test thimble of the jack at which the +test is made, thence through the tip of the calling plug employed in +making the test through the tip side of that cord circuit to the outer +listening key contact of the operator making the test, and thence to +ground through the operator's receiver and the impedance coil _2_. The +resultant click would be an indication to the operator that the line was +already in use and that, therefore, she must not make the connection. + +The condenser _3_ is associated with the operator's talking set and with +the extra spring in the listening key _L.K._ in such a manner that when +the listening key is thrown, the tip strand of the cord circuit is +divided and the condenser included between them. This is for the purpose +of preventing any potentials, which might exist on the line with which +the answering plug _P_a was connected, from affecting the busy-test +conditions. + +_Operation._ The operation of the system aside from the busy-test +feature is just like that described in connection with the simple +magneto switchboard. Assuming that the subscriber at Station _A_ makes +the call, he turns his hand generator, which throws the drop on his line +at the central office. The operator, seeing the signal, inserts the +answering plug of one of her idle pairs of cords into the answering jack +and throws her listening key _L.K._ This enables the operator to talk +with the calling subscriber, and having found that he desires a +connection with the line extending to Station _B_, she touches the tip +of her calling plug to the multiple jack of that line that is within her +reach, it being remembered that each one of the multiple jacks shown is +on a different section. She leaves the listening key in the listening +position when she does this. If the line is busy, the click will notify +her that she must not make the connection, in which case she informs the +calling subscriber that the line is busy and requests him to call again. +If, however, she received no click, she would insert the calling plug +into the jack, thus completing the connection between the two lines. She +would then press the ringing key associated with the calling plug and +that momentarily disconnects the calling plug from the answering plug +and at the same time establishes connection between the ringing +generator and the called line. The release of the ringing key again +connects the calling and answering plugs and, therefore, connects the +two subscribers' lines ready for conversation. All that is then +necessary is that the called subscriber shall respond and remove his +receiver from its hook, the calling subscriber already having done this. +When the conversation is finished, both of the subscribers (if they +remember it) will operate their ringing generators, which will throw the +clearing-out drop as a signal to the operator for disconnection. If it +should become necessary for the operator to ring back on the line of the +calling subscriber, she may do so by pressing the ringing key associated +with the calling plug. + +Frequently this multiple switchboard arrangement was used with grounded +lines, in which case the single line wire extending from the +subscriber's station to the switchboard was connected with the tip +spring of the first jack, the circuit being continued in series through +the jack to the drop and thence to ground through a high non-inductive +resistance. + +_Defects._ This series multiple magneto system was used with a great +many variations, and it had a good many defects. One of these defects +was due to the necessary extending of one limb of the line through a +large number of series contacts in the jacks. This is not to be desired +in any case, but it was particularly objectionable in the early days +before jacks had been developed to their present high state of +perfection. A particle of dust or other insulating matter, lodging +between the tip spring and its anvil in any one of the jacks, would +leave the line open, thus disabling the line to incoming signals, and +also for conversation in case the break happened to occur between the +subscriber and the jack that was used in connecting with the line. +Another defect due to the same cause was that the line through the +switchboard was always unbalanced by the insertion of a plug, one limb +of the line always extending clear through the switchboard to the drop +and the other, when the plug was inserted, extending only part way +through the switchboard and being cut off at the jack where the +connection was made. The objection will be apparent when it is +remembered that the wires in the line circuit connecting the multiple +jacks are necessarily very closely bunched together and, therefore, +there is very likely to be cross-talk between two adjacent lines unless +the two limbs of each line are exactly balanced throughout their entire +length. + +Again the busy-test conditions of this circuit were not ideal. The fact +that the test rings of the line were connected permanently with the +outside line circuit subjected these test rings to whatever potentials +might exist on the outside lines, due to any causes whatever, such as a +cross with some other wire; thus the test rings of an idle line might by +some exterior cause be raised to such a potential that the line would +test busy. It may be laid down as a fundamental principle in good +multiple switchboard practice that the busy-test condition should be +made independent of any conditions on the line circuit outside of the +central office, and such is not the case in this circuit just described. + +[Illustration: CABLE RUN FROM INTERMEDIATE FRAME TO MULTIPLE Cortlandt +Office, New York Telephone Co.] + +=Branch-Terminal Multiple Board.= The next important step in the +development of the magneto multiple switchboard was that which produced +the so-called branch-terminal board. This came into wide use in the +various Bell operating companies before the advent of the common-battery +systems. Its circuits and the principles of operation may be understood +in connection with Fig. 338. In the branch-terminal system there are no +series contacts in the jacks and no unbalancing of the line due to a +cutting off of a portion of the line circuit when a connection was made +with it. Furthermore, the test circuits were entirely local to the +central office and were not likely to be affected by outside conditions +on the line. This switchboard also added the feature of the automatic +restoration of the drops, thus relieving the operator of the burden of +doing that manually, and also permitting the drops to be mounted on a +portion of the switchboard that was not available for the mounting of +jacks, and thus permitting a greater capacity in jack equipment. + +[Illustration: Fig. 338. Branch-Terminal Magneto Multiple Switchboard] + +Each jack has five contacts, and the answering and multiple jacks are +alike, both in respect to their construction and their connection with +the line. The drops are the electrically self-restoring type shown in +Fig. 263. The line circuits extended permanently from the subscriber's +station to the line winding of the drop and the two limbs of the line +branched off to the tip and sleeve contacts _1_ and _2_ respectively of +each jack. Another pair of wires extended through the multiple parallel +to the line wires and these branched off respectively to the contact +springs _3_ and _4_ of each of the jacks. This pair of wires formed +portions of the drop-restoring circuit, including the restoring coil _6_ +and the battery _7_, as indicated. The test thimble _5_ of each of the +jacks is connected permanently with the spring _3_ of the corresponding +jack and, therefore, with the wire which connects through the restoring +coil _6_ of the corresponding drop to ground through the battery _7_. + +The plugs were each provided with three contacts. Two of these were the +usual tip and sleeve contacts connected with the two strands of the cord +circuit. The third contact _8_ was not connected with any portion of the +cord circuit, being merely an insulated contact on the plug adapted, +when the plug was fully inserted, to connect together the springs _3_ +and _4_. The cord circuit itself is readily understood from the drawing, +having two features, however, which merit attention. One is the +establishing of a grounded battery connection to the center portion of +the winding of the receiver for the purposes of the busy test, and the +other is the provision of a restoring coil and restoring circuit for the +clearing-out drop, this circuit being closed by an additional contact on +the listening key so as to restore the clearing-out drop whenever the +listening key was operated. + +_Operation._ An understanding of the operation of this system is easy. +The turning of the subscriber's generator, when the line was in its +normal condition, caused the display of the line signal. The insertion +of the answering plug, in response to this call, did three things: (1) +It extended the line circuit to the tip and sleeve strand of the cord +circuit. (2) It energized the restoring coil _6_ of the drop by +establishing the circuit from the contact spring _3_ through the plug +contact _8_ to the other contact spring _4_, thus completing the circuit +between the two normally open auxiliary wires. (3) The connecting of the +springs _3_ and _4_ established a connection from ground to the test +thimbles of all the jacks on a line, the spring _4_ being always +grounded and the spring _3_ being always connected to the test thimble +_5_. + +It is to be noted that on idle lines the test rings are always at the +same potential as the ungrounded pole of the battery _7_, being +connected thereto through the winding _6_ of the restoring coil. On all +busy lines, however, the test rings are dead grounded through the +contact _8_ of the plug that is connected with the line. + +The tip of the testing plug at the time of making a test will also be at +the same potential as that of the ungrounded pole of the battery _7_, +since this pole of the battery _7_ is always connected to the center +portion of the operator's receiver winding, and when the listening key +is thrown the tip of the calling plug is connected therewith and is at +the same potential. When, therefore, the operator touches the tip of +the calling plug to the test thimble of an idle line, she will get no +click, since the tip of the plug and the test thimble will be at the +same potential. If, however, the line has already been switched at +another section of the board, there will be a difference of potential, +because the test thimble will be grounded, and the circuit, through +which the current which causes the click flows, may be traced from the +ungrounded pole of the battery _7_ to the center portion of the +operator's receiver, thence through one-half of the winding to the tip +of the calling plug, thence to the test thimble of the jack under test, +thence to the spring _3_ of the jack on another section at which the +connection exists, through the contact _8_ on the plug of that jack to +the spring _4_, and thence to ground and back to the other terminal of +the battery _7_. + +_Magnet Windings._ Coils of the line and clearing-out drops by which +these drops are thrown, are wound to such high resistance and impedance +as to make it proper to leave them permanently bridged across the +talking circuit. The necessity for cutting them out is, therefore, done +away with, with a consequent avoidance, in the case of the line drops, +of the provision of series contacts in the jacks. + +_Arrangement of Apparatus._ In boards of this type the line and +clearing-out drops were mounted in the extreme upper portion of the +switchboard face so as to be within the range of vision of the operator, +but yet out of her reach. Therefore, the whole face of the board that +was within the limit of the operator's reach was available for the +answering and multiple jacks. A front view of a little over one of the +sections of the switchboard, involving three complete operator's +positions, is shown in Fig. 339, which is a portion of the switchboard +installed by the Western Electric Company in one of the large exchanges +in Paris, France. (This has recently been replaced by a common-battery +multiple board.) In this the line drops may be seen at the extreme top +of the face of the switchboard, and immediately beneath these the +clearing-out drops. Beneath these are the multiple jacks arranged in +banks of one hundred, each hundred consisting of five strips of twenty. +At the extreme lower portion of the jack space are shown the answering +jacks and beneath these on the horizontal shelf, the plugs and keys. +These jacks were mounted on 1/2-inch centers, both vertically and +horizontally and each section had in multiple 90 banks of 100 each, +making 9,000 in all. Subsequent practice has shown that this involves +too large a reach for the operators and that, therefore, 9,000 is too +large a number of jacks to place on one section if the jacks are not +spaced closer than on 1/2-inch centers. With the jack involving as many +parts as that required by this branch terminal system, it was hardly +feasible to make them smaller than this without sacrificing their +durability, and one of the important features of the common-battery +multiple system which has supplanted this branch-terminal magneto system +is that the jacks are of such a simple nature as to lend themselves to +mounting on 3/8-inch centers, and in some cases on 3/10-inch centers. + +[Illustration: Fig. 339. Face of Magneto Multiple Switchboard] + +=Modern Magneto Multiple Board.= Coming now to a consideration of modern +magneto multiple switchboards, and bearing in mind that such boards are +to be found in modern practice only in comparatively small installations +and then only under rather peculiar conditions, as already set forth, we +will consider the switchboard of the Monarch Telephone Manufacturing +Company as typical of good practice in this respect. + +[Illustration: Fig. 340. Monarch Magneto Multiple Switchboard Circuits] + +_Line Circuit._ The line and cord circuits of the Monarch system are +shown in Fig. 340. It will be seen that each jack has in all five +contacts, numbered from _1_ to _5_ respectively, of which _1_ and _4_ +are the springs which register with the tip and ring contacts of the +plug and through which the talking circuit is continued, while _2_ and +_3_ are series contacts for cutting off the line drop when a plug is +inserted, and _5_ is the test contact or thimble adapted to register +with the sleeve contact on the plug when the plug is fully inserted. The +line circuit through the drop may be traced normally from one side of +the line through the drop coil, thence through all of the pairs of +springs _2_ and _3_ in the jacks of that line, and thence to spring _1_ +of the last jack, this spring always being strapped to the spring _2_ in +the last jack, and thence to the other side of the line. All the ring +springs _1_ are permanently tapped on to one side of the line, and all +of the tip springs _4_ are permanently tapped to the other side of the +line. This system may, therefore, properly be called a branch-terminal +system. It is seen that as soon as a plug is inserted into any of the +jacks, the circuit through the drop will be broken by the opening of the +springs _2_ and _3_ in that jack. The drop shown immediately above the +answering jack is so associated mechanically with that jack as to be +mechanically self-restored when the answering plug is inserted into the +answering jack in response to a call. The arrangement in this respect is +the same as that shown in Fig. 259, illustrating the Monarch combined +drop and jack. + +_Cord Circuit._ The cord circuit needs little explanation. The tip and +ring strands are the ones which carry the talking current and across +these is bridged the double-wound clearing-out drop, a condenser being +included in series in the tip strand between the two drop windings in +the manner already explained in connection with Fig. 284. The third or +sleeve strand of the cord is continuous from plug to plug, and between +it and the ground there is permanently connected a retardation coil. + +_Test._ The test is dependent on the presence or absence of a path to +ground from the test thimbles through some retardation coil associated +with a cord circuit. Obviously, in the case of an idle line there will +be no path to ground from the test thimbles, since normally they are +merely connected to each other and are insulated from everything else. +When, however, a plug is inserted into a multiple or answering jack, the +test thimbles of that line are connected to ground through the +retardation coil associated with the third strand of the plug used in +making the connection. When the operator applies the tip of the calling +plug to a test contact of a multiple jack there will be no path to +ground afforded if the line is idle, while if it is busy the potential +of the tip of the test plug will cause a current to flow to ground +through the impedance coil associated with the plug used in making the +connection. This will be made clearer by tracing the test circuit. With +the listening key thrown this may be traced from the live side of the +battery through the retardation coil _6_, which is common to an +operator's position, thence through the tip side of the listening key to +the tip conductor of the calling cord, and thence to the tip of the +calling plug and the thimble of the jack under test. If the line is idle +there will be no path to ground from this point and no click will +result, but if the line is busy, current will flow from the tip of the +test plug to the thimble of the jack tested, thence by the test wire in +the multiple to the thimble of the jack at which a connection already +exists, and thence to ground through the third strand of the cord used +in making that connection and the impedance coil associated therewith. +The current which flows in this test circuit changes momentarily the +potential of the tip side of the operator's telephone circuit, thus +unbalancing her talking circuit and causing a click. + +[Illustration: Fig. 341. Magneto Multiple Switchboard] + +If this test system were used in a very large board where the multiple +would extend through a great many sections, there would be some +liability of a false test due to the static capacity of the test +contacts and the test wire running through the multiple. For small +boards, however, where the multiple is short, this system has proven +reliable. A multiple magneto switchboard employing the form of circuits +just described is shown in Fig. 341. This switchboard consists of three +sections of two positions each. The combined answering jacks and drops +may be seen at the lower part of the face of the switchboard and +occupying somewhat over one-half of the jack and drop space. The +multiple jacks are above the answering jacks and drops and it may be +noted that the same arrangement and number of these jacks is repeated in +each section. This switchboard may be extended by adding more sections +and increasing the multiple in those already installed to serve 1,600 +lines. + +_Assembly._ In connection with the assembly of these magneto multiple +switchboards, as installed by the Monarch Company, Fig. 342 shows the +details of the cord rack at the back of the board. It shows how the ends +of the switchboard cords opposite to the ends that are fastened to the +plugs are connected permanently to terminals on the cord rack, at which +point the flexible conductors are brought out to terminal clips or +binding posts, to which the wires leading from the other portions of the +cord circuit are led. In order to relieve the conductors in the cords +from strain, the outer braiding of the cord at the rack end is usually +extended to form what is called a _strain cord_, and this attached to an +eyelet under the cord rack, so that the weight of the cord and the cord +weights will be borne by the braiding rather than by the conductors. +This leaves the insulated conductors extending from the ends of the +cords free to hang loose without strain and be connected to the +terminals as shown. This method of connecting cords, with variations in +form and detail, is practically universal in all types of switchboards. + +[Illustration: Fig. 342. Cord-Rack Connectors] + +A detail of the assembly of the drops and jacks in such a switchboard +is shown in Fig. 343. The single pair of clearing-out drops is mounted +in the lower part of the vertical face of the switchboard just above the +space occupied by the plug shelf. Vertical stile strips extend above the +clearing-out drop space for supporting the drops and jacks. A single row +of 10 answering jacks and the corresponding line drops are shown in +place. Above these there would be placed, in the completely assembled +board, the other answering jacks and line signals that were to occupy +this panel, and above these the strips of multiple jacks. The rearwardly +projecting pins from the stile strips are for the support of the +multiple jack strips, these pins supporting the strips horizontally by +suitable multiple clips at the ends of the jack strips; the jack strips +being fastened from the rear by means of nuts engaging the screw +threads on these pins. This method of supporting drops and jacks is one +that is equally adaptable for use in other forms of boards, such as the +simple magneto switchboard. + +[Illustration: Fig. 343. Drop and Jack Mounting] + +[Illustration: Fig. 344. Keyboard Wiring] + +In Fig. 344 is shown a detail photograph of the key shelf wiring in one +of these Monarch magneto switchboards. In this the under side of the +keys is shown, the key shelf being raised on its hinge for that purpose. +The cable, containing all of the insulated wires leading to these keys, +enters the space under the key shelf at the extreme left and from the +rear. It then passes to the right of this space where a "knee" is +formed, after which the cable is securely strapped to the under side of +the key shelf. By this construction sufficient flexibility is provided +for in the cable to permit the raising and lowering of the key shelf, +the long reach of the cable between the "knee" and the point of entry at +the left serving as a torsion member, so that the raising of the shelf +will give the cable a slight twist rather than bend it at a sharp angle. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVI + +THE COMMON-BATTERY MULTIPLE SWITCHBOARD + + +=Western Electric No. 1 Relay Board.= The common-battery multiple +switchboard differs from the simple or non-multiple common-battery +switchboard mainly in the provision of multiple jacks and in the added +features which are involved in the provision for a busy test. The +principles of signaling and of supplying current to the subscribers for +talking are the same as in the non-multiple common-battery board. For +purposes of illustrating the practical workings of the common-battery +multiple switchboard, we will take the standard form of the Western +Electric Company, choosing this only because it is the standard with +nearly all the Bell operating companies throughout the United States. + +[Illustration: Fig. 345. Line Circuit Western Electric No. 1. Board] + +_Line Circuit._ We will first consider the line circuit in simplified +form, as shown in Fig. 345. At the left in this figure the +common-battery circuit is shown at the subscriber's station, and at the +right the central-office apparatus is indicated so far as equipment of a +single line is concerned. In this simplified diagram no attempt has been +made to show the relative positions of the various parts, these having +been grouped in this figure in such a way as to give as clear and simple +an idea as possible of the circuit arrangements. It is seen at a glance +that this is a branch terminal board, the three contacts of each jack +being connected by separate taps or legs to three wires running +throughout the length of the board, these three wires being individual +to the jacks of one line. On this account this line circuit is commonly +referred to as a three-wire circuit. By the same considerations it will +be seen that the switchboard line circuit of the branch-terminal +multiple magneto system, shown in Fig. 338, would be called a four-wire +circuit. It will be shown later that other multiple switchboards in wide +use have a still further reduction in the number of wires running +through the jacks, or through the multiple as it is called, such being +referred to as two-wire switchboards. + +The two limbs of the line which extend from the subscriber's circuit, +beside being connected by taps to the tip and sleeve contacts of the +jack respectively, connect with the two back contacts of a cut-off +relay, and when this relay is in its normal or unenergized condition, +these two limbs of the line are continued through the windings of the +line relay and thence one to the ungrounded or negative side of the +common-battery and the other to the grounded side. The subscriber's +station circuit being normally open, no current flows through the line, +but when the subscriber removes his receiver for the purpose of making a +call the line circuit is completed and current flows through the coil of +the line relay, thus energizing that relay and causing it to complete +the circuit of the line lamp. The cut-off relay plays no part in the +operation of the subscriber's calling, but merely leaves the circuit of +the line connected through to the calling relay and battery. The coil of +the cut-off relay is connected to ground on one side and on the other +side to the third wire running through the switchboard multiple and +which is tapped off to each of the test rings on the jacks. As will be +shown later, when the operator plugs into the jack of a line, such a +connection is established that the test ring of that jack will be +connected to the live or negative pole of the common battery, which will +cause current to flow through the coil of the cut-off relay, which will +then operate to _cut off_ both of the limbs of the line from their +normal connection with ground and the battery and the line relay. Hence +the name _cut-off relay_. + +The use of the cut-off relay to sever the calling apparatus from the +line at all times when the line is switched serves to make possible a +very much simpler jack than would otherwise be required, as will be +obvious to anyone who tries to design a common-battery multiple system +without a cut-off relay. The additional complication introduced by the +cut-off relay is more than offset by the saving in complexity of the +jacks. It is desirable, on account of the great number of jacks +necessarily employed in a multiple switchboard, that the jacks be of the +simplest possible construction, thus reducing to a minimum their first +cost and making them much less likely to get out of order. + +_Cord Circuit._ The cord circuit of the Western Electric standard +multiple common-battery switchboard is shown in Fig. 346. This cord +circuit involves the use of three strands in the flexible cords of both +the calling and the answering plugs. Two of these are the ordinary tip +and ring conductors over which speech is transmitted to the connected +subscriber's wire. The third, the sleeve strand, carries the supervisory +lamps and has associated with it other apparatus for the control of +these lamps and of the test circuit. + +[Illustration: Fig. 346. Cord Circuit Western Electric No. 1 Board] + +The system of battery feed is the well-known split repeating-coil +arrangement already discussed. The tip strand runs straight through to +the repeating coil, while the ring strand contains, in each case, the +winding of the supervisory relay corresponding to either the calling or +the answering plug. In order that the presence in the talking circuit of +a magnet winding possessing considerable impedance may not interfere +with the talking efficiency, each of these supervisory relay windings is +shunted by a non-inductive resistance. In practice the supervisory relay +windings have each a resistance of about 20 ohms and the shunt around +them each a resistance of about 31 ohms. In the third strand of each +cord is placed a 12-volt supervisory lamp, and in series with it a +resistance of about 80 ohms. Each supervisory relay is adapted, when +energized, to close a 40-ohm shunt about its supervisory lamp. The +arrangement and proportion of these resistances is such that when a plug +is inserted into the jack of a line the lamp will receive current from a +circuit traced from the negative pole of the battery in the center of +the cord circuit through the lamp and the 80-ohm series resistance, +through the third strand of the cord to the test thimble of the jack, +and thence to the positive or grounded pole of the battery through the +third conductor in the multiple and the winding of the cut-off relay. +This current always flows as long as the plug is inserted, and it is +just sufficient to illuminate the lamp when the supervisory relay +armature is not attracted. When, however, the supervisory relay armature +is attracted, the shunting of the lamp by the 40-ohm resistance cuts +down the current to such a degree as to prevent the illumination of the +lamp, although some current still flows through it. + +The usual ringing and listening key is associated with the calling plug, +and in some cases a ring-back key is associated with the answering plug, +but this is not standard practice. + +_Operation._ The operation of this cord circuit in conjunction with the +line circuit of Fig. 345 may best be understood by reference to Fig. +347. This figure employs a little different arrangement of the line +circuit in order more clearly to indicate how the two lines may be +connected by a cord; a study of the two line circuits, however, will +show that they are identical in actual connections. It is to be +remembered that all of the battery symbols shown in this figure +represent in reality the same battery, separate symbols being shown for +greater simplicity in circuit connections. + +We will assume the subscriber at Station _A_ calls for the subscriber at +Station _B_. The operation of the line relay and the consequent lighting +of the line lamp, and also the operation of the pilot relay will be +obvious from what has been stated. The response of the operator by +inserting the answering plug into the answering jack, and the throwing +of her listening key so as to bridge her talking circuit across the cord +in order to place herself in communication with the subscriber, is also +obvious. The insertion of the answering plug into the answering jack +completed the circuit through the third strand of the cord and the +winding of the cut-off relay of the calling line, and this accomplishes +three desirable results. The circuit so completed may be traced from the +negative or ungrounded side of the battery to the center portion of the +cord circuit, thence through the supervisory lamp _1_, resistance _2_, +to the third conductor on the plug, test thimble on the jack, thence +through the winding of the cut-off relay to ground, which forms the +other terminal of the battery. The results accomplished by the closing +of this circuit are: first, the energizing of the cut-off relay to cut +off the signaling portion of the line; second, the flowing of current +through the lamp that is almost sufficient to illuminate it, but not +quite so because of the closure of the shunt about it, for the reason +that will be described; third, the raising of the potential of all the +contact thimbles on the jacks from zero to a potential different from +that of the ground and equal in amount to the fall of potential through +the winding of the cut-off relay. A condition is thus established at the +test rings such that some other operator at some other section in +testing the line will find it busy and will not connect with it. + +[Illustration: Fig. 347. Western Electric No. 1 Board] + +The reason why the lamp _1_, connected with the answering plug, was not +lighted was that the supervisory relay _3_, associated with the +answering plug, became energized when the operator plugged in, due to +the flow of current from the battery through the calling subscriber's +talking apparatus, this flow of current being permitted by the removal +of the calling subscriber's receiver from its hook. The energizing of +this relay magnet by causing the attraction of its armature, closed the +shunt about the lamp _1_, which shunt contains the 40-ohm resistance +_4_, and thus prevents the lamp from receiving enough current to +illuminate it. Obviously, as soon as the calling subscriber replaces his +receiver on its hook, the supervisory relay _3_ will be de-energized, +the shunt around the lamp will be broken, and the lamp will be +illuminated to indicate to the operator the fact that the subscriber +with whose line her calling plug is connected has replaced his receiver +on its hook. + +_Testing--Called Line Idle._ Having now shown how the operator connects +with the calling subscriber's line and how that line automatically +becomes guarded as soon as it is connected with, so that no other +operator will connect with it, we will discuss how the operator tests +the called line and subsequently connects with that line, if it is found +proper to do so. If, on making the test with one of the multiple jacks +of the line leading to Station _B_, that line is idle and free to be +connected with, its test rings will all be at zero potential because of +the fact that they are connected with ground through the cut-off relay +winding with no source of current connected with them. The tip of the +calling plug will also be at zero potential in making this test, because +it is connected to ground through the tip side of the calling-plug +circuit and one winding of the cord-circuit repeating coil. As a result +no flow of current will occur, the operator will receive no click, and +she will know that she is free to connect with the line. As soon as she +does so, by inserting the plug, the third strand of the cord will be +connected with the test thimble of the calling line and the resulting +flow of current will bring about three results, two of which are the +same, and one of which is slightly different from those described as +resulting from the insertion of the answering plug into the jack of the +calling line. First, the cut-off relay will be operated and cut off the +line signaling apparatus from the called line; second, a flow of current +will result through the calling supervisory lamp _5_, which in this case +will be sufficient to illuminate that lamp for the reason that the +called subscriber has not yet responded, the calling supervisory relay +_6_ has, therefore, not yet been energized, and the lamp has not, +therefore, been shunted by its associated resistance _7_; third, the +test thimbles of the called line will be raised to a potential above +that of the earth, and thus the line will be guarded against connection +at another section of the switchboard. As soon as the called subscriber +responds to the ringing current sent out by the operator, current will +flow over the cord circuit and over his line through his transmitter. +This will cause the calling supervisory relay to be energized and the +calling lamp to be extinguished. Both lamps _1_ and _5_ remain +extinguished as long as the connected subscribers are in conversation, +but as soon as either one of them hangs up his receiver the +corresponding lamp will be lighted, due to the de-energization of the +supervisory relay and the breaking of the shunt around the lamp. The +lighting of both lamps associated with a cord circuit is a signal to the +operator for disconnection. + +[Illustration: TERMINAL ROOM IN MEDIUM-SIZED MANUAL OFFICE Relay Rack at +Right. This Employs the Kellogg Parallel Arrangement of Frames.] + +_Testing--Called Line Busy._ If we now assume that the called line was +already busy, by virtue of being connected with at another section, the +test rings of that line would accordingly all be raised to a potential +above that of the earth. As a result, when the operator applied the tip +of her calling plug to a test thimble on that line, current would flow +from this test thimble through the tip of the calling plug and tip +strand of the cord and through one winding of the cord-circuit repeating +coil to ground. This would cause a slight raising of potential of the +entire tip side of the cord circuit and a consequent momentary flow of +current through the secondary of the operator's circuit bridged across +the cord circuit at that time. + +_Operator's Circuit Details._ The details of the operator's talking +circuit shown in Fig. 347 deserve some attention. The battery supply to +the operator's transmitter is through an impedance coil _9_. The +condenser _12_ is bridged around the transmitter and the two primary +windings _10_ and _11_, which windings are in parallel so as to afford a +local circuit for the passage of fluctuating currents set up by the +transmitter. The two primary windings _10_ and _11_ are on separate +induction coils, the secondary windings _13_ and _14_ being, therefore, +on separate cores. The winding _15_, in circuit with the secondary +winding _14_ and the receiver, is a non-inductive winding and is +supposed to have a resistance about equal to the effective resistance to +fluctuating currents of a subscriber's line of average length. Owing to +the respective directions of the primary and secondary windings _10_ and +_11_, _13_ and _14_, the result is that the outgoing currents set up by +the operator's transmitter are largely neutralized in the operator's +receiver. Incoming currents from either of the connected subscribers, +however, pass, in the main, through the secondary coil _13_ and the +operator's receiver, rather than through the shunt path formed by the +secondary _14_, and the non-inductive resistance _15_. This is known as +an "anti-side tone" arrangement, and its object is to prevent the +operator from receiving her own voice transmission so loudly as to make +her ear insensitive to the feebler voice currents coming in from the +subscribers. + +_Order-Wire Circuits._ The two keys _16_ and _17_, shown in connection +with the operator's talking circuit in Fig. 347, play no part in the +regular operation of connecting two local lines, as described above. +They are order-wire keys, and the circuits with which they connect lead +to the telephone sets of other operators at distant central offices, and +by pressing either one of these keys the operator is enabled to place +herself in communication over these so-called order-wire circuits with +such other operators. The function and mode of operation of these +order-wire circuits will be described in the next chapter, wherein +inter-office connections will be discussed. + +_Wiring of Line Circuit._ The line circuits shown in Figs. 345 and 347 +are, as stated, simplified to facilitate understanding, although the +connections shown are those which actually exist. The more complete +wiring of a single line circuit is shown in Fig. 348. The line wires are +shown entering at the left. They pass immediately, upon entering the +central office, through the main distributing frame, the functions and +construction of which will be considered in detail in a subsequent +chapter. The dotted portions of the circuit shown in connection with +this main distributing frame indicate the path from the terminals on one +side of the frame to those on the other through so-called jumper wires. +The two limbs of the line then pass to terminals _1_ and _2_ on one side +of the so-called intermediate distributing frame. Here the circuit of +each limb of the line divides, passing, on the one hand, to the tip and +sleeve springs of all the multiple jacks belonging to that line; and, on +the other hand, through the jumper wires indicated by dotted lines on +the intermediate distributing frame, and thence to the tip and ring +contacts of the answering jack. A consideration of this connection will +show that the actual electrical connections so far as already described +are exactly those of Figs. 345 and 347, although those figures omitted +the main and intermediate distributing frames. Only two limbs of the +line are involved in the main frame. In the intermediate frame the test +wire running through the multiple is also involved. This test wire, it +will be seen, leads from the test thimbles of all the multiple jacks to +the terminal _3_ on the intermediate frame, thence through the jumper +wire to the terminal _6_ of this frame, and to the test thimble of the +answering jack. Here again the electrical connections are exactly those +represented in Figs. 345 and 347, although those figures do not show the +intermediate frame. + +The two terminals _4_ and _5_ of the intermediate frame, besides being +connected to the tip and sleeve springs of the answering jack, are +connected to the contacts of the cut-off relay, and thence through the +coils of the line relay to ground on one side and to battery on the +other. Thus the line relay and battery are normally included in the +circuit of the line. The contact _6_ on the intermediate distributing +frame, besides being connected to the test thimble of all the jacks, is +connected through the coil of the cut-off relay to ground, thus +establishing a path by which current is supplied to the cut-off relay +when connection is made to the line at any jack. There is another +contact _7_ on the intermediate distributing frame which merely forms a +terminal for joining one side of the line lamp to the back contact of +the line relay. + +_Functions of Distributing Frames._ Since the line circuit thus far +described in connection with Fig. 348 is exactly the same as that of +Fig. 345 in its electrical connections, it becomes obvious that the main +and intermediate distributing frames play no part in the operation of +the circuit any more than a binding post of a telephone plays a part in +its operation. These frames carry terminals for facilitating the +connection of the various wires in the line circuit and, as will be +shown later, for facilitating certain changes in the line connection. + +[Illustration: Fig. 348. Line Circuit No. 1 Board] + +Remembering that the dotted lines in Fig. 348 indicate jumper wires of +the main and intermediate distributing frames, and that these are in the +nature of temporary or readily changeable connections, and that the full +lines, whether heavy or light, are permanent connections not readily +changeable, it will be seen that the wires leading through the multiple +jacks of a certain line are permanently associated with each other, and +with certain terminals on the main distributing frame and certain other +terminals on the intermediate distributing frame. It will also be seen +that the line lamp and the answering jack, together with the cut-off +relay and line relay, are permanently associated with each other and +with another group of terminals _4_, _5_, _6_, and _7_ on the +intermediate distributing frame. It will also be apparent that by +changing the jumper wires on the main frame, any outside line may be +connected with any different set of line switchboard equipment, and also +that by making changes in the jumper wires on the intermediate frame, +any given answering jack and line lamp with its associated line cut-off +relay may be associated with any set of multiple jacks. + +_Pilot Signals._ In a portion of the circuit leading from the battery +that is common to a group of line lamps is the winding of the pilot +relay, which is common to this group of line lamps. This controls, as +already described, the circuit of the pilot lamp common to the same +group of line lamps. In addition, a night-bell circuit is sometimes +provided, this usually being in the form of an ordinary polarized +ringer, the circuit of which is controlled by a night-bell relay common +to the entire office. Normally, this relay is shunted out of the circuit +of the common portion of the lead to the pilot relay contacts by the key +_8_, but when the key _8_ is opened all current that is fed to the pilot +lamps passes through the night-bell relay, and thus, whenever any pilot +lamp is lighted, the night-bell relay will attract its armature and thus +close the circuit of the calling generator through the night bell. + +A study of this figure will make clear to the student how the portions +of the circuit that are individual to the line are associated with such +things as the battery, that are common to the entire office, and such as +the pilot relay and lamp, that are common to a group of lines +terminating in one position. + +_Modified Relay Windings._ In some cases, the line relay instead of +being double wound, as shown, is made with a single winding, this +winding being normally included between the ring side of the cut-off +relay and the battery, the tip side of the cut-off relay being run +direct to ground. The present practice of the Western Electric Company +is towards the double-wound relay, however, and that is considered +standard in all of their large No. 1 multiple boards, except where the +customer, owing to special reasons, demands a single wound relay on the +ring side of the line. The prime reason for the two-winding line relay +is the lessened click in the calling-subscriber's receiver which occurs +when the operator answers. All line relays prior to 1902 were +single-wound, but after that they were made double and used some turns +of resistance wire to limit the normal calling current. + +_Relay Mounting._ In the standard No. 1 relay board of the Western +Electric Company and, in fact, in nearly all common-battery multiple +boards that are manufactured by other companies, the line and cut-off +relays are mounted on separate racks outside the switchboard room and +adjacent to the main and intermediate distributing frames, the wiring +being extended from the relays to the jacks and lamps on the switchboard +proper by means of suitable cables. The Western Electric Company has +recently instituted a departure from this practice in the case of some +of their smaller No. 1 switchboard installations. Where it is thought +that the ultimate capacity required by the board will not be above 3,000 +lines, the relay rack is dispensed with and all of the line and cut-off +relays, as well as the supervisory relays, are mounted in the rear of +the switchboard frame. For this purpose the line and cut-off relays are +specially made with the view to securing the utmost compactness. In +still other cases, in switchboards of relatively small ultimate +capacity, they use this small line and cut-off relay mounted on a +separate relay rack, in which case the board is the standard No. 1 board +except for the type of relays. In all of these modifications of the No. +1 board adapted for the use of the smaller and cheaper relays, the line +relay has but a single winding, the small size of the relay winding not +lending itself readily to double winding with the added necessary coil +terminals. + +_Capacity Range._ The No. 1 Western Electric board is made in standard +sizes up to an ultimate capacity of 9,600 lines. For all capacities +above 4,900 lines, a 3/8-inch jack, vertical and horizontal face +dimensions, is employed. For this capacity the smaller types of cut-off +and line relays are not employed. Up to ultimate capacities of 4,900 +lines, 1/2-inch jacks are employed, and either the small or the large +relays mounted on a separate rack are available. Up to 3,000 lines +ultimate capacity, the 1/2-inch jack is employed, and either the small +or the large cut-off and line relays are available, but in case the +small type is used the purchaser has the option of mounting them on a +separate relay rack, as in ordinary practice, or mounting them in the +switchboard cabinet and dispensing with the relay rack. + +=Western Electric No. 10 Board.= The No. 1 common-battery multiple +switchboard, regardless of its size and type of arrangement of line and +cut-off relays, involves two relays for each line, the line relay +energized by the taking of the receiver off its hook, and the cut-off +relay energized by the act of the operator on plugging in and serving to +remove the line relay from the circuit whenever and as long as a plug is +inserted into any jack of the line. This seems to involve a considerable +expense in relays, but this, as has been stated, is warranted by the +greater simplicity in jacks which the use of the cut-off relay makes +possible. In addition to this expense of investment in the line and +cut-off relays, the amount of current required to hold up the cut-off +relays during conversations foots up to a considerable item of expense, +particularly as the system of supervisory signals is one in which the +supervisory lamp takes current not only while burning, but its circuit +takes even more current when the lamp is extinguished during the time of +a connection. For all of these reasons, and some other minor ones, it +was deemed expedient by the engineers of the Western Electric Company to +design a common-battery multiple switchboard for small and medium-sized +exchanges in which certain sacrifices might be made to the end of +accomplishing certain savings. The result has been a type of +switchboard, designated the No. 10, which may be found in a number of +Bell exchanges, it being considered particularly adaptable to +installations of from 500 to 3,000 lines. Although this board has been +subject to a good deal of adverse criticism, and although it seems +probable that even for the cheaper boards the No. 1 type with some of +the modifications just described will eventually supersede this No. 10 +board, yet the present extent of use of the No. 10 board and the +instructive features which its type displays warrant its discussion +here. + +_Circuits._ The circuits of this switchboard are shown in Fig. 349, this +indicating two-line circuits and a connecting cord circuit, together +with the auxiliary apparatus employed in connection with the operator's +telephone circuit, the pilot and night alarm circuits. The most +noticeable feature is that cut-off jacks are employed, the circuit of +the line normally extending through the sets of jack springs in the +multiple, and answering jacks to the line relay and battery on one side +of the line, and to ground on the other side. Obviously, the additional +complexity of the jack saves the use of a cut-off relay and the relay +equipment of each line consists, therefore, of but a single line relay, +which controls the lamp in an obvious manner. + +[Illustration: Fig. 349. Western Electric No. 10 Board] + +The cord circuit is of the three-conductor type, the two talking strands +extending to the usual split repeating-coil arrangement, and battery +current for talking purposes being fed through these windings as in the +standard No. 1 board. The supervisory relay is included in the ring +strand of the cord circuit and is shunted by a non-inductive resistance, +so that its impedance will not interfere with the talking currents. The +armature of the supervisory relay closes the lamp contact on its back +stroke, so that the lamp is always held extinguished when the relay is +energized. The supervisory lamp is included in a connection between the +back contact of the supervisory relay and ground, this connection +including the central-office battery. As a result, the illumination of +the supervisory lamp is impossible until a plug has been inserted into a +jack, in which case, assuming the supervisory relay to be de-energized, +the lamp circuit is completed through the wire connecting all of the +test thimbles and the resistance permanently bridged to ground from that +wire. + +_Test._ For purposes of the test it is evident that the test rings of an +idle line are always at ground potential, due to their connection to +ground through the resistance coil. It is also evident that the tip of +an unused calling plug will always be at ground potential and, +therefore, that the testing of an idle line will result in no click in +the operator's receiver. When a line is switched, however, the potential +of all the test rings will be raised due to their being connected with +the live pole of the battery through the third strand of the cord. When +the operator in testing touches the test contact of the jack of a busy +line, a current will, therefore, flow from this test contact to the tip +strand of the cord and thence to ground through one of the repeating +coil windings. The potential of the tip side of the cord will, +therefore, be momentarily altered, and this will result in a click in +the operator's receiver bridged across the cord circuit at the time. The +details of the operator's cord circuit and of the pilot lamp and night +alarm circuits will be clear from the diagram. + +_Operation._ A brief summary of the operation of this system is as +follows: + +The subscriber removes his receiver from its hook, thus drawing up the +armature of the line relay and lighting his line lamp. The operator +answers. The line lamp is extinguished by the falling back of the +line-relay armature, due to the breaking of the relay circuit at the +jack contacts. The subscriber then receives current for his transmitter +through the cord-circuit battery connections. The supervisory relay +connected with the answering cord is not lighted, because, although the +lamp-circuit connection is completed at the jack, the supervisory relay +is operated to hold the lamp circuit open. Conversation ensues between +the operator and the subscriber, after which the operator tests the line +called for with the tip of the calling plug of the pair used in +answering. If the called line is not busy, no click will ensue, because +both the tested ring and the calling plug are at the same potential. +Finding no click, the operator will insert the plug and ring by means of +the ringing key. When the operator plugs in, the supervisory lamp, +associated with the calling plug, becomes lighted because the circuit is +completed at the jack and the supervisory relay remains de-energized, +since the line circuit is open at the subscriber's station. When the +called subscriber responds, the calling supervisory lamp goes out +because of the energization of the supervisory relay. Both lamps remain +out during the conversation, but when either subscriber hangs up, the +corresponding supervisory lamp will be lighted because of the falling +back of the supervisory relay armature. + +If the called line is busy, a click will be heard, for the reason +described, and the operator will so inform the calling subscriber. It +goes without saying, that in any multiple-switchboard system a plug may +be found in the actual multiple jack that is reached for, in which case, +although no test will be made, the busy condition will be reported back +to the calling subscriber. + +_Economy._ It has been the belief of the Western Electric engineers that +a real economy is accomplished in this type of board by the saving in +relay equipment. It is, of course, apparent at a glance that with a +switchboard long enough and of sections enough, the cost of extra jack +springs and their platinum contacts must become great enough to offset +the saving accomplished by omitting the cut-off relay. This makes it +apparent that if there is any economy in this type of multiple +switchboard, it must be found in the very small boards where there are +but few jacks per line and where the extra cost of the cut-off jack is +not enough to offset the extra cost of an added relay. It is the growing +belief, however, among engineers, that the multiple switchboard must be +very small indeed in order that the added complexity of the cut-off +jacks and wiring may be able to save anything over the two-relay type of +line; and it is believed that where economy is necessary in small +boards, it may be best effected by employing cheaper and more compact +forms of relays and mounting them, if necessary, directly in the +switchboard cabinet. + + NOTE. These two standard types of common-battery multiple + switchboards of the Western Electric Company represent the + development through long years of careful work on the part of + the Western Electric and Bell engineers, credit being + particularly due to Scribner, McBerty, and McQuarrie of the + Western Electric Company, and Hayes of the American Telephone + and Telegraph Company. + +=Kellogg Two-Wire Multiple Board.= The simplicity in the jacks permitted +by the use of the cut-off relay in the Western Electric common-battery +multiple switchboard for larger exchanges was carried a step further by +Dunbar and Miller in the development of the so-called two-wire +common-battery multiple switchboard, which for many years has been the +standard of the Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Company. The particular +condition which led to the development of the two-wire system was the +demand at that time on the Kellogg Company for certain very large +multiple switchboards, involving as many as 18,000 lines in the +multiple. Obviously, this necessitated a small jack, and obviously a +jack having only two contacts, a tip spring and a sleeve, could be made +more easily and with greater durability of this very small size than a +jack requiring three or more contacts. Other reasons that were +considered were, of course, cheapness in cost of construction and +extreme simplicity, which, other things being equal, lends itself to low +cost of maintenance. + +_Line Circuit._ Like the standard Western Electric board for large +offices, the Kellogg two-wire board employs two relays for each line, +the line relay under the control of the subscriber and in turn +controlling the lamp, and a cut-off relay under the control of the +operator and in turn controlling the connection of the line relay with +the line. The line circuit as originally developed and as widely used by +the Kellogg Company is shown in Fig. 350. The extreme simplicity of the +jacks is apparent, as is also the fact that but two wires lead through +the multiple. Another distinguishing feature is, that all of the +multiple and answering jacks are normally cut off from the line at the +cut-off relay, but when the cut-off relay operates it serves, in +addition to cutting off the line relay, to attach the two limbs of the +line to the two wires leading through the multiple and answering jacks. +The control of the line relay by the subscriber's switch hook is clear +from the figure. The control of the cut-off relay is secured by +attaching one terminal of the cut-off relay winding permanently to that +wire leading through the multiple which connects with the sleeve +contacts of the jack, the other terminal of the cut-off relay being +grounded. The way in which this relay is operated will be understood +when it is stated that the sleeve contacts of both the answering and +calling plugs always carry full battery potential and, therefore, +whenever any plug is inserted into any jack, current flows from the +sleeve of the jack through the sleeve contact of the jack to ground, +through the winding of the cut-off relay, which relay becomes energized +and performs the functions just stated. It is seen that the wire +running through the multiple to which the sleeve jack contacts are +attached, is thus made to serve the double purpose of answering as one +side of the talking circuit, and also of performing the functions +carried out by the separate or third wire in the three-wire system. It +will be shown also that, in addition, this wire is made to lend itself +to the purposes of the busy test without any of these functions +interfering with each other in any way. + +[Illustration: Fig. 350. Two-Wire Line Circuit] + +_Cord Circuit._ The cord circuit in somewhat simplified form is shown in +Fig. 351. Here again there are but two conductors to the plugs and two +strands to the cords. This greater simplicity is in some measure offset +by the fact that four relays are required, two for each plug. This +so-called four-relay cord circuit may be most readily understood by +considering half of it at a time, since the two relays associated with +the answering plug act in exactly the same way as those connected with +the calling plug. + +[Illustration: Fig. 351. Two-Wire Cord Circuit] + +Associated with each plug of a pair are two relays _1_ and _2_, in the +case of the answering cord, and _3_ and _4_ in the case of the calling +cord. The coils of the relays _1_ and _2_ are connected in series and +bridged across the answering cord, a battery being included between the +coils in this circuit. The coils of the relays _3_ and _4_ are similarly +connected across the calling cord. A peculiar feature of the Kellogg +system is that two batteries are used in connection with the cord +circuit, one of them being common to all answering cords and the other +to all calling cords. The operation of the system would, however, be +exactly the same if a single battery were substituted for the two. + +_Supervisory Signals._ Considering the relays associated with the +answering cord, it is obvious that these two relays _1_ and _2_ together +control the circuit of the supervisory lamp _5_, the circuit of this +lamp being closed only when the relay _1_ is de-energized and the relay +_2_ is energized. We will find in discussing the operation of these that +the relay _2_ is wholly under the control of the operator, and that the +relay _1_, after its plug has been connected with a line, is wholly +under the control of the subscriber on that line. It is through the +windings of these two relays that current is fed to the line of the +subscriber connected with the corresponding cord. + +When a plug--the answering plug, for instance--is inserted into a jack, +current at once flows from the positive pole of the left-hand battery +through the winding of the relay _2_ to the sleeve of the plug, thence +to the sleeve of the jack and through the cut-off relay to ground. This +at once energizes the supervisory relay _2_ and the cut-off relay +associated with the line. The cut-off relay acts, as stated, to continue +the tip and sleeve wires associated with the jacks to the line leading +to the subscriber, and also to cut off the line relay. The supervisory +relay _2_ acts at the same time to attract its armature and thus +complete its part in closing the circuit of the supervisory lamp. +Whether or not the lamp will be lighted at this time depends on whether +the relay _1_ is energized or not, and this, it will be seen, depends on +whether the subscriber's receiver is off or on its hook. If off its +hook, current will flow through the metallic circuit of the line for +energizing the subscriber's transmitter, and as whatever current goes to +the subscriber's line must flow through the relay _1_, that relay will +be energized and prevent the lighting of the supervisory lamp _5_. If, +on the other hand, the subscriber's receiver is on its hook, no current +will flow through the line, the supervisory relay will not be energized, +and the lamp _5_ will be lighted. + +In a nutshell, the sleeve supervisory relay normally prevents the +lighting of the corresponding supervisory lamp, but as soon as the +operator inserts a plug into the jack of the line, the relay _2_ +establishes such a condition as to make possible the lighting of the +supervisory lamp, and the lighting of this lamp is then controlled +entirely by the relay _1_, which is, in turn, controlled by the position +of the subscriber's switch hook. + +_Battery Feed._ A 2-microfarad condenser is included in each strand of +the cord, and battery is fed through the relay windings to the calling +and called subscribers on opposite sides of these condensers, in +accordance with the combined impedance coil and condenser method +described in Chapter XIII. Here the relay windings do double duty, +serving as magnets for operating the relays and as retardation coils in +the system of battery supply. + +_Complete Cord and Line Circuits._ The complete cord and line circuits +of the Kellogg two-wire system are shown in Fig. 352. In the more recent +installations of the Kellogg Company the cord and line circuits have +been slightly changed from those shown in Figs. 350 and 351, and these +changes have been incorporated in Fig. 352. The principles of operation +described in connection with the simplified figures remain, however, +exactly the same. One of the changes is, that the tip side of the lines +is permanently connected to the tips of the jacks instead of being +normally cut off by the cut-off relay, as was done in the system as +originally developed. Another change is, that the line relay is +associated with the tip side of the line, rather than with the sleeve +side, as was formerly done. The cord circuit shown in Fig. 352 shows +exactly the same arrangement of supervisory relays and exactly the same +method of battery feed as in the simplified cord circuit of Fig. 351, +but in addition to this the detailed connections of the operator's +talking set and of her order-wire keys are indicated, and also the +ringing equipment is indicated as being adapted for four-party harmonic +work. + +[Illustration: Fig. 352. Kellogg Two-Wire Board] + +In connection with this ringing key it may be stated that the springs +_7_, _8_, _9_, and _10_ are individually operated by the pressure of one +of the ringing key buttons, while the spring _17_, connected with the +sleeve side of the calling plug, is always operated simultaneously with +the operation of any one of the other springs. As a result the proper +ringing circuit is established, it being understood that the upper +contacts of the springs _7_, _8_, _9_, and _10_ lead to the terminals of +their respective ringing generators, the other terminals of which are +grounded. The circuit is, therefore, from the generator, through the +ringing key, out through the tip side of the line, back over the sleeve +side of the line, and to ground through the spring _17_, resistance +_11_, and the battery, which is one of the cord-circuit batteries. The +object of this coil _11_ and the battery connection through it to the +ringing-key spring is to prevent the falling back of the cut-off relay +when the ringing key is operated. This will be clear when it is +remembered that the cut-off relay is energized by battery current fed +over the sleeve strand of the cord, and obviously, since it is necessary +when the ringing key is operated to cut off the supply wire back of the +key, this would de-energize the cut-off relay when the ringing key was +depressed, and the falling back of the cut-off relay contacts would make +it impossible to ring because the sleeve side of the line would be cut +off. The battery supply through the resistance _11_ is, therefore, +substituted on the sleeve strand of the cord for the battery supply +through the normal connection. + +_Busy Test._ The busy test depends on all of the test rings being at +zero potential on an idle line and at a higher potential on a busy line. +Obviously, when the line is not switched, the test rings are at zero +potential on account of a ground through the cut-off relay. When, +however, a plug is inserted in either the answering or multiple jacks, +the test rings will all be raised in potential due to being connected +with the live side of the battery through the sleeve strand of the cord. +Conditions on the line external to the central office cannot make an +idle line test busy because, owing to the presence of the cut-off relay, +the sleeve contacts of all the jacks are disconnected from the line when +it is idle. The test circuit from the tip of the calling plug to ground +at the operator's set passes through the tip strand of the cord, thence +through a pair of normally closed extra contacts on the supervisory +relay _4_, thence in series through all the ringing key springs _10_, +_9_, _8_, and _7_, thence through an extra pair of springs _12_ and _13_ +on the listening key--closed only when the listening key is +operated--and thence to ground through a retardation coil _14_. No +battery or other source of potential exists in this circuit between +ground and the tip of the calling plug and, therefore, the tip is +normally at ground potential. The sleeve ring of the jack being at +ground potential if the line is idle, no current will flow and no click +will be produced in testing such a line. If, however, the line is busy, +the test ring will be at a higher potential and, therefore, current will +flow from the tip of the calling plug to ground over the path just +traced, and this will cause a rise in potential at the terminal of the +condenser _15_ and a momentary flow of current through the tertiary +winding _16_ of the operator's induction coil; hence the click. + +[Illustration: SWITCH ROOM OF CITIZENS' TELEPHONE COMPANY, GRAND RAPIDS, +MICH. One of the Earliest Large Automatic Offices.] + +Obviously the testing circuit from the tip of the calling plug to ground +at the operator's set is only useful during the time when the calling +plug is not in a jack, and as the tip strand of the calling plug has to +do double duty in testing and in serving as a part of the talking +circuit, the arrangement is made that the testing circuit will be +automatically broken and the talking circuit through the tip strand +automatically completed when the plug is inserted into a jack in +establishing a connection. This is accomplished by means of the extra +contact on the relay _4_, which relay, it will be remembered, is held +energized when its corresponding plug is inserted in a jack. During the +time when the plug is not inserted, this relay is not energized and the +test circuit is completed through the back contact of its right-hand +armature. When connection is made at the jack, this relay becomes +energized and the tip strand of the cord circuit is made complete by the +right-hand lever being pulled against the front contact of this relay. +The keys shown to the right of the operator's set are order-wire keys. + +_Summary of Operation._ We may give a brief summary of the operation of +this system as shown in Fig. 352. The left-hand station calls and the +line relay pulls up, lighting the lamp. The operator inserts an +answering plug in the answering jack, thus energizing the cut-off relay +which operates to cut off the line relay and to complete the connection +between the jacks and the external line. The act of plugging in by the +operator also raises the potential of all the test rings so as to guard +the line against intrusion by other callers. The supervisory lamp _5_ +remains unlighted because, although the relay _2_ is operated, the relay +_1_ is also operated, due to the calling subscriber's receiver being off +its hook. The operator throws her listening key, communicates with the +subscriber, and, learning that the right-hand station is wanted, +proceeds to test that line. If the line is idle, she will get no click, +because the tip of her calling plug and the tested ring will be at the +same ground potential. She then plugs in and presses the proper +ringing-key button to send out the proper frequency to ring the +particular subscriber on the line--if there be more than one--the +current from the battery through the coil _11_ and spring _17_ serving +during this operation to hold up the cut-off relay. + +As soon as the operator plugs in with the calling plug, the supervisory +lamp _6_ lights, assuming that the called subscriber had not already +removed his receiver from its hook, due to the fact that the relay _4_ +is energized and the relay _3_ is not. As soon as the called subscriber +responds, the relay _3_ becomes energized and the supervisory lamp goes +out. If the line called for had been busy by virtue of being plugged at +another section, the tip of the operator's plug in testing would have +found the test ring raised to a potential above the ground, and, as a +consequence, current would have flowed from the tip of this plug through +the back contact of the right-hand lever of relay _4_, thence through +the ringing key springs and the auxiliary listening-key springs to +ground through the retardation coil _14_. This would have produced a +click by causing a momentary flow of current through the tertiary +winding _16_ of the operator's set. + +_Wiring of Line Circuit._ The more complete wiring diagram of a single +subscriber's line, Fig. 353, shows the placing in the circuits of the +terminals and jumper wires of the main distributing frame and of the +intermediate distributing frame, and also shows how the pilot lamps and +night-alarm circuits are associated with a group of lines. The main +distributing frame occupies the same relative position in this line +circuit as in the Western Electric, being located in the main line +circuit outside of all the switchboard apparatus. The intermediate +distributing frame occupies a different relative position from that in +the Western Electric line. It will be recalled by reference to Fig. 348 +that the line lamp and the answering jack were permanently associated +with the line and cut-off relays, such mutations of arrangement as were +possible at the intermediate distributing frame serving only to vary the +connection between the multiple of a line and one of the various groups +of apparatus consisting of an answering jack and line lamp and +associated relays. In the Kellogg arrangement, Fig. 353, the line and +cut-off relays, instead of being permanently associated with the +answering jack and line lamp, are permanently associated with the +multiple jacks, no changes, of which the intermediate or main frames are +capable, being able to alter the relation between a group of multiple +jacks and its associated line and cut-off relays. In this Kellogg +arrangement the intermediate distributing frame may only alter the +connection of an answering jack and line lamp with the multiple and its +permanently associated relays. The pilot and night alarm arrangements of +Fig. 353 should be obvious from the description already given of other +similar systems. + +[Illustration: Fig. 353. Kellogg Two-Wire Line Circuit] + +=Dean Multiple Board.= In Fig. 354 are shown the circuits of the +multiple switchboard of the Dean Electric Company. The subscriber's +station equipment shown at Station _A_ and Station _B_ will be +recognized as the Wheatstone-bridge circuit of the Dean Company. + +_Line Circuit._ The line circuit is easily understood in view of what +has been said concerning the Western Electric line circuit, the line +relay _1_ being single wound and between the live side of the battery +and the ring side of the line. The cut-off relay _2_ is operated +whenever a plug is inserted in a jack and serves to sever the connection +of the line with the normal line signaling apparatus. + +_Cord Circuit._ The cord circuit is of the four-relay type, but employs +three conductors instead of two, as in the two-wire system. The relay +_3_, being in series between the battery and the sleeve contact on the +plug, is energized whenever a plug is inserted in the jack, its winding +being placed in series with the cut-off relay of the line with which the +plug is connected. This completes the circuit through the associated +supervisory lamp unless the relay _4_ is energized, the local lamp +circuit being controlled by the back contact of relay _4_ and the front +contact of relay _3_. It is through the two windings of the relay _4_ +that current is fed to the subscriber's station, and, therefore, the +armature of this relay is responsive to the movements of the +subscriber's hook. As the relay _3_ holds the supervisory lamp circuit +closed as long as a plug is inserted in a jack of the line, it follows +that during a connection the relay _4_ will have entire control of the +supervisory lamp. + +_Listening Key._ The listening key, as usual, serves to connect the +operator's set across the talking strands of the cord circuit, and the +action of this in connection with the operator's set needs no further +explanation. + +_Ringing Keys._ The ringing-key arrangement illustrated is adapted for +use with harmonic ringing, the single springs _5_, _6_, _7_, and _8_ +each being controlled by a separate button and serving to select the +particular frequency that is to be sent to line. The two springs _9_ and +_10_ always act to open the cord circuit back of the ringing keys, +whenever any one of the selective buttons is depressed, in order to +prevent interference by ringing current with the other operations of the +circuit. + +Two views of these ringing keys are shown in Figs. 355 and 356. Fig. 356 +is an end view of the entire set. In Fig. 355 the listening key is shown +at the extreme right and the four selective buttons at the left. When a +button is released it rises far enough to cause the disengagement of the +contacts, but remains partially depressed to serve as an indication that +it was last used. The group of springs at the extreme left of Fig. 355 +are the ones represented at _9_ and _10_ in Fig. 354 and by the anvils +with which those springs co-operate. + +[Illustration: Fig. 354. Dean Multiple Board Circuits] + +_Test._ The test in this Dean system is simple, and, like the Western +Electric and Kellogg systems, it depends on the raising of the +potential of the test thimbles of all the line jacks of a line when a +connection is made with that line by a plug at any position. When an +operator makes a test by applying the tip of the calling plug to the +test thimble of a busy line, current passes from the test thimble +through the tip strand of the cord to ground through the left-hand +winding of the calling supervisory relay _4_. The drop of potential +through this winding causes the tip strand of the cord to be raised to a +higher potential than it was before, and as a result the upper plate of +the condenser _11_ is thus altered in potential and this change in +potential across the condenser results in a click in the operator's ear. + +[Illustration: Fig. 355. Dean Party Line Ringing Key] + +[Illustration: Fig. 356. Dean Party Line Ringing Key] + +=Stromberg-Carlson Multiple Board.= _Line Circuit._ In Fig. 357 is shown +the multiple common-battery switchboard circuits employed by the +Stromberg-Carlson Telephone Manufacturing Company. The subscriber's line +circuits shown in this drawing are of the three-wire type and, with the +exception of the subscriber's station, are the same as already described +for the Western Electric Company's system. + +_Cord Circuit._ The cord circuit employed is of the two-conductor type, +the plugs being so constructed as to connect the ring and thimble +contacts of the jack when inserted. This cord circuit is somewhat +similar to that employed by the Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Company, +shown in Fig. 352, except that only one battery is employed, and that +certain functions of this circuit are performed mechanically by the +inter-action of the armatures of the relays. + +_Supervisory Signals._ When the answering plug is inserted in a jack, in +response to a call, the current passing to the subscriber's station and +also through the cut-off relay must flow through the relay _1_, thus +energizing it. As the calling subscriber's receiver is at this time +removed from the hook switch, the path for current will be completed +through the tip of the jack, thence through the tip of the plug, through +relay _2_ to ground, causing relay _2_ to be operated and to break the +circuit of the answering supervisory lamp. The two relays _1_ and _2_ +are so associated mechanically that the armature of _1_ controls the +armature of _2_ in such a manner as to normally hold the circuit of the +answering supervisory lamp open. But, however, when the plug is inserted +in a jack, relay _1_ is operated and allows the operation of relay _2_ +to be controlled by the hook switch at the subscriber's station. The +supervisory relay _3_ associated with the calling cord is operated when +the calling plug is placed in a jack, and this relay normally holds the +armature of relay _4_ in an operated position in a similar manner as the +armature of relay _1_ controlled that of relay _2_. Supervisory relay +_4_ is under the control of the hook switch at the called subscriber's +station. + +_Test._ In this circuit, as in several previously described, when a plug +is inserted in a jack of a line, the thimble contacts of the jacks +associated with that line are raised to a higher potential than that +which they normally have. The operator in testing a busy line, of course +having previously moved the listening key to the listening position, +closes a path from the test thimble of the jack, through the tip of the +calling plug, through the contacts of the relay _4_, the inside springs +of the listening key, thence through a winding of the induction coil +associated with her set to ground. The circuit thus established allows +current to flow from the test thimble of the jack through the winding of +her induction coil to ground, causing a click in her telephone receiver. +The arrangement of the ringing circuit does not differ materially from +that already described for other systems and, therefore, needs no +further explanation. + +[Illustration: Fig. 357. Stromberg-Carlson Multiple Board Circuits] + +=Multiple Switchboard Apparatus.= Coming now to a discussion of the +details of apparatus employed in multiple switchboards, it may be +stated that much of the apparatus used in the simpler types is capable +of doing duty in multiple switchboards, although, of course, +modification in detail is often necessary to make the apparatus fit the +particular demands of the system in which it is to be used. + +_Jacks._ Probably the most important piece of apparatus in the multiple +switchboard is the jack, its importance being increased by the fact that +such very large numbers of them are sometimes necessary. Switchboards +having hundreds of thousands of jacks are not uncommon. The multiple +jacks are nearly always mounted in strips of twenty and the answering +jacks usually in strips of ten, the length of the jack strip being the +same in each case in the same board and, therefore, giving twice as wide +a spacing in the answering as in the multiple jacks. The distance +between centers in the multiple jacks varies from a quarter of an +inch--which is perhaps the extreme minimum--to half an inch, beyond +which larger limit there seems to be no need of going in any case. It is +customary that the jack strip shall be made of the same total thickness +as the distance between the centers of two of its jacks, and from this +it follows that the strips when piled one upon the other give the same +vertical distance between jack centers as the horizontal distance. + +In Fig. 358 is shown a strip of multiple and a strip of answering jacks +of Western Electric make, this being the type employed in the No. 1 +standard switchboards for large exchanges. In Fig. 359 are shown the +multiple and answering jacks employed in the No. 10 Western Electric +switchboard. The multiple jacks in the No. 1 switchboard are mounted on +3/8-inch centers, the jacks having three branch terminal contacts. The +multiple jacks of the No. 10 switchboard indicated in Fig. 359 are +mounted on 1/2-inch centers, each jack having five contacts as indicated +by the requirement of the circuits in Fig. 349. + +In Fig. 360 are shown the answering and multiple jacks of the Kellogg +Switchboard and Supply Company's two-wire system. The extreme simplicity +of these is particularly well shown in the cut of the answering jack, +and these figures also show clearly the customary method of numbering +jacks. In very large multiple boards it has been the practice of the +Kellogg Company to space the multiple jacks on 3/10-inch centers, and in +their smaller multiple work, they employ the 1/2-inch spacing. With the +3/10-inch spacing that company has been able to build boards having a +capacity of 18,000 lines, that many jacks being placed within the reach +of each operator. + +In all modern multiple switchboards the test thimble or sleeve contacts +are drawn up from sheet brass or German silver into tubular form and +inserted in properly spaced borings in strips of hard rubber forming the +faces of the jacks. These strips sometimes are reinforced by brass +strips on their under sides. The springs forming the other terminals of +the jack are mounted in milled slots in another strip of hard rubber +mounted in the rear of and parallel to the front strip and rigidly +attached thereto by a suitable metal framework. In this way desired +rigidity and high insulation between the various parts is secured. + +[Illustration: Fig. 358. Answering and Multiple Jacks for No. 1 Board] + +_Lamp Jacks._ The lamp jacks employed in multiple work need no further +description in view of what has been said in connection with lamp jacks +for simple common-battery boards. The lamp jack spacing is always the +same as the answering jack spacing, so that the lamps will come in the +same vertical alignment as their corresponding answering jacks when the +lamp strips and answering jack strips are mounted in alternate layers. + +[Illustration: Fig. 359. Answering and Multiple Jacks for No. 10 Board] + +[Illustration: Fig. 360. Answering and Multiple Jacks for Kellogg +Two-Wire Board] + +_Relays._ Next in order of importance in the matter of individual parts +for multiple switchboards is the relay. The necessity for reliability of +action in these is apparent, and this means that they must not only be +well constructed, but that they must be protected from dust and moisture +and must have contact points of such a nature as not to corrode even in +the presence of considerable sparking and of the most adverse +atmospheric conditions. Economy of space is also a factor and has led to +the almost universal adoption of the single-magnet type of relay for +line and cut-off as well as supervisory purposes. + +[Illustration: Fig. 361. Type of Line Relay] + +[Illustration: Fig. 362. Type of Cut-Off Relay] + +The Western Electric Company employs different types of relays for line, +cut-off, and supervisory purposes. This is contrary to the practice of +most of the other companies who make the same general type of relay +serve for all of these purposes. A good idea of the type of Western +Electric line relay, as employed in its No. 1 board, may be had from +Fig. 361. As is seen this is of the tilting armature type, the armature +rocking back and forth on a knife-edge contact at its base, the part on +which it rests being of iron and of such form as to practically +complete, with the armature and core, the magnetic circuit. The cut-off +relay, Fig. 362, is of an entirely different type. The armature in this +is loosely suspended by means of a flexible spring underneath two +L-shaped polar extensions, one extending up from the rear end of the +core and the other from the front end. When energized this armature is +pulled away from the core by these L-shaped pieces and imparts its +motion through a hard-rubber pin to the upper pair of springs so as to +effect the necessary changes in the circuit. + +[Illustration: Fig. 363. Western Electric Combined Line and Cut-off +Relay] + +[Illustration: Fig. 364. Western Electric Supervisory Relay] + +[Illustration: Fig. 365. Line Relay No. 10 Board] + +Much economy in space and in wiring is secured in the type of +switchboards employing cut-off as well as line relays by mounting the +two relays together and in making of them, in fact, a unitary piece of +apparatus. Since the line relay is always associated with the cut-off +relay of the same line and with no other, it is obvious that this +unitary arrangement effects a great saving in wiring and also secures a +great advantage in the matter of convenience of inspection. Such a +combined cut-off and line relay, employed in the Western Electric No. 1 +relay board, is shown in Fig. 363. These are mounted in banks of ten +pairs, a common dust cap of sheet iron covering the entire group. + +The Western Electric supervisory relay, Fig. 364, is of the tilting +armature type and is copper clad. The dust cap in this case fits on with +a bayonet joint as clearly indicated. In Fig. 365 is shown the line +relay employed in the Western Electric No. 10 board. + +[Illustration: Fig. 366. Kellogg Line and Cut-off Relays] + +[Illustration: Fig. 367. Strip of Kellogg Line and Cut-Off Relays] + +The Kellogg Company employs the type of relay of which the magnetic +circuit was illustrated in Fig. 95. In its multiple boards it commonly +mounts the line and cut-off relays together, as shown in Fig. 366. A +single, soft iron shell is used to cover both of these, thus serving as +a dust shield and also as a magnetic shield to prevent cross-talk +between adjacent relays--an important feature, since it will be +remembered the cut-off relays are left permanently connected with the +talking circuit. Fig. 367, which shows a strip of twenty such pairs of +relays, from five of which the covers have been removed, is an excellent +detail view of the general practice in this respect; obviously, a very +large number of such relays may be mounted in a comparatively small +space. The mounting strip shown in this cut is of heavy rolled iron and +is provided with openings through which the connection terminals--shown +more clearly in Fig. 366--project. On the back of this mounting strip +all the wiring is done and much of this wiring--that connecting adjacent +terminals on the back of the relay strip--is made by means of thin +copper wires without insulation, the wires being so short as to support +themselves without danger of crossing with other wires. When these wires +are adjacent to ground or battery wires they may be protected by +sleeving, so as to prevent crosses. + +[Illustration: Fig. 368. Monarch Relay] + +An interesting feature in relay construction is found in the relay of +the Monarch Telephone Manufacturing Company shown in Figs. 368 and 369. +The assembled relay and its mounting strip and cap are shown in Fig. +368. This relay is so constructed that by the lifting of a single latch +not only the armature but the coil may be bodily removed, as shown in +Fig. 369, in which the latch is shown in its raised position. As seen, +the armature has an L-shaped projection which serves to operate the +contact springs lying on the iron plate above the coil. The simplicity +of this device is attractive, and it is of convenience not only from the +standpoint of easy repairs but also from the standpoint of factory +assembly, since by manufacturing standard coils with different +characters of windings and standard groups of springs, it is possible to +produce without special manufacture almost any combination of relay. + +[Illustration: Fig. 369. Monarch Relay] + +=Assembly.= The arrangement of the key and jack equipment in complete +multiple switchboard sections is clearly shown in Fig. 370, which shows +a single three-position section of one of the small multiple +switchboards of the Kellogg Switchboard and Supply Company. The +arrangement of keys and plugs on the key shelf is substantially the same +as in simple common-battery boards. As in the simple switchboards the +supervisory lamps are usually mounted on the hinged key shelf +immediately in the rear of the listening and ringing keys and with such +spacing as to lie immediately in front of the plugs to which they +correspond. The reason for mounting the supervisory lamps on the key +shelf is to make them easy of access in case of the necessity of lamp +renewals or repairs on the wiring. The space at the bottom of the +vertical panels, containing the jacks, is left blank, as this space is +obstructed by the standing plugs in front of it. Above the plugs, +however, are seen the alternate strips of line lamps and answering +jacks, the lamps in each case being directly below the corresponding +answering jacks. Above the line lamps and answering jacks in the two +positions at the right there are blank strips into which additional line +lamps and jacks may be placed in case the future needs of the system +demand it. The space above these is the multiple jack space, and it is +evident from the small number of multiple jacks in this little +switchboard that the present equipment of the board is small. It is also +evident from the amount of blank space left for future installations of +multiple jacks that a considerable growth is expected. Thus, while there +are but four banks of 100 multiple jacks, or 400 in all, there is room +in the multiple for 300 banks of 100 multiple jacks, or 3,000 in all. +The method of grouping the jacks in banks of 100 and of providing for +their future growth is clearly indicated in this figure. The next +section at the right of the one shown would contain a duplicate set of +multiple jacks and also an additional equipment of answering jacks and +lamps. + +[Illustration: A MULTIPLE MANUAL SWITCHING BOARD FOR TOLL CONNECTIONS IN +AN AUTOMATIC SYSTEM Multiple Jacks are Provided for Each Line through +Which Toll Connections are Handled Directly.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 370. Small Multiple Board Section] + +For ordinary local service no operator would sit at the left-hand +position of the section shown, that being the end position, since the +operator there would not be able easily to reach the extreme right-hand +portion of the third position and would have nothing to reach at her +left. This end position in this particular board illustrated is provided +with toll-line equipment, a practice not uncommon in small multiple +boards. To prevent confusion let us assume that the multiple jack space +contains its full equipment of 3,000 jacks on each section. The +operator in the center position of the section shown could easily reach +any one of the jacks on that section. The operator at the third position +could reach any jack on the second and third position of her section, +but could not well reach multiple jacks in the first position. She +would, however, have a duplicate of the multiple jacks in this first +position in the section at her right, _i. e._, in the fourth position, +and it makes no difference on what portion of the switchboard she plugs +into the multiple so long as she plugs into a jack of the right line. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVII + +TRUNKING IN MULTI-OFFICE SYSTEMS + + +It has been stated that a single exchange may involve a number of +offices, in which case it is termed a multi-office exchange. In a +multi-office exchange, switchboards are necessary at each office in +which the subscribers' lines of the corresponding office district +terminate. Means for intercommunication between the subscribers in one +office and those in any other office are afforded by inter-office trunks +extended between each office and each of the other offices. + +If the character of the community is such that each of the offices has +so few lines as to make the simple switchboard suffice for its local +connections, then the trunking between the offices may be carried out in +exactly the same way as explained between the various simple +switchboards in a transfer system, the only difference being that the +trunks are long enough to reach from one office to another instead of +being short and entirely local to a single office. Such a condition of +affairs would only be found in cases where several small communities +were grouped closely enough together to make them operate as a single +exchange district, and that is rather unusual. + +The subject of inter-office trunking so far as manual switchboards are +concerned is, therefore, confined mainly to trunking between a number of +offices each equipped with a manual multiple switchboard. + +=Necessity for Multi-Office Exchanges.= Before taking up the details of +the methods and circuits employed in trunking in multi-office systems, +it may be well to discuss briefly why the multi-office exchange is a +necessity, and why it would not be just as well to serve all of the +subscribers in a large city from a single huge switchboard in which all +of the subscribers' lines would terminate. It cannot be denied, when +other things are equal, that it is better to have only one operator +involved in any connection which means less labor and less liability of +error. + +The reasons, however, why this is not feasible in really large +exchanges are several. The main one is that of the larger investment +required. Considering the investment first from the standpoint of the +subscriber's line, it is quite clear that the average length of +subscriber's line will be very much greater in a given community if all +of the lines are run to a single office, than will be the case if the +exchange district is divided into smaller office districts and the lines +run merely from the subscribers to the nearest office. There is a direct +and very large gain in this respect, in the multi-office system over the +single office system in large cities, but this is not a net gain, since +there is an offsetting investment necessary in the trunk lines between +the offices, which of course are separate from the subscribers' lines. + +Approaching the matter from the standpoint of switchboard construction +and operation, another strong reason becomes apparent for the employment +of more than one office in large exchange districts. Both the +difficulties of operation and the expense of construction and +maintenance increase very rapidly when switchboards grow beyond a +certain rather well-defined limit. Obviously, the limitation of the +multiple switchboard as to size involves the number of multiple jacks +that it is feasible to place on a section. Multiple switchboards have +been constructed in this country in which the sections had a capacity of +18,000 jacks. Schemes have been proposed and put into effect with +varying success, for doubling and quadrupling the capacity of multiple +switchboards, one of these being the so-called divided multiple board +devised by the late Milo G. Kellogg, and once used in Cleveland, Ohio, +and St. Louis, Missouri. Each of these boards had an ultimate capacity +of 24,000 lines, and each has been replaced by a "straight" multiple +board of smaller capacity. In general, the present practice in America +does not sanction the building of multiple boards of more than about +10,000 lines capacity, and as an example of this it may be cited that +the largest standard section manufactured for the Bell companies has an +ultimate capacity of 9,600 lines. + +European engineers have shown a tendency towards the opposite practice, +and an example of the extreme in this case is the multiple switchboard +manufactured by the Ericsson Company, and installed in Stockholm, in +which the jacks have been reduced to such small dimensions as to permit +an ultimate capacity of 60,000 lines. + +The reasons governing the decision of American engineers in +establishing the practice of employing no multiple switchboards of +greater capacity than about 10,000 lines, briefly outlined, are as +follows: The building of switchboards with larger capacity, while +perfectly possible, makes necessary either a very small jack or some +added complexity, such as that of the divided multiple switchboard, +either of which is considered objectionable. Extremely small jacks and +large multiples introduce difficulties as to the durability of the jacks +and the plugs, and also they tend to slow down the work of operators and +to introduce errors. They also introduce the necessity of a smaller +gauge of wire through the multiple than it has been found desirable to +employ. Considered from the standpoint of expense, it is evident that as +a multiple switchboard increases in number of lines, its size increases +in two dimensions, _i. e._, in length of board and height of section, +and this element of expense, therefore, is a function of the square of +the number of lines. + +The matter of insurance, both with respect to the risk as to property +loss and the risk as to breakdown of the service, also points distinctly +in the direction of a plurality of offices rather than one. Both from +the standpoint of risk against fire and other hazards, which might +damage the physical property, and of risk against interruption to +service due to a breakdown of the switchboard itself, or a failure of +its sources of current, or an accident to the cable approaches, the +single office practice is like putting all one's eggs in one basket. + +Another factor that has contributed to the adoption of smaller +switchboard capacities is the fact that in the very large cities even a +40,000 line multiple switchboard would still not remove the necessity of +multi-office exchanges with the consequent certainty that a large +proportion of the calls would have to be trunked anyway. + +Undoubtedly, one of the reasons for the difference between American and +European practice is the better results that American operating +companies have been able to secure in the handling of calls at the +incoming end of trunks. This is due, no doubt, in part to the +differences in social and economic conditions under which exchanges are +operated in this country and abroad, and also in part to the +characteristics of the English tongue when compared to some of the other +tongues in the matter of ease with which numbers may be spoken. In +America it has been found possible to so perfect the operation of +trunking under proper operating conditions and with good equipment as to +relieve multi-office practice of many of the disadvantages which have +been urged against it. + +=Classification.= Broadly speaking there are two general methods that +may be employed in trunking between exchanges. The first and simplest of +these methods is to employ so-called _two-way trunks_. These, as their +name indicates, may be used for completing connections between offices +in either direction, that is, whether the call originates at one end or +the other. The other way is by the use of _one-way trunks_, wherein each +trunk carries traffic in one direction only. Where such is the case, one +end of the trunk is always used for connecting with the calling +subscriber's line and is termed the _outgoing_ end, and the other end is +always used in completing the connection with the called subscriber's +line, and is referred to as the _incoming_ end. Traffic in the other +direction is handled by another set of trunks differing from the first +set only in that their outgoing and incoming ends are reversed. + +As has already been pointed out, a system of trunks employing two-way +trunks is called a _single-track system_, and a system involving two +sets of one-way trunks is called a _double-track system_. It is to be +noted that the terms outgoing and incoming, as applied to the ends of +trunks and also as applied to traffic, always refer to the direction in +which the trunk handles traffic or the direction in which the traffic is +flowing with respect to the particular office under consideration at the +time. Thus an _incoming trunk_ at one office is an _outgoing trunk_ at +the other. + +_Two-Way Trunks._ Two-way trunks are nearly always employed where the +traffic is very small and they are nearly always operated by having the +_A_-operator plug directly into the jack at her end of the trunk and +displaying a signal at the other end by ringing over the trunk as she +would over an ordinary subscriber's line. The operator at the distant +exchange answers as she would on an ordinary line, by plugging into the +jack of that trunk, and receives her orders over the trunk either from +the originating operator or from the subscriber, and then completes the +connection with the called subscriber. Such trunks are often referred to +as "ring-down" trunks, and their equipment consists in a drop and jack +at each end. In case there is a multiple board at either or both of the +offices, then the equipment at each end of the trunk would consist of a +drop and answering jack, together with the full quota of multiple jacks. +It is readily seen that this mode of operation is slow, as the work that +each operator has to do is the same as that in connecting two local +subscribers, plus the time that it takes for the operators to +communicate with each other over the trunk. + +_One-Way Trunks._ Where one-way trunks are employed in the double-track +system, the trunks, assuming that they connect multiple boards, are +provided with multiple jacks only at their outgoing ends, so that any +operator may reach them for an outgoing connection, and at their +incoming ends they terminate each in a single plug and in suitable +signals and ringing keys, the purpose of which will be explained later. +Over such trunks there is no verbal communication between the operators, +the instructions passing between the operators over separate order-wire +circuits. This is done in order that the trunk may be available as much +as possible for actual conversation between the subscribers. It may be +stated at this point that the duration of the period from the time when +a trunk is appropriated by the operators for the making of a certain +connection until the time when the trunk is finally released and made +available for another connection is called the _holding time_, and this +holding time includes not only the period while the subscribers are in +actual conversation over it, but also the periods while the operators +are making the connection and afterwards while they are taking it down. +It may be said, therefore, that the purpose of employing separate order +wires for communication between the operators is to make the holding +time on the trunks as small as possible and, therefore, for the purpose +of enabling a given trunk to take part in as many connections in a given +time as possible. + +In outline the operation of a one-way trunk between common-battery, +manual, multiple switchboards is, with modifications that will be +pointed out afterwards, as follows: When a subscriber's line signal is +displayed at one office, the operator in attendance at that position +answers and finding that the call is for a subscriber in another office, +she presses an order-wire key and thereby connects her telephone set +directly with that of a _B_-operator at the proper other office. Unless +she finds that other operators are talking over the order wire, she +merely states the number of the called subscriber, and the _B_-operator +whose telephone set is permanently connected with that order wire merely +repeats the number of the called subscriber and follows this by +designating the number of the trunk which the _A_-operator is to employ +in making the connection. The _A_-operator, thereupon, immediately and +without testing, inserts the calling plug of the pair used in answering +the call into the trunk jack designated by the _B_-operator; the +_B_-operator simultaneously tests the multiple jack of the called +subscriber and, if she finds it not busy, inserts the plug of the +designated trunk into the multiple jack of the called subscriber and +rings his bell by pressing the ringing key associated with the trunk +cord used. The work on the part of the _A_-operator in connecting with +the outgoing end of the trunk and on the part of the _B_-operator in +connecting the incoming end of the trunk with the line goes on +simultaneously, and it makes no difference which of these operators +completes the connection first. + +It is the common practice of the Bell operating companies in this +country to employ what is called automatic or machine ringing in +connection with the _B_-operator's work. When the _B_-operator presses +the ringing key associated with the incoming trunk cord, she pays no +further attention to it, and she has no supervisory lamp to inform her +as to whether or not the subscriber has answered. The ringing key is +held down, after its depression by the operator, either by an +electromagnet or by a magnet-controlled latch, and the ringing of the +subscriber's bell continues at periodic intervals as controlled by the +ringing commutator associated with the ringing machine. When the +subscriber answers, however, the closure of his line circuit results in +such an operation of the magnet associated with the ringing key as to +release the ringing key and thus to automatically discontinue the +ringing current. + +When a connection is established between two subscribers through such a +trunk the supervision of the connection falls entirely upon the +_A_-operator who established it. This means that the calling supervisory +lamp at the _A_-operator's position is controlled over the trunk from +the station of the called subscriber, the answering supervisory lamp +being, of course, under the control of the calling subscriber as in the +case of a local connection. It is, therefore, the _A_-operator who +always initiates the taking down of a trunk connection, and when, in +response to the lighting of the two lamps, she withdraws her calling +plug from the trunk jack, the supervisory lamp associated with the +incoming end of the trunk at the other office is lighted, and the +_B_-operator obeys it by pulling down the plug. + +If, upon testing the multiple jack of the called subscriber's line, the +_B_-operator finds the line to be busy, she at once inserts the trunk +plug into a so-called "busy-back" jack, which is merely a jack whose +terminals are permanently connected to a circuit that is intermittently +opened and closed, and which also has impressed upon it an alternating +current of such a nature as to produce the familiar "buzz-buzz" in a +telephone receiver. The opening and closing of this circuit causes the +calling supervisory lamp of the _A_-operator to flash at periodic +intervals just as if the called subscriber had raised and lowered his +receiver, but more regularly. This is the indication to the _A_-operator +that the line called for is busy. The buzzing sound is repeated back +through the cord circuit of the _A_-operator to the calling subscriber +and is a notification to him that the line is busy. + +Sometimes, as is practiced in New York City, for instance, the buzzing +feature is omitted, and the only indication that the calling subscriber +receives that the called-for line is busy is being told so by the +_A_-operator. This may be considered a special feature and it is +employed in New York because there the custom exists of telling a +calling subscriber, when the line he has called for has been found busy, +that the party will be secured for him and that he, the calling +subscriber, will be called, if he desires. + +A modification of this busy-back feature that has been employed in +Boston, and perhaps in other places, is to associate with the busy-back +jack at the _B_-operator's position a phonograph which, like a parrot, +keeps repeating "Line busy--please call again." Where this is done the +calling subscriber, _if he understands what the phonograph says_, is +supposed to hang up his receiver, at which time the _A_-operator takes +down the connection and the _B_-operator follows in response to the +notification of her supervisory lamp. The phonograph busy-back scheme, +while ingenious, has not been a success and has generally been +abandoned. + +As a rule the independent operating companies in this country have not +employed automatic ringing, and in this case the _B_-operators have +been required to operate their ringing keys and to watch for the +response of the called subscriber. In order to arrange for this, another +supervisory lamp, termed the _ringing lamp_, is associated with each +incoming trunk plug, the going out of this lamp being a notification to +the _B_-operator to discontinue ringing. + +=Western Electric Trunk Circuits.= The principles involved in +inter-office trunking with automatic ringing, are well illustrated in +the trunk circuit employed by the Western Electric Company in connection +with its No. 1 relay boards. The dotted dividing line through the center +of Fig. 371 represents the separating space between two offices. The +calling subscriber's line in the first office is shown at the extreme +left and the called subscriber's line in the second office is shown at +the extreme right. Both of these lines are standard multiple switchboard +lines of the form already discussed. The equipment illustrated in the +first office is that of an _A_-board, the cord circuit shown being that +of the regular _A_-operator. The outgoing trunk jacks connecting with +the trunk leading to the other office are, it will be understood, +multipled through the _A_-sections of the board and contain no relay +equipment, but the test rings are connected to ground through a +resistance coil _1_, which takes the place of the cut-off relay winding +of a regular line so far as test conditions and supervisory relay +operation are concerned. The equipment illustrated in the second office +is that of a _B_-board, it being understood that the called subscriber's +line is multipled through both the _A_- and _B_-boards at that office. +The part of the equipment that is at this point unfamiliar to the reader +is, therefore, the cord circuit at the _B_-operator's board. This +includes, broadly speaking, the means: (1) for furnishing battery +current to the called subscriber; (2) for accomplishing the ringing of +the called subscriber and for automatically stopping the ringing when he +shall respond; (3) for performing the ordinary switching functions in +connection with the relays of the called subscriber's line in just the +same way that an _A_-operator's cord carries out these functions; and +(4) for causing the operation of the calling supervisory relay of the +_A_-operator's cord circuit in just the same manner, under control of +the connected called subscriber, as if that subscriber's line had been +connected directly to the _A_-operator's cord circuit. + +[Illustration: Fig. 371. Inter-Office Connection--Western Electric +System] + +The operation of these devices in the _B_-operator's cord circuit may +be best understood by following the establishment of the connection. +Assuming that the calling subscriber in the first office desires a +connection with the subscriber's line shown in the second office, and +that the _A_-operator at the first office has answered the call, she +will then communicate by order wire with the _B_-operator at the second +office, stating the number of the called subscriber and receiving from +that operator in return the number of the trunk to be employed. The two +operators will then proceed simultaneously to establish the connection, +the _A_-operator inserting the calling plug into the outgoing trunk +jack, and the _B_-operator inserting the trunk plug into the multiple +jack of the called subscriber's line after testing. We will assume at +first that the called subscriber's line is found idle and that both of +the operators complete their respective portions of the work at the same +time and we will consider first the condition of the calling supervisory +relay at the _A_-operator's position. + +The circuit of the calling supervisory lamp will have been closed +through the resistance coil _1_ connected with the outgoing trunk jacks +and the lamp will be lighted because, as will be shown, it is not yet +shunted out by the operation of its associated supervisory relay. +Tracing the circuit of the calling supervisory relay of the +_A_-operator's circuit, it will be found to pass from the live side of +the battery to the ring side of the trunk circuit through one winding of +the repeating coil of the _B_-operator's cord; beyond this the circuit +is open, since no path exists through the condenser _2_ bridged across +the trunk circuit or through the normally open contacts of the relay _3_ +connected in the talking circuit of the trunk. The association of this +relay _3_ with the repeating coil and the battery of the trunk is seen +to be just the same as that of a supervisory relay in the _A_-operator's +cord, and it is clear, therefore, that this relay _3_ will not be +energized until the called subscriber has responded. When it is +energized it will complete the path to ground through the _A_-operator's +calling supervisory relay and operate to shunt out the _A_-operator's +calling supervisory lamp in just the same manner as if the +_A_-operator's calling plug had been connected directly with the line of +the calling subscriber. In other words, the called subscriber in the +second office controls the relay _3_, which, in turn, controls the +calling supervisory relay of the _A_-operator, which, in turn, shunts +out its lamp. + +The connection being completed between the two subscribers, the +_B_-operator depresses one or the other of the ringing keys _5_ or _6_, +according to which party on the line is called, assuming that it is a +two-party line. It will be noticed that the springs of these ringing +keys are not serially arranged in the talking circuit, but the cutting +off of the trunk circuit back of the ringing keys is accomplished by the +set of springs shown just at the left of the ringing keys, which set of +springs _7_ is operated whenever either one of the ringing keys is +depressed. An auxiliary pair of contacts, shown just below the group of +springs _7_, is also operated mechanically whenever either one of the +ringing keys is depressed, and this serves to close one of two normally +open points in the circuit of the ringing-key holding magnet _8_. This +holding magnet _8_ is so arranged with respect to the contacts of the +ringing key that whenever any one of them is depressed by the operator, +it will be held depressed as long as the magnet is energized just the +same as if the operator kept her finger on the key. The other normally +open point in the circuit of the holding magnet _8_ is at the lower pair +of contacts of the test and holding relay _9_. This relay is operated +whenever the trunk plug is inserted in the jack of a called line, +regardless of the position of the subscriber's equipment on that line. +The circuit may be traced from the live side of the battery through the +trunk disconnect lamp _4_, coil _9_, sleeve strand of cord, and to +ground through the cut-off relay of the line. The insertion of the trunk +plug into the jack thus leaves the completion of the holding-magnet +circuit dependent only upon the auxiliary contact on the ringing key, +and, therefore, as soon as the operator presses either one of these +keys, the clutch magnet is energized and the key is held down, so that +ringing current continues to flow at regular intervals to the called +subscriber's station. + +The ringing current issues from the generator _10_, but the supply +circuit from it is periodically interrupted by the commutator _11_ +geared to the ringing-machine shaft. This periodically interrupted +ringing current passes to the ringing-key contacts through the coil of +the ringing cut-off relay _12_, and thence to the subscriber's line. The +ringing current is, however, insufficient to cause the operation of this +relay _12_ as long as the high resistance and impedance of the +subscriber's bell and condenser are in the circuit. It is, however, +sufficiently sensitive to be operated by this ringing current when the +subscriber responds and thus substitutes the comparatively low +resistance and impedance path of his talking apparatus for the previous +path through his bell. The pulling up of the ringing cut-off relay _12_ +breaks a third normally closed contact in the circuit of the holding +coil _8_, de-energizing that coil and releasing the ringing key, thus +cutting off ringing current. There is a third brush on the commutator +_11_ connected with the live side of the central battery, and this is +merely for the purpose of assuring the energizing of the ringing cut-off +relay _12_, should the subscriber respond during the interval while the +commutator _11_ held the ringing current cut off. The relay _12_ may +thus be energized either from the battery, if the subscriber responds +during a period of silence of his ringer, or from the generator _10_, if +the subscriber responds during a period while his bell is sounding; in +either case the ringing current will be promptly cut off by the release +of the ringing key. + +The trunk operator's "disconnect lamp" is shown at _4_, and it is to be +remembered that this lamp is lighted only when the _A_-operator takes +down the connection at her end, and also that this lamp is entirely out +of the control of the subscribers, the conditions which determine its +illumination being dependent on the positions of the operators' plugs at +the two ends of the trunk. With both plugs up, the lamp _4_ will receive +current, but will be shunted to prevent its illumination. The path over +which it receives this current may be traced from battery through the +lamp _4_, thence through the coil of the relay _9_ and the cut-off relay +of the called subscriber's line. This current would be sufficient to +illuminate the lamp, but the lamp is shunted by a circuit which may be +traced from the live side of battery through the contact of the relay +_13_, closed at the time, and through the coil of the trunk cut-off +relay coil _14_. The resistance of this coil is so proportioned to the +other parts of the circuit as to prevent the illumination of the lamp +just exactly as in the case of the shunting resistances of the lamps in +the _A_-operator's cord. It will be seen, therefore, that the supply of +current to the trunk disconnect lamp is dependent on the trunk plug +being inserted into the jack of the subscriber's line and that the +shunting out of this lamp is dependent on the energization of the relay +_13_. This relay _13_ is energized as long as the _A_-operator's plug is +inserted into the outgoing trunk jack, the path of the energizing +circuit being traced from the live side of the battery at the second +office through the right-hand winding of this relay, thence over the tip +side of the trunk to ground at the first office. From this it follows +that as long as both plugs are up, the disconnect lamp will receive +current but will be shunted out, and as soon as the _A_-operator pulls +down the connection, the relay _13_ will be de-energized and will thus +remove the shunt from about the lamp, allowing its illumination. The +left-hand winding of the relay _13_ performs no operating function, but +is merely to maintain the balance of the talking circuit, it being +bridged during the connection from the ring side of the trunk to ground +in order to balance the bridge connection of the right-hand coil from +the live side of battery to the tip side of the trunk circuit. + +The relay _14_, already referred to as forming a shunt for the trunk +disconnect lamp, has for its function the keeping of the talking circuit +through the trunk open until such time as the relay _13_ operates, this +being purely an insurance against unnecessary ringing of a subscriber in +case the _A_-operator should by mistake plug into the wrong trunk. It is +not, therefore, until the _A_-operator has plugged into the trunk and +the relay _13_ has been operated to cause the energization of the relay +_14_ that the ringing of the called subscriber can occur, regardless of +what the _B_-operator may have done. + +The relay _9_ has an additional function to that of helping to control +the circuit of the ringing-key holding magnet. This is the holding of +the test circuit complete until the operator has tested and made a +connection and then automatically opening it. The test circuit of the +_B_-operator's trunk may be traced, at the time of testing, from the +thimble of the multiple jack under test, through the tip of the cord, +thence through the uppermost pair of contacts of the relay _9_ to ground +through a winding of the _B_-operator's induction coil. After the test +has been made and the plug inserted, the relay _9_, which is operated by +the insertion of the plug, acts to open this test circuit and at the +same time complete the tip side of the cord circuit. + +In the upper portion of Fig. 371 the order-wire connections, by which +the _A_-operator and the _B_-operator communicate, are indicated. It +must be remembered in connection with these that the _A_-operator only +has control of this connection, the _B_-operator being compelled +necessarily to hear whatever the _A_-operators have to say when the +_A_-operators come in on the circuit. + +[Illustration: Fig. 372. Incoming Trunk Circuit] + +The incoming trunk circuit employed by the Western Electric Company for +four-party line ringing is shown in Fig. 372, it being necessarily +somewhat modified from that shown in Fig. 371, which is adapted for +two-party line ringing only. In addition to the provision of the +four-party line ringing keys, by which positive or negative pulsating +current is received over either limb of the line, and to the provision +of the regular alternating current ringing key for ringing on single +party lines, it is necessary in the ringing cut-off relay to provide for +keeping the alternating and the pulsating ringing currents entirely +separate. For this reason, the ringing cut-off relay _12_ is provided +with two windings, that at the right being in the path of the +alternating ringing currents that are supplied to the alternating +current key, and that at the left being in the ground return path for +all of the pulsating ringing currents supplied to the pulsating keys. +With this explanation it is believed that this circuit will be +understood from what has been said in connection with Fig. 371. The +operation of the holding coil _8_ is the same in each case, the holding +magnet in Fig. 372 serving to hold depressed any one of the five ringing +keys that may have been used in calling the subscriber. + +[Illustration: AUTOMATIC EQUIPMENT, MAIN OFFICE, BERKELEY, CALIFORNIA A +Feature of Interest Here is That the Cement Floor is Treated with a +Filler and Painted, with No Other Covering.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 373. Western Electric Trunk Ringing Key] + +The standard four-party line, trunk ringing key of the Western Electric +Company is shown in Fig. 373. In this the various keys operate not by +pressure but rather by being pulled by the finger of the operator in +such a way as to subject the key shaft to a twisting movement. The +holding magnet lies on the side opposite to that shown in the figure and +extends along the full length of the set of keys, each key shaft being +provided with an armature which is held by this magnet until the magnet +is de-energized by the action of the ringing cut-off relay. + +[Illustration: Fig. 374. Trunk Relay] + +[Illustration: Fig. 375. Trunk Relay] + +The standard trunk relays employed by the Western Electric Company in +connection with the circuits just described are shown in Figs. 374 and +375. In each case the dust-cap or shield is also shown. The relay of +Fig. 374 is similar to the regular cut-off relay and is the one used for +relays _9_ and _14_ of Figs. 371 and 372. The relay of Fig. 375 is +somewhat similar to the subscriber's line relay in that it has a tilting +armature, and is the one used at _13_ in Figs. 371 and 372. The trunk +relay _3_ in Figs. 371 and 372 is the same as the _A_-operator's +supervisory relays already discussed. + +It has been stated that under certain circumstances _B_-operator's trunk +circuits devoid of ringing keys, and consequently of all keys, may be +employed. This, so far as the practice of the Bell companies is +concerned, is true only in offices where there are no party lines, or +where, as in many of the Chicago offices, the party lines are worked on +the "jack per station" basis. In "jack per station" working, the +selection of the station on a party line is determined by the jack on +which the plug is put, rather than by a ringing key, and hence the +keyless trunk may be employed. + +[Illustration: Fig. 376. Keyless Trunk] + +A keyless trunk as used in New York is shown in Fig. 376. This has no +manually operated keys whatever, and the relay _17_, when it is +operated, establishes connection between the ringing generator and the +conductors of the trunk plug. The relays _3_, _13_, and _12_ operate in +a manner identical with those bearing corresponding numbers in Fig. +371. As soon as the trunk operator plugs into the multiple jack of the +called subscriber, the relay _16_ will operate for the same reason that +the relay _9_ operated in connection with Fig. 371. The trunk disconnect +lamp will receive current, but if the operator has already established +connection with the other end of the trunk, this lamp will not be +lighted because shunted by the relay _17_, due to the pulling up of the +armature of the relay _13_. The relay _15_ plays no part in the +operation so far described, because of the fact that its winding is +short-circuited by its own contacts and those of relay _12_, when the +latter is not energized. As a result of the operation of the relay _17_, +ringing current is sent to line, the supply circuit including the coil +of the relay _12_. As soon as the subscriber responds to this ringing +current, the armature of the relay _12_ is pulled up, thus breaking the +shunt about the relay _15_, which, therefore, starts to operate in +series with the relay _17_, but as its armatures assume their attracted +position, the relay _17_ is cut out of the circuit, the coil of the +relay _15_ being substituted for that of the relay _17_ in the shunt +path around the lamp _4_. The relay _17_ falls back and cuts off the +ringing current. The relay _15_ now occupies the place with respect to +the shunt around the lamp _4_ that the relay _17_ formerly did, the +continuity of this shunt being determined by the energization of the +relay _13_. When the _A_-operator at the distant exchange withdraws the +calling plug from the trunk jack, this relay _13_ becomes de-energized, +breaking the shunt about the lamp _4_ and permitting the display of that +lamp as a signal to the operator to take down the connection. It may be +asked why the falling back of relay _15_ will not again energize relay +_17_ and thus cause a false ring on the called subscriber. This will not +occur because both the relays _15_ and _17_ depend for their +energization on the closure of the contacts of the relay _13_, and when +this falls back the relay _17_ cannot again be energized even though the +relay _15_ assumes its normal position. + +=Kellogg Trunk Circuits.= The provision for proper working of trunk +circuits in connection with the two-wire multiple switchboards is not an +altogether easy matter, owing particularly to the smaller number of +wires available in the plug circuits. It has been worked out in a highly +ingenious way, however, by the Kellogg Company, and a diagram of their +incoming trunk circuit, together with the associated circuits involved +in an inter-office connection, is shown in Fig. 377. + +[Illustration: Fig. 377. Inter-Office Connection--Kellogg System] + +This figure illustrates a connection from a regular two-wire multiple +subscriber's line in one office, through an _A_-operator's cord circuit +there, to the outgoing trunk jacks at that office, thence through the +incoming trunk circuit at the other office to the regular two-wire +multiple subscriber's line at that second office. The portion of this +diagram to be particularly considered is that of the _B_-operator's cord +circuit. The trunk circuit terminates in the multipled outgoing trunk +jacks at the first office, the trunk extending between offices +consisting, of course, of but two wires. We will first consider the +control of the calling supervisory lamp in the _A_-operator's cord +circuit, it being remembered that this control must be from the called +subscriber's station. It will be noticed that the left-hand armature of +the relay _1_ serves normally to bridge the winding of relay _2_ across +the cord circuit around the condenser _3_. When, however, the relay _1_ +pulls up, the coil of relay _4_ is substituted in this bridge connection +across the trunk. The relay _2_ has a very high resistance +winding--about 15,000 ohms--and this resistance is so great that the tip +supervisory relay of the _A_-operator's cord will not pull up through +it. As a result, when this relay is bridged across the trunk circuit, +the tip relay on the calling side of the _A_-operator's cord circuit is +de-energized, just as if the trunk circuit were open, and this results +in the lighting of the _A_-operator's calling supervisory lamp. The +winding of the relay _4_, however, is of low resistance--about 50 +ohms--and when this is substituted for the high-resistance winding of +the relay _2_, the tip relay on the calling side of the _A_-operator's +cord is energized, resulting in the extinguishing of the calling +supervisory lamp. The illumination of the _A_-operator's calling +supervisory lamp depends, therefore, on whether the high-resistance +relay _2_, or the low-resistance relay _4_, is bridged across the trunk, +and this depends on whether the relay _1_ is energized or not. The relay +_1_, being bridged from the tip side of the trunk circuit to ground and +serving as the means of supply of battery current to the called +subscriber, is operated whenever the called subscriber's receiver is +removed from its hook. Therefore, the called subscriber's hook controls +the operation of this relay _1_, which, in turn, controls the conditions +which cause the illumination or darkness of the calling supervisory lamp +at the distant office. + +Assuming that the _A_-operator has received and answered a call, and has +communicated with the _B_-operator, telling her the number of the +called subscriber, and has received, in turn, the number of the trunk to +be used, and that both operators have put up the connection, then it +will be clear from what has been said that the calling supervisory lamp +of the _A_-operator will be lighted until the called subscriber removes +his receiver from its hook, because the tip relay in the _A_-operator's +cord circuit will not pull up through the 15,000-ohm resistance winding +of the relay _2_. As soon as the subscriber responds, however, the relay +_1_ will be operated by the current which supplies his transmitter. This +will substitute the low-resistance winding of the relay _4_ for the +high-resistance winding of the relay _2_, and this will permit the +energizing of the tip supervisory relay of the _A_-operator and put out +the calling supervisory lamp at her position. As in the Western Electric +circuit, therefore, the control of the _A_-operator's calling +supervisory lamp is from the called subscriber's station and is relayed +back over the trunk to the originating office. + +In this circuit, manual instead of automatic ringing is employed, +therefore, unlike the Western Electric circuit, means must be provided +for notifying the B-operator when the calling subscriber has answered. +This is done by placing at the _B_-operator's position a ringing lamp +associated with each trunk cord, which is illuminated when the +_B_-operator places the plug of the incoming trunk into the multiple +jack of the subscriber's line, and remains illuminated until the +subscriber has answered. This is accomplished in the following manner: +when the operator plugs into the jack of the line called, relay _5_ is +energized but is immediately de-energized by the disconnecting of the +circuit of this relay from the sleeve conductor of the cord when the +ringing key is depressed, the selection of the ringing key being +determined by the particular party on the line desired. These ringing +keys have associated with them a set of springs _9_, which springs are +operated when any one of the ringing keys is depressed. Thus, with a +ringing key depressed and the relay _5_ de-energized, the ringing lamp +will be illuminated by means of a circuit as follows: from the live side +of the battery, through the ringing lamp _12_, through the back contact +and armature of the relay _6_, through the armature and contact of relay +_4_, then through the armature and front contact of relay _2_--which at +this time is the relay bridged across the trunk and, therefore, +energized--and thence through the back contact and armature of relay +_5_ to ground. When the subscriber removes his receiver from the hook, +the relay _1_ will become energized as previously described, and will, +therefore, operate relay _6_ to break the circuit of the ringing lamp. +The circuit thus established by the operation of relay _1_ is as +follows: from the live side of battery, through the winding of relay +_6_, through the armature and contact of relay _1_, through the armature +and contact of relay _4_, through the armature and front contact of +relay _2_, thence through the armature and back contact of relay _5_ to +ground. As soon as the _B_-operator notes that the ringing lamp has gone +out, she knows that no further ringing is required on that line, thus +allowing the operation of relay _5_ and accomplishing the locking out of +the ringing lamp during the remainder of that connection. The relay _6_, +after having once pulled up, remains locked up through the rear contact +of the left-hand armature of relay _5_ and ground, until the plug is +removed from the jack. + +At the end of the conversation, when the _A_-operator has disconnected +her cord circuit on the illumination of the supervisory signals, both +relays _2_ and _4_ will be in an unoperated condition and will provide a +circuit for illuminating the disconnect lamp associated with the +_B_-operator's cord. This circuit may be traced as follows: from battery +through the disconnect lamp, through the armatures and contacts of +relays _2_ and _4_, thence through the front contact and armature of +relay _5_ to ground, thus illuminating the disconnect lamp. The ringing +lamp will not be re-illuminated at this time, due to the fact that it +has been previously locked out by relay _6_. The operator then removes +the plug from the jack of the line called, and the apparatus in the +trunk circuit is restored to normal condition. + +In the circuit shown only keys are provided for ringing two parties. +This circuit, however, is not confined to the use of two-party lines, +but may be extended to four parties by simply duplicating the ringing +keys and by connecting them with the proper current for selectively +ringing the other stations. + +The method of determining as to whether the called line is free or busy +is similar to that previously described for the _A_-operator's cord +circuit when making a local connection, and differs only in the fact +that in the case of the trunk cord the test circuit is controlled +through the contacts of a relay, whereas in the case of the +_A_-operator's cord, the test circuit was controlled through the +contacts of the listening key. The function of the resistance _10_ and +the battery connected thereto is the same as has been previously +described. + +The general make-up of trunking switchboard sections is not greatly +different from that of the ordinary switchboard sections where no +trunking is involved. In small exchanges where ring-down trunks are +employed, the trunk line equipment is merely added to the regular jack +and drop equipment of the switchboard. In common-battery multiple +switchboards the _A_-boards differ in no respect from the standard +single office multiple boards, except that immediately above the +answering jacks and below the multiple there are arranged in suitable +numbers the jacks of the outgoing trunks. + +Where the offices are comparatively small, the incoming trunk portions +of the _B_-boards are usually merely a continuance of the _A_-boards, +the subscriber's multiple being continuous with and differing in no +respect from that on the _A_-sections. Instead of the usual pairs of +_A_-operators' plugs, cords, and supervisory equipment, there are on the +key and plug shelves of these _B_-sections the incoming trunk plugs and +their associated equipment. + +In large offices it is customary to make the _B_-board entirely separate +from the _A_-board, although the general characteristics of construction +remain the same. The reason for separate _A_- and _B_-switchboards in +large exchanges is to provide for independent growth of each without the +growth of either interfering with the other. + +A portion of an incoming trunk, or _B_-board, is shown in Fig. 378. The +multiple is as usual, and, of course, there are no outgoing trunk jacks +nor regular cord pairs. Instead the key and plug shelves are provided +with the incoming-trunk plug equipments, thirty of these being about the +usual quota assigned to each operator's position. + +In multi-office exchanges, employing many central offices, such, for +instance, as those in New York or Chicago, it is frequently found that +nearly all of the calls that originate in one office are for subscribers +whose lines terminate in some other office. In other words, the number +of calls that have to be trunked to other offices is greatly in excess +of the number of calls that may be handled through the multiple of the +_A_-board in which they originate. It is not infrequent to have the +percentage of trunked calls run as high as 75 per cent of the total +number of calls originating in any one office, and in some of the +offices in the larger cities this percentage runs higher than 90 per +cent. + +[Illustration: Fig. 378. Section of Trunk Switchboard] + +[Illustration: Fig. 379. Section of Partial Multiple Switchboard] + +This fact has brought up for consideration the problem as to whether, +when the nature of the traffic is such that only a very small portion of +the calls can be handled in the office where they originate, it is worth +while to employ the multiple terminals for the subscribers' lines on the +_A_-boards. In other words, if so great a proportion as 90 per cent of +the calls have to be trunked any way, is it worth while to provide the +great expense of a full multiple on all the sections of the _A_-board in +order to make it possible to handle the remaining 10 per cent of the +calls directly by the _A_-operators? + +As a result of this consideration it has been generally conceded that +where such a very great percentage of trunking was necessary, the full +multiple of the subscribers' lines on each section was not warranted, +and what is known as the partial multiple board has come into existence +in large manual exchanges. In these the regular subscribers' multiple is +entirely omitted from the _A_-board, all subscribers' calls being +handled through outgoing trunk jacks connected by trunks to _B_-boards +in the same as well as other offices. In these partial multiple +_A_-boards, the answering jacks are multipled a few times, usually +twice, so that calls on each line may be answered from more than one +position. This multipling of answering jacks does not in any way take +the place of the regular multipling in full multiple boards, since in no +case are the calls completed through the multiple jacks. It is done +merely for the purpose of contributing to team work between the +operators. + +A portion of such a partial multiple _A_-board is shown in Fig. 379. +This view shows slightly more than one section, and the regular +answering jacks and lamps may be seen at the bottom of the jack space +just above the plugs. Above these are placed the outgoing trunk jacks, +those that are in use being indicated with white designation strips. +Above the outgoing trunk jacks are placed the multiples of the answering +jacks, these not being provided with lamps. + +The partial multiple _A_-section of Fig. 379 is a portion of the +switchboard equipment of the same office to which the trunking section +shown in Fig. 378 belongs. That this is a large multiple board may be +gathered from the number of multiple jacks in the trunking section, +8,400 being installed with room for 10,500. That the board is a portion +of an equipment belonging to an exchange of enormous proportions may be +gathered from the number of outgoing trunk jacks shown in the _A_-board, +and in the great number of order-wire keys shown between each of the +sets of regular cord-circuit keys. The switchboards illustrated in these +two figures are those of one of the large offices of the New York +Telephone Company on Manhattan Island, and the photographs were taken +especially for this work by the Western Electric Company. + + =Cable Color Code.= A great part of the wiring of switchboards + requires to be done with insulated wires grouped into cables. + In the wiring of manual switchboards as described in the seven + preceding chapters, and of automatic and automanual systems and + of private branch-exchange and intercommunicating systems + described in succeeding chapters, cables formed as follows are + widely used: + + Tinned soft copper wires, usually of No. 22 or No. 24 B. & S. + gauge, are insulated, first with two coverings of silk, then + with one covering of cotton. The outer (cotton) insulation of + each wire is made of white or of dyed threads. If dyed, the + color either is solid red, black, blue, orange, green, brown, + or slate, or it is striped, by combining one of those colors + with white or a remaining color. The object of coloring the + wires is to enable them to be identified by sight instead of by + electrical testing. + + Wires so insulated are twisted into pairs, choosing the colors + of the "line" and "mate" according to a predetermined plan. An + assortment of these pairs then is laid up spirally to form the + cable core, over which are placed certain wrappings and an + outer braid. A widely used form of switchboard cable has paper + and lead foil wrappings over the core, and the outer cotton + braid finally is treated with a fire-resisting paint. + + STANDARD COLOR CODE FOR CABLES + + +---------------+-------------------------------------------------+ + | | MATE | + | LINE WIRE +-------+-------+-------+-----------+-------------+ + | | White | Red | Black | Red-White | Black-White | + +---------------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-------------+ + | Blue | 1 | 21 | 41 | 61 | 81 | + | Orange | 2 | 22 | 42 | 62 | 82 | + | Green | 3 | 23 | 43 | 63 | 83 | + | Brown | 4 | 24 | 44 | 64 | 84 | + | Slate | 5 | 25 | 45 | 65 | 85 | + | Blue-White | 6 | 26 | 46 | 66 | 86 | + | Blue-Orange | 7 | 27 | 47 | 67 | 87 | + | Blue-Green | 8 | 28 | 48 | 68 | 88 | + | Blue-Brown | 9 | 29 | 49 | 69 | 89 | + | Blue-Slate | 10 | 30 | 50 | 70 | 90 | + | Orange-White | 11 | 31 | 51 | 71 | 91 | + | Orange-Green | 12 | 32 | 52 | 72 | 92 | + | Orange-Brown | 13 | 33 | 53 | 73 | 93 | + | Orange-Slate | 14 | 34 | 54 | 74 | 94 | + | Green-White | 15 | 35 | 55 | 75 | 95 | + | Green-Brown | 16 | 36 | 56 | 76 | 96 | + | Green-Slate | 17 | 37 | 57 | 77 | 97 | + | Brown-White | 18 | 38 | 58 | 78 | 98 | + | Brown-Slate | 19 | 39 | 59 | 79 | 99 | + | Slate-White | 20 | 40 | 60 | 80 | 100 | + +---------------+-------+-------+-------+-----------+-------------+ + + The numerals represent the pair numbers in the cable. + + The wires of spare pairs usually are designated by solid red + with white mate for first spare pair, and solid black with + white mate for second spare pair. Individual spare wires + usually are colored red-white for first individual spare, and + black-white for second individual spare. + + + + +CHAPTER XXVIII + +FUNDAMENTAL CONSIDERATIONS OF AUTOMATIC SYSTEMS + + +=Definition.= The term automatic, as applied to telephone systems, has +come to refer to those systems in which machines at the central office, +under the guidance of the subscribers, do the work that is done by +operators in manual systems. In all automatic telephone systems, the +work of connecting and disconnecting the lines, of ringing the called +subscriber, even though he must be selected from among those on a party +line, of refusing to connect with a line that is already in use, and +informing the calling subscriber that such line is busy, of making +connections to trunk lines and through them to lines in other offices +and doing the same sort of things there, of counting and recording the +successful calls made by a subscriber, rejecting the unsuccessful, and +nearly all the thousand and one other acts necessary in telephone +service, are performed without the presence of any guiding intelligence +at the central office. + +The fundamental object of the automatic system is to do away with the +central-office operator. In order that each subscriber may control the +making of his own connections there is added to his station equipment a +call transmitting device by the manipulation of which he causes the +central-office mechanisms to establish the connections he desires. + +We think that the automatic system is one of the most astonishing +developments of human ingenuity. The workers in this development are +worthy of particular notice. From occupying a position in popular regard +in common with long-haired men and short-haired women they have recently +appeared as sane, reasonable men with the courage of their convictions +and, better yet, with the ability to make their convictions come true. +The scoffers have remained to pray. + +=Arguments Against Automatic Idea.= Naturally there has been a bitter +fight against the automatic. Those who have opposed it have contended: + +First: that it is too complicated and, therefore, could be neither +reliable or economical. + +Second: that it is too expensive, and that the necessary first cost +could not be justified. + +Third: that it is too inflexible and could not adapt itself to special +kinds of service. + +Fourth: that it is all wrong from the subscribers' point of view as the +public will not tolerate "doing its own operating." + +_Complexity._ This first objection as to complexity, and consequent +alleged unreliability and lack of economy should be carefully analyzed. +It too often happens that a new invention is cast into outer darkness by +those whose opinions carry weight by such words as "it cannot work; it +is too complicated." Fortunately for the world, the patience and +fortitude which men must possess before they can produce meritorious, +though intricate inventions, are usually sufficient to prevent their +being crushed by any such offhand condemnation, and the test of time and +service is allowed to become the real criterion. + +It would be difficult to find an art that has gone forward as rapidly as +telephony. Within its short life of a little over thirty years it has +grown from the phase of trifling with a mere toy to an affair of +momentous importance to civilization. There has been a tendency, +particularly marked during recent years, toward greater complexity; and +probably every complicated new system or piece of apparatus has been +roundly condemned, by those versed in the art as it was, as being unable +to survive on account of its complication. + +To illustrate: A prominent telephone man, in arguing against the +nickel-in-the-slot method of charging for telephone service once said, +partly in jest, "The Lord never intended telephone service to be given +in that way." This, while a little off the point, is akin to the +sweeping aside of new telephone systems on the sole ground that they are +complicated. These are not real reasons, but rather convenient ways of +disposing of vexing problems with a minimum amount of labor. Important +questions lying at the very root of the development of a great industry +may not be put aside permanently in this offhand way. The Lord has +never, so far as we know, indicated just what his intentions were in the +matter of nickel service; and no one has ever shown yet just what +degree of complexity will prevent a telephone system from working. + +It is safe to say that, if other things are equal, the simpler a machine +is, the better; but simplicity, though desirable, is not all-important. +Complexity is warranted if it can show enough advantages. + +If one takes a narrow view of the development of things mechanical and +electrical, he will say that the trend is toward simplicity. The +mechanic in designing a machine to perform certain functions tries to +make it as simple as possible. He designs and re-designs, making one +part do the work of two and contriving schemes for reducing the +complexity of action and form of each remaining part. His whole trend is +away from complication, and this is as it should be. Other things being +equal, the simpler the better. A broad view, however, will show that the +arts are becoming more and more complicated. Take the implements of the +art of writing: The typewriter is vastly more complicated than the pen, +whether of steel or quill, yet most of the writing of today is done on +the typewriter, and is done better and more economically. The art of +printing affords even more striking examples. + +In telephony, while every effort has been made to simplify the component +parts of the system, the system itself has ever developed from the +simple toward the complex. The adoption of the multiple switchboard, of +automatic ringing, of selective ringing on party lines, of +measured-service appliances, and of automatic systems have all +constituted steps in this direction. The adoption of more complicated +devices and systems in telephony has nearly always followed a demand for +the performance by the machinery of the system of additional or +different functions. As in animal and plant life, so in mechanics--the +higher the organism functionally the more complex it becomes physically. + +Greater intricacy in apparatus and in methods is warranted when it is +found desirable to make the machine perform added functions. Once the +functions are determined upon, then the whole trend of the development +of the machine for carrying them out should be toward simplicity. When +the machine has reached its highest stage of development some one +proposes that it be required to do something that has hitherto been done +manually, or by a separate machine, or not at all. With this added +function a vast added complication may come, after which, if it develops +that the new function may with economy be performed by the machine, the +process of simplification again begins, the whole design finally taking +on an indefinable elegance which appears only when each part is so made +as to be best adapted in composition, form, and strength to the work it +is to perform. + +Achievements in the past teach us that a machine may be made to do +almost anything automatically if only the time, patience, skill, and +money be brought to bear. This is also true of a telephone system. The +primal question to decide is, what functions the system is to perform +within itself, automatically, and what is to be done manually or with +manual aid. Sometimes great complications are brought into the system in +an attempt to do something which may very easily and cheaply be done by +hand. Cases might be pointed out in which fortunes and life-works have +been wasted in perfecting machines for which there was no real economic +need. It is needless to cite cases where the reverse is true. The matter +of wisely choosing the functions of the system is of fundamental +importance. In choosing these the question of complication is only one +of many factors to be considered. + +One of the strongest arguments against intricacy in telephone apparatus +is its greater initial cost, its greater cost of maintenance, and its +liability to get out of order. Greater complexity of apparatus usually +means greater first cost, but it does not necessarily mean greater cost +of up-keep or lessened reliability. A dollar watch is more simple than +an expensive one. The one, however, does its work passably and is thrown +away in a year or so; the other does its work marvelously well and may +last generations, being handed down from father to son. Merely reducing +the number of parts in a machine does not necessarily mean greater +reliability. Frequently the attempt to make one part do several diverse +things results in such a sacrifice in the simplicity of action of that +part as to cause undue strain, or wear, or unreliable action. Better +results may be attained by adding parts, so that each may have a +comparatively simple thing to do. + +[Illustration: WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY TYPICAL CHARGING OUTFIT AT +DAWSON, GEORGIA] + +The stage of development of an art is a factor in determining the degree +of complexity that may be allowed in the machinery of that art. A +linotype machine, if constructed by miracle several hundred years ago, +would have been of no value to the printer's art then. The skill was not +available to operate and maintain it, nor was the need of the public +sufficiently developed to make it of use. Similarly the automatic +telephone exchange would have been of little value thirty years ago. The +knowledge of telephone men was not sufficiently developed to maintain +it, telephone users were not sufficiently numerous to warrant it, and +the public was not sufficiently trained to use it. Industries, like +human beings, must learn to creep before they can walk. + +Another factor which must be considered in determining the allowable +degree of complexity in a telephone system is the character of the labor +available to care for and manage it. Usually the conditions which make +for unskilled labor also lend themselves to the use of comparatively +simple systems. Thus, in a small village remote from large cities the +complexity inherent in a common-battery multiple switchboard would be +objectionable. The village would probably not afford a man adequately +skilled to care for it, and the size of the exchange would not warrant +the expense of keeping such a man. Fortunately no such switchboard is +needed. A far simpler device, the plain magneto switchboard--so simple +that the girl who manipulates it may also often care for its +troubles--is admirably adapted to the purpose. So it is with the +automatic telephone system; even its most enthusiastic advocate would be +foolish indeed to contend that for all places and purposes it was +superior to the manual. + +These remarks are far from being intended as a plea for complex +telephone apparatus and systems; every device, every machine, and every +system should be of the simplest possible nature consistent with the +functions it has to perform. They are rather a protest against the +broadcast condemnation of complex apparatus and systems just because +they are complicated, and without regard to other factors. Such +condemnation is detrimental to the progress of telephony. Where would +the printing art be today if the linotype, the cylinder press, and other +modern printing machinery of marvelous intricacy had been put aside on +account of the fact that they were more complicated than the printing +machinery of our forefathers? + +That the automatic telephone system is complex, exceedingly complex, +cannot be denied, but experience has amply proven that its complexity +does not prevent it from giving reliable service, nor from being +maintained at a reasonable cost. + +_Expense._ The second argument against the automatic--that it is too +expensive--is one that must be analyzed before it means anything. It is +true that for small and medium-sized exchanges the total first cost of +the central office and subscribers' station equipment, is greater than +that for manual exchanges of corresponding sizes. The prices at which +various sizes of automatic exchange equipments may be purchased vary, +however, almost in direct proportion to the number of lines, whereas in +manual equipment the price per line increases very rapidly as the number +of lines increases. From this it follows that for very large exchanges +the cost of automatic apparatus becomes as low, and may be even lower +than for manual. Roughly speaking the cost of telephones and +central-office equipment for small exchanges is about twice as great for +automatic as for manual, and for very large exchanges, of about 10,000 +lines, the cost of the two for switchboards and telephones is about +equal. + +For all except the largest exchanges, therefore, the greater first cost +of automatic apparatus must be put down as one of the factors to be +weighed in making the choice between automatic and manual, this factor +being less and less objectionable as the size of the equipment increases +and finally disappearing altogether for very large equipments. Greater +first cost is, of course, warranted if the fixed charges on the greater +investment are more than offset by the economy resulting. The automatic +screw machine, for instance, costs many times more than the hand screw +machine, but it has largely displaced the hand machine nevertheless. + +_Flexibility._ The third argument against the automatic telephone +system--its flexibility--is one that only time and experience has been +able to answer. Enough time has elapsed and enough experience has been +gained, however, to disprove the validity of this argument. In fact, the +great flexibility of the automatic system has been one of its surprising +developments. No sooner has the statement been made that the automatic +system could not do a certain thing than forthwith it has done it. It +was once quite clear that the automatic system was not practicable for +party-line selective ringing; yet today many automatic systems are +working successfully with this feature; the selection between the +parties on a line being accomplished with just as great certainty as in +manual systems. Again it has seemed quite obvious that the automatic +system could not hope to cope with the reverting call problem, _i. e._, +enabling a subscriber on a party line to call back to reach another +subscriber on the same line; yet today the automatic system may do this +in a way that is perhaps even more satisfactory than the way in which it +is done in multiple manual switchboards. It is true that the automatic +system has not done away with the toll operator and it probably never +will be advantageous to require it to do so for the simple reason that +the work of the toll operator in recording the connections and in +bringing together the subscribers is a matter that requires not only +accuracy but judgment, and the latter, of course, no machine can supply. +It is probable also that the private branch-exchange operator will +survive in automatic systems. This is not because the automatic system +cannot readily perform the switching duties, but the private +branch-exchange operator has other duties than the mere building up and +taking down of connections. She is, as it were, a door-keeper guarding +the telephone door of a business establishment; like the toll operator +she must be possessed of judgment and of courtesy in large degree, +neither of which can be supplied by machinery. + +In respect to toll service and private branch-exchange service where, as +just stated, operators are required on account of the nature of the +service, the automatic system has again shown its adaptability and +flexibility. It has shown its capability of working in harmony with +manual switchboards, of whatever nature, and there is a growing tendency +to apply automatic devices and automatic principles of operation to +manual switchboards, whether toll or private branch or other kinds, even +though the services of an operator are required, the idea being to do by +machinery that portion of the work which a machine is able to do better +or more economically than a human being. + +_Attitude of Public._ The attitude of the public toward the automatic is +one that is still open to discussion; at least there is still much +discussion on it. A few years ago it did seem reasonable to suppose that +the general telephone user would prefer to get his connection by merely +asking for it rather than to make it himself by "spelling" it out on the +dial of his telephone instrument. We have studied this point carefully +in a good many different communities and it is our opinion that the +public finds no fault with being required to make its own connections. +To our minds it is proven beyond question that either the method +employed in the automatic or that in the manual system is satisfactory +to the public as long as good service results, and it is beyond question +that the public may get this with either. + +_Subscriber's Station Equipment._ The added complexity of the mechanism +at the subscriber's station is in our opinion the most valid objection +that can be urged against the automatic system as it exists today. This +objection has, however, been much reduced by the greater simplicity and +greater excellence of material and workmanship that is employed in the +controlling devices in modern automatic systems. However, the automatic +system must always suffer in comparison with the manual in respect of +simplicity of the subscriber's equipment. The simplest conceivable thing +to meet all of the requirements of telephone service at a subscriber's +station is the modern common-battery manual telephone. The automatic +telephone differs from this only in the addition of the mechanism for +enabling the subscriber to control the central-office apparatus in the +making of calls. From the standpoint of maintenance, simplicity at the +subscriber's station is, of course, to be striven for since the proper +care of complex devices scattered all over a community is a much more +serious matter than where the devices are centered at one point, as in +the central office. Nevertheless, as pointed out, complexity is not +fatal, and it is possible, as has been proven, to so design and +construct the required apparatus in connection with the subscribers' +telephones as to make them subject to an amount of trouble that is not +serious. + +=Comparative Costs.= A comparison of the total costs of owning, +operating, and maintaining manual and automatic systems usually results +in favor of the automatic, except in small exchanges. This seems to be +the consensus of opinion among those who have studied the matter deeply. +Although the automatic usually requires a larger investment, and +consequently a larger annual charge for interest and depreciation, +assuming the same rates for each case, and although the automatic +requires a somewhat higher degree of skill to maintain it and to keep it +working properly than the manual, the elimination of operators or the +reduction in their number and the consequent saving of salaries and +contributory expenses together with other items of saving that will be +mentioned serves to throw the balance in favor of the automatic. + +The ease with which the automatic system lends itself to inter-office +trunking makes feasible a greater subdivision of exchange districts into +office districts and particularly makes it economical, where such would +not be warranted in manual working. All this tends toward a reduction in +average length of subscribers' lines and it seems probable that this +possibility will be worked upon in the future, more than it has been in +the past, to effect a considerable saving in the cost of the wire plant, +which is the part of a telephone plant that shows least and costs most. + +=Automatic vs. Manual.= Taking it all in all the question of automatic +versus manual may not and can not be disposed of by a consideration of +any single one of the alleged features of superiority or inferiority of +either. Each must be looked at as a practical way of giving telephone +service, and a decision can be reached only by a careful weighing of all +the factors which contribute to economy, reliability, and general +desirability from the standpoint of the public. Public sentiment must +neither be overlooked nor taken lightly, since, in the final analysis, +it is the public that must be satisfied. + +=Methods of Operation.= In all of the automatic telephone systems that +have achieved any success whatever, the selection of the desired +subscriber's line by the calling subscriber is accomplished by means of +step-by-step mechanism at the central office, controlled by impulses +sent or caused to be sent by the acts of the subscriber. + +_Strowger System._ In the so-called Strowger system, manufactured by the +Automatic Electric Company of Chicago, the subscriber, in calling, +manipulates a dial by which the central-office switching mechanism is +made to build up the connection he wants. The dial is moved as many +times as there are digits in the called subscriber's number and each +movement sends a series of impulses to the central office corresponding +in number respectively to the digits in the called subscriber's number. +During each pause, except the last one, between these series of +impulses, the central-office mechanism operates to shift the control of +the calling subscriber's line from one set of switching apparatus at the +central office to another. + +In case a four-digit number is being selected first, the movement of +the dial by the calling subscriber will correspond to the thousands +digit of the number being called, and the resulting movement of the +central-office apparatus will continue the calling subscriber's line +through a trunk to a piece of apparatus capable of further extending his +line toward the line terminals of the thousand subscribers whose numbers +begin with the digit chosen. The next movement of the dial corresponding +to the hundreds digit of the called number will operate this piece of +apparatus to again extend the calling subscriber's line through another +trunk to apparatus representing the particular hundred in which the +called subscriber's number is. The third movement of the dial +corresponding to the tens digit will pick out the group of ten +containing the called subscriber's line, and the fourth movement +corresponding to the units digit will pick out and connect with the +particular line called. + +_Lorimer System._ In the Lorimer automatic system invented by the +Lorimer Brothers, and now being manufactured by the Canadian Machine +Telephone Company of Toronto, Canada, the subscriber sets up the number +he desires complete by moving four levers on his telephone so that the +desired number appears visibly before him. He then turns a handle and +the central-office apparatus, under the control of the electrical +conditions thus set up by the subscriber, establishes the connection. In +this system, unlike the Strowger system, the controlling impulses are +not caused by the movement of the subscriber's apparatus in returning to +its normal position after being set by the subscriber. Instead, the +conditions established at the subscriber's station by the subscriber in +setting up the desired number, merely determine the point in the series +of impulses corresponding to each digit at which the stepping impulses +local to the central office shall cease, and in this way the proper +number of impulses in the series corresponding to each digit is +determined. + +_Magnet- vs. Power-Driven Switches._ These two systems differ radically +in another respect. In the Strowger system it is the electrical impulses +initiated at the subscriber's apparatus that actually cause the movement +of the switching parts at the central office, these impulses energizing +electromagnets which move the central-office switching devices a step at +a time the desired number of steps. In the Lorimer system the switches +are all power-driven and the impulses under the control of the +subscriber's instrument merely serve to control the application of this +power to the various switching mechanisms. These details will be more +fully dealt with in subsequent chapters. + +_Multiple vs. Trunking._ It has been shown in the preceding portion of +this work that the tendency in manual switchboard practice has been away +from trunking between the various sections or positions of a board, and +toward the multiple idea of operating, wherein each operator is able to +complete the connection with any line in the same office without +resorting to trunks or to the aid of other operators. Strangely enough +the reverse has been true in the development of the automatic system. As +long as the inventors tried to follow the most successful practice in +manual working, failure resulted. The automatic systems of today are +essentially trunking systems and while they all involve multiple +connections in greater or less degree, all of them depend fundamentally +upon the extending of the calling line by separate lengths until it +finally reaches and connects with the called line. + +_Grouping of Subscribers._ In this connection we wish to point out here +two very essential features without which, so far as we are aware, no +automatic telephone system has been able to operate successfully. The +first of these is the division of the total number of lines in any +office of the exchange into comparatively small groups and the +employment of correspondingly small switch units for each group. Many of +the early automatic systems that were proposed involved the idea of +having each switch capable in itself of making connection with any line +in the entire office. As long as the number of lines was small--one +hundred or thereabouts--this might be all right, but where the lines +number in the thousands, it is readily seen that the switches would be +of prohibitive size and cost. + +_Trunking between Groups._ This feature made necessary the employment of +trunk connections between groups. By means of these the lines are +extended a step at a time, first entering a large group of groups, +containing the desired subscriber; then entering the smaller group +containing that subscriber; and lastly entering into connection with the +line itself. The carrying out of this idea was greatly complicated by +the necessity of providing for many simultaneous connections through the +switchboard. It was comparatively easy to accomplish the extension of +one line through a series of links or trunks to another line, but it +was not so easy to do this and still leave it possible for any other +line to pick out and connect with any other idle line without +interference with the first connection. A number of parallel paths must +be provided for each possible connection. Groups of trunks are, +therefore, provided instead of single trunks between common points to be +connected. The subscriber who operates his instrument in making a call +knows nothing of this and it is, of course, impossible for him to give +any thought to the matter as to which one of the possible paths he shall +choose. It was by a realization of these facts that the failures of the +past were turned into the successes of the present. The subscriber by +setting his signal transmitter was made to govern the action of the +central-office apparatus in the selection of the proper _group_ of +trunks. The group being selected, the central-office apparatus was made +to act at once _automatically_ to pick out and connect with _the first +idle trunk of such group_. Thus, we may say _that the subscriber by the +act performed on his signal transmitter, voluntarily chooses the group +of trunks, and immediately thereafter the central-office apparatus +without the volition of the subscriber picks out the first idle one of +this group of trunks so chosen_. This fundamental idea, so far as we are +aware, underlies all of the successful automatic telephone-exchange +systems. It provides for the possibility of many simultaneous +connections through the switchboard, and it provides against the +simultaneous appropriation of the same path by two or more calling +subscribers and thus assures against interference in the choice of the +paths. + +_Outline of Action._ In order to illustrate this point we may briefly +outline the action of the Strowger automatic system in the making of a +connection. Assume that the calling subscriber desires a connection with +a subscriber whose line bears the number 9,567. The subscriber in making +the call will, by the first movement of his dial, transmit nine impulses +over his line. This will cause the selective apparatus at the central +office, that is at the time associated with the calling subscriber's +line, to move its selecting fingers opposite a group of terminals +representing the ends of a group of trunk lines leading to apparatus +employed in connecting with the ninth thousand of the subscribers' +lines. + +While the calling subscriber is getting ready to transmit the next +digit, the automatic apparatus, without his volition, starts to pick out +the first idle one of the group of trunks so chosen. Having found this +it connects with it and the calling subscriber's line is thus extended +to another selective apparatus capable of performing the same sort of +function in choosing the proper hundreds group. + +In the next movement of his dial the calling subscriber will send five +impulses. This will cause the last chosen selective switch to move its +selective fingers opposite a group of terminals representing the ends of +a group of trunks each leading to a switch that is capable of making +connection with any one of the lines in the fifth hundred of the ninth +thousand. Again during the pause by the subscriber, the switch that +chose this group of trunks will start automatically to pick out and +connect with the first idle one of them, and will thus extend the line +to a selective switch that is capable of reaching the desired line, +since it has access to all of the lines in the chosen hundred. The third +movement of the dial sends six impulses and this causes this last chosen +switch to move opposite the sixth group of ten terminals, so that there +has now been chosen the nine hundred and fifty-sixth group of ten lines. +The final movement of the dial sends seven impulses and the last +mentioned switch connects with the seventh line terminal in the group of +ten previously chosen and the connection is complete, assuming that the +called line was not already engaged. If it had been found busy, the +final switch would have been prevented from connecting with it by the +electrical condition of certain of its contacts and the busy signal +would have been transmitted back to the calling subscriber. + +_Fundamental Idea._ This idea of subdividing the subscribers' lines in +an automatic exchange, of providing different groups of trunks so +arranged as to afford by combination a number of possible parallel paths +between any two lines, of having the calling subscriber select, by the +manipulation of his instrument, the proper group of trunks any one of +which might be used to establish the connection he desires, and of +having the central-office apparatus act automatically to choose and +connect with an idle one in this chosen group, should be firmly grasped. +It appears, as we have said, in every successful automatic system +capable of serving more than one small group of lines, and until it was +evolved automatic telephony was not a success. + +_Testing._ As each trunk is chosen and connected with, conditions are +established, by means not unlike the busy test in multiple manual +switchboards, which will guard that trunk and its associated apparatus +against appropriation by any other line or apparatus as long as it is +held in use. Likewise, as soon as any subscriber's line is put into use, +either by virtue of a call being originated on it, or by virtue of its +being connected with as a called line, conditions are automatically +established which guard it against being connected with any other line +as long as it is busy. These guarding conditions of both trunks and +lines, as in the manual board, are established by making certain +contacts, associated with the trunks or lines, assume a certain +electrical condition when busy that is different from their electrical +condition when idle; but unlike the manual switchboard this different +electrical condition does not act to cause a click in any one's ear, but +rather to energize or de-energize certain electromagnets which will +establish or fail to establish the connection according to whether it is +proper or improper to do so. + +_Local and Inter-Office Trunks._ The groups of trunks that are used in +building up connections between subscribers' lines may be local to the +central office, or they may extend between different offices. The action +of the two kinds of trunks, local or inter-office, is broadly the same. + + + + +CHAPTER XXIX + +THE AUTOMATIC ELECTRIC COMPANY'S SYSTEM + + +Almost wherever automatic telephony is to be found--and its use is +extensive and rapidly growing--the so-called Strowger system is +employed. It is so named because it is the outgrowth of the work of +Almon B. Strowger, an early inventor in the automatic telephone art. +That the system should bear the name of Strowger, however, gives too +great prominence to his work and too little to that of the engineers of +the Automatic Electric Company under the leadership of Alexander E. +Keith. + +=Principles of Selecting Switch.= The underlying features of this +automatic system have already been referred to in the abstract. A better +grasp of its principles may, however, be had by considering a concrete +example of its most important piece of apparatus--the selecting switch. +The bare skeleton of such a switch, sufficient only to illustrate the +salient point in its mode of operation, is shown in Fig. 380. The +essential elements of this are a vertical shaft capable of both +longitudinal and rotary motion; a pawl and ratchet mechanism actuated by +a magnet for moving the shaft vertically a step at a time; another pawl +and ratchet mechanism actuated by another magnet for rotating the shaft +a step at a time; an arm carrying wiper contacts on its outer end, +mounted on and moving with the shaft; and a bank of contacts arranged on +the inner surface of a section of a cylinder adapted to be engaged by +the wiper contacts on this movable arm. + +These various elements are indicated in the merest outline and with much +distortion in Fig. 380, which is intended to illustrate the principles +of operation rather than the details as they actually are in the system. +In the upper left-hand corner of this figure, the magnet shown will, if +energized by impulses of current, attract and release its armature and, +in doing so, cause the pawl controlled by this magnet to move the +vertical shaft of the switch up a step at a time, as many steps as +there are impulses of current. The vertical movement of this shaft will +carry the wiper arm, attached to the lower end of the shaft, up the same +number of steps and, in doing so, will bring the contacts of this wiper +arm opposite, but not engaging, the corresponding row of stationary +contacts in the semi-cylindrical bank. Likewise, through the ratchet +cylinder on the intermediate portion of the shaft, the magnet shown at +the right-hand portion of this figure will, when energized by a +succession of electrical impulses, rotate the shaft a step at a time, as +many steps as there are impulses. This will thus cause the contacts of +the wiper arm to move over the successive contacts in the row opposite +to which the wiper had been carried in its vertical movement. + +[Illustration: Fig. 380. Principles of Automatic Switch] + +At the lower left-hand corner of this figure, there is shown a pair of +keys either one of which, when operated, will complete the circuit of +the magnet to which it is connected, this circuit including a common +battery. In a certain rough way this pair of key switches in the lower +left-hand corner of the drawing may be taken as representing the +call-transmitting apparatus at the subscriber's station, and the two +wires extending therefrom may be taken as representing the line wires +connecting that subscriber's station to the central office; but the +student must avoid interpreting them as actual representations of the +subscriber's station calling apparatus or the subscriber's line since +their counterparts are not to be found in the system as it really +exists. Here again accuracy has been sacrificed for ease in setting +forth a feature of operation. + +Still referring to Fig. 380, it will be seen that the bank contacts +consist of ten rows, each having ten pairs of contacts. Assume again, +for the sake of simplicity, that the exchange under consideration has +one hundred subscribers and that each pair of bank contacts represents +the terminals of one subscriber's line. Assume further that the key +switches in the lower left-hand corner of the figure are being +manipulated by a subscriber at that station and that he wishes to obtain +a connection with line No. 67. By pressing and releasing the left-hand +key six times, he will cause six separate impulses of current to flow +through the upper left-hand magnet and this will cause the switch shaft +to move up six steps and bring the wiper arm opposite the sixth row of +bank contacts. If he now presses and releases his right-hand key seven +times, he will, through the action of the right-hand magnet, rotate the +shaft seven steps, thus bringing the wipers into contact with the +seventh contact of the sixth row and thus into contact with the desired +line. As the wiper contacts on the switch arm form the terminals of the +calling subscriber's line, it will be apparent that the calling +subscriber is now connected through his switch with the line of +subscriber No. 67. + +As stated, each of the pairs of bank contacts are connected with the +line of a subscriber; the line, Fig. 380, is shown so connected to the +forty-first pair of contacts, that is to the first contact in the fourth +row. The selecting switch shown in Fig. 380 would be for the sole use of +the subscriber on the line No. 41. Each of the other subscribers would +have a similar switch for his own exclusive use. Since any of the +switches must be capable of reaching line No. 67, for instance, when +moved _up_ six rows and _around_ seven, it follows that the +sixty-seventh pair of contacts in each bank of the entire one hundred +switches must also be connected together and to line No. 67. The same +is, of course, true of all the contacts corresponding to any other +number. Multiple connections are thus involved between the corresponding +contacts of the banks, in much the same way as in the corresponding +jacks in the multiple of a manual switchboard. As a result of this +multiple connection of the bank contacts, any subscriber may move the +wiper arm of his selecting switch into connection with the line of any +other subscriber. + +_The "Up-and-Around" Movement._ The elemental idea to be grasped by the +discussion so far, is the so-called "up-and-around" method of action of +the selecting switches employed in this system. This preliminary +discussion may be carried a step further by saying that the arrangement +is such that when a subscriber presses both his keys and grounds both of +the limbs of his line, such a condition is brought about as will cause +all holding pawls to be withdrawn from the shaft, and thus allow it to +return to its normal position with respect to both its vertical and +rotary movements. No attempt has been made in Fig. 380 to show how this +is accomplished. + +=Function of Line Switch.= Such a system as has been briefly outlined in +the foregoing would require a separate selecting switch for each +subscriber's line and would be limited to use in exchanges having not +more than one hundred lines. In the modern system of the Automatic +Electric Company, the requirement that each subscriber shall have a +selective switch, individual to his own line, has been eliminated by +introducing what is called an _individual line switch_ by means of which +any one of a group of subscribers' lines, making a call, automatically +appropriates one of a smaller group of selecting switches and makes it +its own only while the connection exists. + +=Subdivision of Subscribers' Lines.= The limitation as to the size of +the exchange has been overcome, without increasing the number of bank +contacts in any selecting switch, by dividing the subscribers' lines +into groups of one hundred and causing selecting switches automatically +to extend the calling subscriber's line first into a group of groups +corresponding, for instance, to the thousand containing the called +subscriber's line, and then into the particular group containing the +line, and lastly, to connect with the individual line in that group. + +=Underlying Feature of Trunking System.= It will be remembered that in +the chapter on fundamental principles of automatic systems, it was +stated that the subscriber, by means of the signal transmitter at his +station, was made to govern the action of the central-office apparatus +in the selection of a proper group of trunks; and the group being +selected, the central-office apparatus was made to act automatically to +pick out and connect with the first idle trunk of such group. This +selection by the subscriber of a group followed by the automatic +selection from among that group forms the basis of the trunking system. +It is impossible, by means of any simple diagram, to show a complete +scheme of trunking employed, but Fig. 381 will give a fundamental +conception of it. This figure shows how a single calling line, indicated +at the bottom, may find access into any particular line in an office +having a capacity for ten thousand. + +=Names of Selecting Switches.= Selecting switches of the "up-and-around" +type are the means by which the calling line selects and connects with +the trunk lines required in building up the connection, and finally +selects and connects with the line of the called subscriber. Where such +a switch is employed for the purpose of selecting a _trunk_, it is +called a selector switch. It is a _first selector_ when it serves to +pick out a major group of lines, _i. e._, a group containing a +particular thousand lines or, in a multi-office system, a group +represented by a complete central office. It is a _second selector_ when +it serves to make the next subdivision of groups; a _third selector_ if +further subdivision of groups is necessary; and finally it is _a +connector_ when it is employed to pick out and connect with the +_particular line in the final group of one hundred lines_ to which the +connection has been brought by the selectors. In a single office of +10,000-line capacity, therefore, we would have first and second +selectors and connectors, the first selectors picking out the thousands, +the second selectors the hundreds, and the connectors the individual +line. In a multi-office system we may have first, second, and third +selectors and connectors, the first selector picking out the office, the +second selector the thousands in that office, the third selector the +hundreds, and the connector the individual lines. + +=The Line Switch.= In addition to the selectors and connectors there are +line switches, which are comparatively simple, one individual to each +line. Each of these has the function, purely automatic, of always +connecting a line, as soon as a call is originated on it, to some one of +a smaller group of first selectors available to that line. This idea may +be better grasped when it is understood that, in the earlier systems of +the Automatic Electric Company, there was a first selector permanently +associated with each line. By the addition of the comparatively simple +line switch, a saving of about ninety per cent of the first selectors +was effected, since the number of first selectors was thereby reduced +from a number equal to the number of lines in a group to a number equal +to the number of simultaneous connections resulting from calls +originating in that group. In other words, by the line switch, the +number of first selectors is determined by the traffic rather than by +the number of lines. + +=Scheme of Trunking.= With this understanding as to the names and +broader functions of the things involved, Fig. 381 may now be +understood. The line switch of the single line, as indicated here, has +only the power of selection among three trunks, but it is to be +understood that in actual practice, it would have access to a greater +number, usually ten. So, also, throughout this diagram we have shown the +apparatus and trunks arranged in groups of three instead of in groups of +ten, only the first three thousands groups being indicated and the first +three hundreds groups in each thousand. Again only three levels instead +of ten are indicated for each selecting switch, it being understood that +in the diagram the various levels are represented by concentric arcs of +circles, and the trunk contacts by dots on these arcs. + +_Line-Switch Action._ When the subscriber, whose line is shown at the +bottom of the figure, begins to make a call, the line switch acts to +connect his line with one of the first selector trunks available to it. +This selection is entirely preliminary and, except to start it, is in no +way under the control of the calling subscriber. The calling line now +has under its control a first selector which, for the time being, +becomes individual to it. Let it be assumed that the line switch found +the first of the first selector trunks already appropriated by some +other switch, but that the second one of these trunks was found idle. +This trunk being appropriated by the line switch places the center one +of the first selectors shown under the control of the subscriber's line. +This first selector then acts in response to the first set of selective +impulses sent out by his signal transmitter. + +[Illustration: DEAN HARMONIC CONVERTER Dry Cell Type for Magneto +Exchange. _The Dean Electric Co._] + +[Illustration: Fig. 381. Scheme of Trunking] + +_First Selector Action._ We will assume that the calling subscriber +desires to connect with No. 3213. The first movement of the subscriber's +signal transmitter will send, therefore, three impulses over the line. +These impulses will act on the vertical magnet of the first selector +switch to move it up three steps. On this "level" of the contact bank of +this switch all of the contacts will represent second selector trunks +leading to the _third_ thousand group. The other ends of these trunks +will terminate in the wipers and also in the controlling magnets of +second selectors serving this thousand. This function on the part of the +first selector controlled by the act of the subscriber will have thus +selected a _group_ of trunks leading to the _third_ thousand, but the +subscriber has nothing to do with which one of the trunks of this group +will actually be used. Immediately following the vertical movement of +the first selector switch the rotary movement of this switch will start +and will continue until the wipers of that switch have found contacts of +an idle trunk leading to a second selector. Assuming that the first +trunk was the one found idle, the first selector wipers would pause on +the first pair of contacts in the third level of its bank, and the trunk +chosen may be seen leading from that contact off to the group of second +selectors belonging to the third thousand. For clearness, the chosen +trunks in this assumed connection are shown heavier than the others. + +_Second Selector Action._ The next movement of the dial by the +subscriber in establishing his desired connection will send two +impulses, it being desired to choose the _second_ hundred in the _third_ +thousand. The first selector will have become inoperative before this +second series of impulses is sent and, therefore, only the second +selector will respond. Its vertical magnet acting under the influence of +these two impulses will step up its wiper contacts opposite the second +row of bank contacts, and the subscriber will thus have chosen the +_group_ of trunks leading to the _second_ hundred in the _third_ +thousand. Here, again, the automatic operation of picking out the first +idle one of this chosen group of trunks will take place without the +volition of the subscriber, and it will be assumed that the first two +trunks on this level of the second selector were found already engaged +and that the third was therefore chosen. The connection continues, as +indicated by heavy lines in Fig. 381, to the third one of the connectors +in the _second_ hundred of the _third_ thousand. Any one of these +connectors would have accomplished the purpose but this is assumed to be +the first one found idle by the second selector. + +_Connector Action._ The third movement of the subscriber's dial will +send but one impulse, this corresponding to the _first_ group of ten in +the _second_ hundred in the _third_ thousand. This impulse will move the +connector shaft up to the first level of bank contacts; and from now on +the action of the connector differs radically from that of the +selectors. The connector is not searching for an idle trunk in the group +but for a particular line and, therefore, having chosen the group of ten +lines in the desired hundred, the connector switch waits for further +guidance from the subscriber. This comes in the form of the final set of +impulses sent by the subscriber's signal transmitter which, in this +case, will be three in number, corresponding to the final digit in the +number of the called subscriber. This series of impulses will control +the rotary movement of the connector wipers which will move along the +first level and stop on the third one. The process is seen to be one of +successive selection, first of a large group, then of a smaller, again +of a smaller, and finally of an individual. + +If the line is found not busy, the connection between the two +subscribers is complete and the called subscriber's bell will be rung. +If it is found busy, however, the connector will refuse to connect and +will drop back to its normal position, sending a busy signal back to the +calling subscriber. The details of ringing and the busy-back operation +may only be understood by a discussion of drawings, subsequently to be +referred to. + +=Two-Wire and Three-Wire Systems.= In most of the systems of the +Automatic Electric Company in use today the impulses by which the +subscriber controls the central-office apparatus flow over one side of +the line or the other and return by ground. The metallic circuit is used +for talking and for ringing the called subscriber's bell, while ground +return circuits, on one side of the line or the other, are used for +sending all the switch controlling impulses. + +Recently this company has perfected a system wherein no ground is +required at the subscriber's station and no ground return path is used +for any purpose between the subscriber and the central office. +This later system is known as the "two-wire" system, and in +contra-distinction to it, the earlier and most used system has been +referred to as the "three-wire." It is not meant by this that the line +circuits actually have three wires but that each line employs three +conductors, the two wires of the line and the earth. The three-wire +system will be referred to and described in detail, and from it the +principles of the two-wire system will be readily understood. + +[Illustration: Fig. 382. Automatic Wall Set] + +[Illustration: Fig. 383. Automatic Desk Stand] + +=Subscriber's Station Apparatus.= The detailed operation of the +three-wire system may be best understood by considering the subscriber's +station apparatus first. The general appearance of the wall set is shown +in Fig. 382, and of the desk set in Fig. 383. These instruments embody +the usual talking and call-receiving apparatus of a common-battery +telephone and in addition to this, the signal transmitter, which is the +thing especially to be considered now. The diagrammatic illustration of +the signal transmitter and of the relation that its parts bear to the +other elements of the telephone set is shown in Fig. 384. It has already +been stated that the subscriber manipulates the signal transmitter by +rotating the dial on the face of the instrument. A clearer idea of this +dial and of the finger stop for it may be obtained from Figs. 382 and +383. + +[Illustration: Fig. 384. Circuits of Telephone Set] + +_Operation._ To make a call for a given number the subscriber removes +his receiver from its hook, then places his forefinger in the hole +opposite the number corresponding to the first digit of the desired +number. By means of the grip thus secured, he rotates the dial until its +movement is stopped by the impact of the finger against the stop. The +dial is then released and in its return movement it sends the number of +impulses corresponding to the first digit in the called number. A +similar movement is made for each digit. + +In Fig. 384 is given a phantom view of the dial, in order to show more +clearly the relation of the mechanical parts and contacts controlled by +it. For a correct idea of its mechanical action it must be understood +that the shaft _1_, the lever _2_, and the interrupter segment _3_ are +all rigidly fastened to the dial and move with it. A coiled spring +always tends to move the dial and these associated parts back to their +normal positions when released by the subscriber, and a centrifugal +governor, not shown, limits the speed of the return movement. + +The subscriber's hook switch is mechanically interlocked with the dial +so as to prevent the dial being moved from its normal position until the +hook is in its raised position. This interlocking function involves also +the pivoted dog _4_. Normally the lower end of this dog lies in the path +of the pin _5_ carried on the lever _2_, and thus the shaft, dial, and +segment are prevented from any considerable movement when the receiver +is on the hook. However, when the receiver is removed from its hook, the +upwardly projecting arm from the hook engages a projection on the dog +_4_ and moves the dog out of the path of the pin _5_. Thus the dial is +free to be rotated by the subscriber. The pin _6_ is mounted in a +stationary position and serves to limit the backward movement of the +dial by the lever _2_ striking against it. + +Ground Springs:--Five groups of contact springs must be considered, some +of which are controlled wholly by the position of the switch hook, +others jointly by the position of the switch hook and the dial, others +by the movement of the dial itself, and still others by the pressure of +the subscriber's finger on a button. The first of these groups consists +of the springs _7_ and _8_, the function of which is to control the +continuity of the ground connection at the subscriber's station. The +arrangement of these two springs is such that the ground connection will +be broken until the subscriber's receiver is removed from its hook. As +soon as the receiver is raised, these springs come together in an +obvious manner, the dog _4_ being lifted out of the way by the action of +the hook. The ledge on the lower portion of the spring _7_ serves as a +rest for the insulated arm of the dog _4_ to prevent this dog, which is +spring actuated, from returning and locking the dial until after the +receiver has been hung up. + +Bell and Transmitter Springs:--The second group is that embracing the +springs _9_, _10_, _11_, and _12_. The springs _10_ and _11_ are +controlled by the lower projection from the switch hook, the spring +_11_ engaging the spring _12_ only when the hook is down. The spring +_10_ engages the spring _9_ only when the hook lever is up and not then +unless the dial is in its normal position. While the hook is raised, +therefore, the springs _9_ and _10_ break contact whenever the dial is +moved and make contact again when it returns to its normal position. The +springs _11_ and _12_ control the circuit through the subscriber's bell +while the springs _9_ and _10_ control the continuity of the circuit +from one side of the line to the other so as to isolate the limbs from +each other while the signal transmitter is sending its impulses to the +central office. + +Impulse Springs:--The third group embraces springs _13_, _14_, and _15_ +and these are the ones by which the central-office switches are +controlled in building up a connection. + +Something of the prevailing nomenclature which has grown up about the +automatic system may be introduced at this point. The movements of the +selecting switches at the central office are referred to as _vertical_ +and _rotary_ for obvious reasons. On account of this the magnet which +causes the vertical movement is referred to as the _vertical magnet_ and +that which accomplishes the _rotary_ movement as the _rotary magnet_. It +happens that in all cases the selecting impulses sent by the +subscriber's station, corresponding respectively to the number of digits +in the called subscriber's number, are sent over one side of the line +and in nearly all cases these selecting impulses actuate the vertical +movements of the selecting switches. For this reason the particular limb +of the line over which the selecting impulses are sent is called the +_vertical limb_. The other limb of the line is the one over which the +single impulse is sent after each group of selecting impulses, and it is +this impulse in every case which causes the selector switch to start +rotating in its hunt for an idle trunk. This side of the line is, +therefore, called _rotary_. For the same reasons the impulses over the +vertical side of the line are called _vertical impulses_ and those over +the rotary side, _rotary impulses_. The naming of the limbs of the line +and of the current impulses _vertical_ and _rotary_ may appear odd but +it is, to say the least, convenient and expressive. + +Coming back to the functions of the third group of springs, _13_, _14_, +and _15_, _15_ may be called the _vertical spring_ since it sends +vertical impulses; _13_, the _rotary spring_ since it sends rotary +impulses; and _14_, the _ground spring_ since, when the hook is up, it +is connected with the ground. + +On the segment _3_ there are ten projections or cams _16_ which, when +the dial is moved, engage a projection of the spring _15_. When the dial +is being pulled by the subscriber's finger, these cams engage the spring +_15_ in such a way as to move it away from the ground spring and no +electrical contact is made. On the return of the dial, however, these +cams engage the projection on the spring _15_ in the opposite way and +the passing of each cam forces this vertical spring into engagement with +the ground spring. It will readily be seen, therefore, by a +consideration of the spacing of these cams on the segment and the finger +holes in the dial that the number of cams which pass the vertical spring +_15_ will correspond to the number on the hole used by the subscriber in +moving the dial. + +Near the upper right-hand corner of the segment _3_, as shown in Fig. +384, there is another projection or cam _17_, the function of which is +to engage the rotary spring _13_ and press it into contact with the +ground spring. Thus, the first thing that happens in the movement of the +dial is for the projection _17_ to ride over the hump on the rotary +spring and press the contact once into engagement with the ground +spring; and likewise, the last thing that happens on the return movement +of the dial is for the rotary spring to be connected once to the ground +spring after the last vertical impulse has been sent. + +If both the rotary and vertical sides of the line are connected with the +live side of the central-office battery, it follows that every contact +between the vertical and the ground spring or between the rotary and the +ground spring will allow an impulse of current to flow over the vertical +or the rotary side of the line. + +We may summarize the action of these impulse springs by saying that +whenever the dial is moved from its normal position, there is, at the +beginning of this movement, a single rotary impulse over the rotary side +of the line; and that while the dial returns, there is a series of +vertical impulses over the vertical side of the line; and just before +the dial reaches its normal position, after the sending of the last +vertical impulse, there is another impulse over the rotary side of the +line. + +The mechanical arrangements of the interrupter segment _3_ and its +associated parts have been greatly distorted in Fig. 384 in order to +make clear their mode of operation. This drawing has been worked out +with great care, with this in mind, at a sacrifice of accuracy in regard +to the actual structural details. + +Ringing Springs:--The fourth group of springs in the subscriber's +telephone is the ringing group and embraces the springs _18_, _19_, and +_20_. The springs _19_ and _20_ are normally closed and maintain the +continuity of the talking circuit. When, however, the button attached to +the spring _19_--which button may be seen projecting from the instrument +shown in Fig. 382, and from the base of the one shown in Fig. 383--is +pressed, the continuity of the talking circuit is interrupted and the +vertical side of the line is connected with the ground. It is by this +operation, after the connection has been made with the desired +subscriber's line, that the central-office apparatus acts to send +ringing current out on that line. + +Release Springs:--The fifth set of springs is the one shown at the +left-hand side of Fig. 384, embracing springs _21_, _22_, and _23_. The +long curved spring _21_ is engaged by the projecting lug on the switch +hook when it rises so as to press this spring away from the other two. +On the return movement of the hook, however, this spring is pressed to +the left so as to bring all three of them into contact, and this, it +will be seen, grounds both limbs of the line at the subscriber's +station. This combination cannot be effected by any of the other springs +at any stage of their operation, and it is the one which results in the +energization of such a combination of relays and magnets at the central +office as will release all parts involved in the connection and allow +them to return to their normal positions ready for another call. + +_Salient Points._ If the following things are borne in mind about the +operation of the subscriber's station apparatus, an understanding of the +central-office operations will be facilitated. First, the selective +impulses always flow over the vertical side of the line; they are always +preceded and always followed by a single impulse over the rotary side of +the line. The ringing button grounds the vertical side of the line and +the release springs ground both sides of the line simultaneously. + +=The Line Switch.= The first thing to be considered in connection with +the central-office apparatus is the line switch. This, it will be +remembered, is the device introduced into each subscriber's line at the +central office for the purpose of effecting a reduction of the number of +first selectors required at the central office, and also for bringing +about certain important functional results in connection with trunking +between central and sub-offices. The function of the line switch in +connection with the subscriber's line, however, is purely that of +reducing the number of first selectors. + +The line switches of one hundred lines are all associated to form a +single unit of apparatus, which, besides the individual line switches, +includes certain other apparatus common to those lines. Such a group of +one hundred line switches and associated common apparatus is called a +_line-switch unit_, or frequently, a _Keith unit_. Confusion is likely +to arise in the mind of the reader between the individual line switch +and the line-switch unit, and to avoid this we will refer to the piece +of apparatus individual to the line as the line switch, and to the +complete unit formed of one hundred of these devices as a line-switch +unit. + +_Line and Trunk Contacts._ Each line switch has its own bank of contacts +arranged in the arc of a circle, and in this same arc are also placed +the contacts of each of the ten individual trunks which it is possible +for that line to appropriate. The contacts individual to the +subscriber's line in the line switch are all multipled together, the +arrangement being such that if a wedge or plunger is inserted at any +point, the line contacts will be squeezed out of their normal position +so as to engage the contacts of the trunk corresponding to the +particular position in the arc at which the wedge or plunger is +inserted. A small plunger individual to each line is so arranged that it +may be thrust in between the contact springs in the line-switch bank in +such manner as to connect any one of the trunks with the line terminals +represented in that row, the particular trunk so connected depending on +the portion of the arc toward which the plunger is pointed at the time +it is thrust in the contacts. + +These banks of lines and trunk contacts are horizontally arranged, and +piled in vertical columns of twenty-five line switches each. The ten +trunk contacts are multipled vertically through the line-switch banks, +so that the same ten trunks are available to each of the twenty-five +lines. We thus have, in effect, an old style, Western Union, cross-bar +switchboard, the line contacts being represented in horizontal rows and +the trunk contacts in vertical rows, the connection between any line and +any trunk being completed by inserting a plunger at the point of +intersection of the horizontal and the vertical rows corresponding to +that line and trunk. + +_Trunk Selection._ The plungers by which the lines and trunks are +connected are, as has been said, individual to the line, and all of the +twenty-five plungers in a vertical row are mounted in such manner as to +be normally held in the same vertical plane, and this vertical plane is +made to oscillate back and forth by an oscillating shaft so as always +_to point the plungers toward a vertical row of trunk contacts that +represent a trunk that is not in use at the time_. The to-and-fro +movement of this oscillating shaft, called the _master bar_, is +controlled by a master switch and the function of this master switch is +always to keep the plungers pointed toward the row of contacts of an +idle trunk. The thrusting movement of the individual plungers into the +contact bank is controlled by magnets individual to the line and under +control of the subscriber in initiating a call. As soon as the plunger +of a line has been thus thrust into the contact bank so as to connect +the terminals of that line with a given trunk, the plunger is no longer +controlled by the master bar and remains stationary. The master bar then +at once moves all of the other plungers that are not in use so that they +will point to the terminals of another trunk that is not in use. The +plungers of all the line switches in a group of twenty-five are, +therefore, subject to the oscillating movements of the master bar when +the line is not connected to a first selector trunk. As soon as a call +is originated on a line, the corresponding plunger is forced into the +bank and is held stationary in maintaining the connection to a first +selector trunk, and all of the other plungers not so engaged, move on so +as to be ready to engage another idle trunk. + +_Trunk Ratio._ The assignment of ten trunks to twenty-five lines would +be a greater ratio of trunks than ordinary traffic conditions require. +This ratio of trunks to lines is, however, readily varied by multipling +the trunk contacts of several twenty-five line groups together. Thus, +ten trunks may be made available to one hundred subscribers' lines by +multipling the trunks of four twenty-five line switch groups together. +In this case the four master bars corresponding to the four groups of +twenty-five line switches are all mechanically connected together so as +to move in unison under the control of a single master switch. If more +than ten and less than twenty-one trunks are assigned to one hundred +lines, then each set of ten trunks is multipled to the trunk contacts of +fifty line switches, the two master bars of these switches being +connected together and controlled by a common master switch. + +_Structure of Line Switch._ The details of the parts of a line switch +that are individual to the line are shown in Fig. 385, the line and +trunk contact bank being shown in the lower portion of this figure and +also in a separate view in the detached figure at the right. A detailed +group of several such line switches with the oscillating master bar is +shown in Fig. 386. This figure shows quite clearly the relative +arrangement of the line and trunk contact banks, the plungers for each +bank, and the master bar. + +[Illustration: Fig. 385. Line Switch] + +In practice, four groups of twenty-five line switches each are mounted +on a single framework and the group of one hundred line switches, +together with certain other portions of the apparatus that will be +referred to later, form a line-switch unit. A front view of such a unit +is shown in Fig. 387. In order to give access to all portions of the +wiring and apparatus, the framework supporting each column of fifty line +switches is hinged so as to open up the interior of the device as a +whole. A line-switch unit thus opened out is shown in Fig. 388. + +[Illustration: Fig. 386. Portion of Line-Switch Unit] + +_Circuit Operation._ The mode of operation of the line switch may be +best understood in connection with Fig. 389, which shows in a schematic +way the parts of a line switch that are individual to a subscriber's +line, and also those that are common to a group of fifty or one hundred +lines. Those portions of Fig. 389 which are individual to the line are +shown below the dotted line extending across the page. The task of +understanding the line switch will be made somewhat easier if Figs. 385 +and 389 are considered together. The individual parts of the line switch +are shown in the same relation to each other in these two figures with +the exception that the bank of line and trunk springs in the lower +right-hand corner of Fig. 389 have been turned around edgewise so as to +make an understanding of their circuit connections possible. + +[Illustration: Fig. 387. Line-Switch Unit] + +[Illustration: Fig. 388. Line-Switch Unit] + +[Illustration: Fig. 389. Circuits of Line-Switch Unit] + +The vertical and rotary sides of the subscriber's line are shown +entering at the lower left-hand corner of this figure, and they pass to +the springs of the contact bank. Immediately adjacent to these springs +are the trunk contacts from which the vertical and the rotary limbs of +the first selector trunk proceed. The plunger is indicated at _1_, it +being in the form of a wheel of insulating material. It is carried on +the rod _2_ pivoted on a lever _3_, which, in turn, is pivoted at _4_ in +a stationary portion of the framework. A spring _5_, secured to the +underside of the lever _3_ and projecting to the left beyond the pivot +_4_ of this lever, serves always to press the right-hand portion of the +lever _3_ forward in such direction as to tend to thrust it into the +contact bank. The plunger is normally held out of the contact bank by +means of the latch _6_ carried on the armature _7_ of the trip magnet. +When the trip magnet is energized it pulls the armature _7_ to the left +and thus releases the plunger and allows it to enter the contact bank. + +[Illustration: POWER SWITCHBOARD FOR MEDIUM-SIZED OFFICE Mercury Arc +Rectifier Panel and Transformer at Right.] + +The master bar is shown at _8_, and a feather on this bar engages a +notch in the segment attached to the rear end of the plunger rod _2_. +This master bar is common to all of the plunger rods and by its +oscillatory movement, under the influence of the master switch, it +always keeps all of the idle plunger bars pointed toward the contacts of +an idle trunk. As soon, however, as the trip magnet is operated to cause +the insertion of a plunger into the contact bank, the feather on the +master bar is disengaged by the notch in the segment of the plunger rod, +and the plunger rod is, therefore, no longer subject to the oscillating +movement of the master bar. + +When the release magnet is energized, it attracts its armature _9_ and +this lifts the armature _7_ of the trip magnet so that the latch _6_ +rides on top of the left-hand end of the lever _3_. Then, when the +release magnet is de-energized, the spring _5_, which was put under +tension by the latch, moves the entire structure of levers back to its +normal position, withdrawing the plunger from the bank of contacts. The +notch on the edge of the segment of the plunger rod, when thus released, +will probably not strike the feather on the master bar, and the plunger +rod will thus not come under the control of the master bar until the +master bar has moved, in its oscillation, so that the feather registers +with the notch, after which this bar will move with all the others. + +If, while the plunger is waiting to be picked up by the master bar, the +same subscriber should call again, his line will be connected with the +same trunk as before. There is no danger in this, however, that the +trunk will be found busy, because the master bar will not have occupied +a position which would make it possible for any of the lines to +appropriate this trunk during the intervening time. + +_Master Switch._ Associated with each master bar there is a master +switch which determines the position in which the master bar shall stop +in order that the idle plungers may be pointed always to the contacts of +an idle trunk. The arm _10_ of this switch is attached to the master bar +and oscillates with it and serves to connect the segment _11_ +successively with the contacts _12_, which are connected respectively to +the third, or release wire of each first selector trunk. In the figure +the arm _10_ is shown resting on the sixth contact of the switch and +this sixth contact is connected to a spring _13_ in the line-switch +contact bank that has not yet been referred to. As soon as the plunger +is inserted into the contact bank, the spring _14_ will be pressed into +engagement with the spring _13_, and this spring _14_ is connected with +the live side of the battery through the release magnet winding. + +The contact strip _11_ on the master switch is thus connected through +the release magnet to the battery and from this current flows through +the left-hand winding of the master-switch relay. This energizes this +relay and causes the closure of the circuit of the locking magnet which +magnet unlocks the master bar to permit its further rotation. The +unlocking of the master bar brings the spring _15_ into engagement with +_16_ and thus energizes the master magnet, the armature of which +vibrates back and forth after the manner of an electric-bell armature, +and steps the wheel _17_ around. The wheel _17_ is mechanically +connected to the master bar so that each complete revolution of the +wheel will cause one complete oscillation of the master bar. The master +bar will thus be moved so as to cause all the idle plungers to sweep +through an arc and this movement will stop as soon as the master-switch +arm _10_ connects the arc _11_ with one of the contacts _12_ that is not +connected to the live side of the battery through the springs _13_ and +_14_ of some other line switch. It is by this means that the plungers of +the line switches are always kept pointing at the contacts of an idle +trunk. The way in which this feature has been worked out must demand +admiration and accounts for the marvelous quickness of this line switch. +The fact that the plungers are pointed in the right direction before the +time comes for their use, leaves only the simple thrusting motion of the +plunger to accomplish the desired connection immediately upon the +initiation of a call by the subscriber. + +_Locking Segment._ It will be understood that the locking segment _18_ +and the master-switch contact finger _10_ are both rigidly connected +with the master bar _8_ and move with it, the locking segment _18_ +serving always to determine accurately the angular position at which the +master bar and the master-switch arm are brought to rest. + +_Bridge Cut-Off._ One important feature of automatic switching, +particularly as exemplified in the system of the Automatic Electric +Company, is the disconnection, after its use, of each operating magnet +of each piece of apparatus involved in making a connection. Since these +operating magnets are always bridged across the line at the time of +their operation and then cut off after they have performed their +function, this feature may be referred to as the _bridge cut-off_. + +_Guarding Functions._ Still another feature of importance is the means +for guarding a line or a piece of apparatus that has already been +appropriated or made busy, so that it will not be appropriated or +connected with for use in some other connection. For this latter purpose +contacts and wires are associated with each piece of apparatus, which +are multipled to similar contacts on other pieces of apparatus in much +the same way and for a similar purpose that the test thimbles in a +multiple switchboard are multipled together. Such wires and contacts in +the Automatic Electric Company's apparatus are called _private wires_ +and _contacts_. + +The bridge cut-off and guarding functions are provided for in the line +switch by a bridge cut-off relay shown in Fig. 389 and also in Fig. 385, +it being the upper one of the individual line relays in each of those +figures. This bridge cut-off relay is operated as soon as the plunger of +the line is thrust into the bank; the contacts _19_ and _20_, closed by +the plunger, serving to complete the circuit of this relay. To make +clear the bridge cut-off feature it will be noted that the trip magnet +of a line switch is connected in a circuit traced from the rotary side +of the line through the contacts _21_ and _22_ of the bridge cut-off +relay, thence through the coil of the trip magnet to the common wire +leading to the spring _23_ of the master-bar locking device and thence +to the live side of the battery. Obviously, therefore, as soon as the +bridge cut-off relay operates, the trip magnet becomes inoperative and +can cause no further action of the line switch because its circuit is +broken between the springs _21_ and _22_. + +The private or guarding feature is taken care of by the action of the +plunger in closing contacts _19_ and _20_, since the private wire +leading to the bridge cut-off relay is, as has already been stated, +connected to ground when these contacts are closed. This private wire +leads off and is multipled to the private contacts on all the connectors +that have the ability to reach this line, and the fact that this wire +is grounded by the line switch as soon as it becomes busy, establishes +such conditions at all of the connectors that they will refuse to +connect with this line as long as it is busy, in a way that will be +pointed out later on. + +_Relation of Line Switch and Connectors._ The vertical and rotary wires +of the subscriber's line are shown leading off to the connector banks at +the left-hand side of Fig. 389, and one side of this connection passes +through the contacts _24_ and _25_ of the bridge cut-off relay on the +line switch. It is through this path that a connection from some other +line through a connector to this line is established and it is seen that +this path is held open until the bridge cut-off relay of the line switch +is operated. For such a connection to this line the bridge cut-off relay +of the line switch is operated over the private wire leading from the +connector, and the operation of the bridge cut-off relay at this time +serves to render inoperative the line switch, so that it will not +perform its usual functions should the called subscriber start to make a +call after his line had been seized. + +_Summary of Line-Switch Operation._ To summarize the operation of a line +switch when a call is originated on its line, the first movement of the +calling subscriber's dial will ground the rotary side of the line and +operate the trip magnet. This will cause the plunger to be inserted into +the bank, and thus extend the line to the first selector trunk through +the closing of the right-hand set of springs shown in the lower +right-hand corner of Fig. 389. The insertion of the plunger will also +connect the battery through the left-hand winding of the master-switch +relay and, by the sequence of operations which follows, cause the master +bar to move all of the idle plungers so as to again point them to an +idle trunk. The closure of contacts _19_ and _20_ by the plunger causes +the operation of the bridge cut-off relay which opens the circuit of the +trip magnet, rendering it inoperative; and also establishes ground +potential on all the private wire contacts of that line in the banks of +the connectors, so as to guard the line and its associated apparatus +against intrusion by others. The line is cut through, therefore, to a +first selector and all of the line-switch apparatus is completely cut +off from the talking circuit. + +It must be remembered that all of the actions of the line switch, which +it has taken so long to describe, occur practically instantaneously and +as a result of the first part of the first movement of the subscriber's +dial. The line switch has done its work and "gone out of business" +before the selective impulses of the first digit begin to take place. + +=Selecting Switches.= The first selector is now in control of the +calling subscriber. The circuits and elements of the first selector +switch are shown in Fig. 390. The general mechanical structure of the +first selectors, second selectors, and connectors, is the same and may +be referred to briefly here. Fig. 391 shows a rear view of a first +selector; Fig. 392, a side view of a second selector; and Fig. 393, a +front view of a connector. The arrangement of the vertical and rotary +magnets, of the selector shafts, and of the contact banks are identical +in all three of these pieces of apparatus and all these switches work on +the "up-and-around principle" referred to in connection with Fig. 380. +It is thought that with the general structure shown in Figs. 391, 392, +and 393 in mind, the actual operation may be understood much more +readily from Fig. 390. + +Four magnets--the vertical, the rotary, the private, and the +release--produce the switching movements of the machine. These magnets +are controlled by various combinations brought upon the circuits by +three relays--the vertical, the rotary, and the back release. The fourth +relay shown, called the _off-normal_, is purely for signaling purposes, +as will be described. + +_Side Switch._ Another important element of the selecting switches is +the so-called side switch which might better be called a pilot +switch--but we are not responsible for its name. This side switch has +for its function the changing of the control of the subscriber's line to +successive portions of the selector mechanism, rendering inoperative +those portions that have already performed their functions and that, +therefore, are no longer needed. This switch may be seen best in Fig. +392 just above the upper bank of contacts. It is shown in Fig. 390 +greatly distorted mechanically so as to better illustrate its electrical +functions. + +[Illustration: Fig. 390. Circuits of First Selector] + +The contact levers _1_, _2_, _3_, and _4_ of the side switch are carried +upon the arm _5_ which is pivoted at _6_. All of these contact levers, +therefore, move about _6_ as an axis. The side switch has three +positions and it is shown, in Fig. 390, in the first one of these. When +the private magnet armature is attracted and released once, the +escapement carried by it permits the spring _7_ to move the arm _5_ so +as to bring the wipers of the side switch into its second position; the +second pulling up and release of the private magnet armature will cause +the movement of the side switch wipers into the third position. It is to +be noted that the escapement which releases the side switch arm may be +moved either by the private or by the rotary magnet, since the armature +of the latter has a finger which engages the private magnet armature. + +[Illustration: Fig. 391. Rear View of First Selector] + +_Functions of Side Switch._ The functions of the side switch may be +briefly outlined in connection with the first selector, as an example. +In the first position it extends the control of the subscriber's signal +transmitter through the first selector trunk and line relays to the +vertical and private magnets so that these magnets will be responsive to +the selecting impulses corresponding to the first digit. In its second +position it brings about such a condition of affairs that the rotary +magnet will be brought into play and automatically move the wipers over +the bank contacts in search of an idle trunk. In its third position, +both the vertical and rotary relays are cut off and the line is cut +straight through to the second selector trunk, and only those parts of +the first selector apparatus are left in an operative state which have +to do with the private or guarding circuits and with the release. +Similar functions are performed by the side switch in connection with +the other selecting switches. + +[Illustration: Fig. 392. Side View of Second Selector] + +_Release Mechanism._ Another one of the features of the switch that +needs to be considered before a detailed understanding of its operation +may be had, is the mechanical relation of the holding and the release +dog. This dog is shown at _8_ and, in the language of the art, is called +the _double dog_. As will be seen, it has two retaining fingers, one +adapted to engage the vertical ratchet and the other, the rotary ratchet +on the selector shaft. This double dog is pivoted at _9_ and is +interlinked in a peculiar way with the armature of the vertical magnet, +the armature of the release magnet, and the arm of the side switch. The +function of this double dog is to hold the shaft in whatever vertical +position it is moved by the vertical magnet and then, when the rotary +magnet begins to operate, to hold the shaft in its proper angular +position. It will be noted that the fixed dog _10_ is ineffective when +the shaft is in its normal angular position. But as soon as the shaft is +rotated, this fixed dog _10_ becomes the real holding pawl so far as the +vertical movement is concerned. The double dog _8_ is normally held out +of engagement with the vertical and the rotary ratchets by virtue of the +link connection, shown at _11_, between the release magnet armature and +the rear end of the double dog. On the previous release of the switch +the attraction of the release magnet armature permitted the link _11_ to +hook over the end of the dog _8_ and thus, on its return movement, to +pull this dog out of engagement with its ratchets. This movement also +resulted in pushing on the link _12_ which is pivoted to the side switch +arm _5_, and thus the return movement of the release magnet is made to +restore the side switch to its normal position. In order that the double +dog may be made effective when it is required, and in order that the +side switch may be free to move under the influence of the private +magnet, the double dog is released from its connection with the release +magnet armature by the first movement of the vertical magnet in a manner +which is clear from the drawing. + +=First Selector Operation.= In discussing the details of operation of +the various selectors it will be found convenient to divide the +discussion according to the position of the side switch. This will bring +about a logical arrangement because it is really the side switch which +determines by its position the sequence of operation. + +[Illustration: Fig. 393. Front View of Connector] + +_First Position of Side Switch._ This is the position shown in Fig. 390, +and is the normal position. The vertical and the rotary lines extending +from the calling subscriber are continued by the levers _1_ and _2_ of +the side switch through the vertical and the rotary relay coils, +respectively, to the live side of battery. The lever _4_ of the side +switch in this position connects to ground the circuit leading from the +line switch through the release trunk, and the winding of the off-normal +relay. This winding is thus put in series with the release magnet of +the line switch, but on account of high resistance of the off-normal +relay no operation of the release magnet is caused. This will, however, +permit such current to flow through the release circuit as will energize +the sensitive off-normal relay and cause it to attract its armature and +light the off-normal lamp. If this lamp remains lighted more than a +brief period of time, it will attract notice and will indicate that the +corresponding selector has been appropriated by a line switch and that +for some reason the selector has gone no further. This lamp, therefore, +is an aid in preventing the continuance of this abnormal condition. + +The first thing that happens after the line switch has connected the +calling subscriber with the first selector is a succession of impulses +over the vertical side of the line, this being the set of impulses +corresponding in number to the thousands digit or to the office, if +there is more than one. It will be understood that here we are +considering a single office of ten-thousand-line capacity or +thereabouts, and that, therefore, this first set of impulses corresponds +to the thousands digit in the called subscriber's line. Each one of +these impulses will flow from the battery through the vertical relay and +each movement of this relay armature will close the circuit of the +vertical magnet and cause the shaft of the selector to be stepped up to +the proper level. Immediately following the first series of selecting +impulses from the subscriber's station, a single impulse follows over +the rotary side of the line. This gives the rotary relay armature one +impulse and this in turn closes the circuit of the private magnet once. +The single movement of the private magnet armature allows the escapement +finger on the arm _5_ to move one step and this brings the side switch +contacts into the second position. + +_Second Position of Side Switch._ In this position lever _4_ of the side +switch places a ground on the wire leading through the rotary magnet to +a source of interrupted battery current. The impulses which thus flow +through the rotary magnet occur at a frequency dependent upon the +battery interrupter and this is at a rate of approximately fifteen +impulses per second. The rotary magnet will step the selector shaft +rapidly around until something occurs to stop these impulses. This +something is the finding by the private wiper of an ungrounded private +contact in the bank, since all of the contacts corresponding to busy +trunks are grounded, as will be explained. + +The action of the private magnet enters into this operation in the +following way: A circuit may be traced from the battery through the +private magnet to the third side switch wiper when in its second +position, thence through the back release relay to the private wiper. If +the wiper is at the time on the private bank contact of a busy trunk, it +will find that contact grounded and the private magnet will be +energized. The energizing of this magnet will not, however, cause the +release of the side switch. It must be energized and de-energized. The +private magnet armature will, therefore, be operated by the finger of +the rotary magnet armature on the first rotary step. The private magnet +will be energized and hold its armature operated if the private wiper +finds a ground on the first bank contact and will stay energized as long +as the private wiper is passing over private contacts of busy trunks. +Its armature will not be allowed to fall back during the passage of the +wiper from one trunk to another, because during that interval the finger +of the rotary magnet will hold it operated. As soon, however, as the +private wiper reaches the private bank contact of an idle trunk, no +ground will be found and the circuit of the private magnet will be left +open. When the impulse through the rotary magnet ceases, the private +magnet armature will fall back and the side switch will be released to +its third position. + +_Third Position of Side Switch._ The first thing to be noted in this +position is that the calling line is cut straight through to the second +selector trunk, the connection being clean with no magnets bridged +across or tapped off. The third wiper of the side switch, when in its +third position, is grounded and this connects the release wire of the +second selector trunk, on which the switch wipers rest, through the +private wiper, the winding of the back release magnet, and the third +wiper of the side switch to ground. This establishes a path for the +subsequent release current through the back release magnet; and, of +equal importance, it places a ground on the private bank contact of that +trunk so that the private wiper of any other switch will be prevented +from stopping on the contacts of this trunk in the same manner that the +wiper of this switch was prevented from stopping on other trunks that +were already in use. + +The fourth lever on the side switch, when in its third position, serves +merely to close the circuit of the rotary off-normal lamp. This lamp is +for the purpose of calling attention to any first selector switch that +has been brought into connection with some second selector trunk and +which, for some reason, has failed in its release. These off-normal +lamps are so arranged that they may be switched off manually to avoid +burning them during the hours of heaviest traffic. At night they afford +a ready means of testing for switches that have been left off-normal, +since the manual switches controlling these lamps may then be closed, +and any lamps which burn will show that the switches corresponding to +them are off-normal. Simple tests then suffice to show whether they are +properly or improperly in their off-normal position. + +_Release of the First Selector._ As will be shown later, the normal way +of releasing the switches is from the connector back over the release +wire. It is sufficient to say at this point that when the proper time +for release comes, an impulse of current will come back over the second +selector trunk release wire through the private wiper, to the back +release relay magnet, and thence to ground through the third wiper of +the side switch which is in its third position. It may be asked why the +back release magnet was not energized during the previous operations +described, when current passed through it. The reason for this is that +in those previous operations the private magnet was always included in +series in the circuit and on account of the high resistance of the +private magnet, sufficient current did not pass through the back release +magnet to energize it. + +When the back release relay is energized, it closes the circuit of the +release magnet and thus, through the link _11_, draws the double dog +away from its engagement with the shaft ratchets and at the same time, +through the link _12_, restores the side switch to its normal position. +Whenever the release magnet is operated it acts as a relay to close a +pair of contacts associated with it and thus to momentarily ground the +release wire of the first selector trunk extending back to the line +switch. Referring to Fig. 389, it will be seen that this path leads +through the contacts _13_ and _14_ and the release magnet to the +battery. It is by this means that the line switch is released, the +release impulse being relayed back from the first selector. + +=Second Selector Operation.= For the purpose of considering the action +of the second selector, we will go back to the point where the first +selector had connected with a second selector trunk and where its side +switch had moved into its third position. In this condition, it will be +remembered, the trunk line was cut through to a second selector trunk +and all first selector apparatus cleared from the talking circuit. + +The second selector chosen is one corresponding to the thousands group +as determined by the first digit of the called subscriber's number. The +circuits of a second selector are shown in Fig. 394 and it must be borne +in mind that the mechanical arrangements for producing the vertical and +the rotary movement of the shaft and for operating the side switch are +practically the same as those of the first selector. As in the first +selector, the sequence of operation is controlled by the successive +positions of the side switch, the first position permitting the +selection of the hundreds corresponding to the vertical impulses, the +second position allowing the selector to search for an idle trunk in +that hundred, and the third position cutting the trunk through and +clearing the circuit of obstructing apparatus. + +_First Position of Side Switch._ The first thing that happens when the +subscriber begins to move his dial in the transmission of the second +series of selecting impulses is the sending of a preliminary impulse +over the rotary side of the line. This, in the case of the second +selector, energizes the rotary relay which, in turn, energizes the +private magnet; but the private magnet in the case of the second +selector can do nothing toward the release of the side switch because +the projection _5'_, on the side switch arm _5_, meets a projection on +the rear of the selector shaft which thus prevents the movement of the +side switch arm _5_ until the selector shaft has been moved out of its +normal position. + +Immediately after the establishment of the connection to the selector, +the second set of selecting impulses comes in over the vertical wire +from the subscriber's station. These impulses, corresponding in number +to the hundreds digit, will energize the vertical relay and cause it, in +turn, to energize the vertical magnet, stepping up the selector shaft to +the level corresponding to the hundred sought. The single rotary +impulse, which follows just before the subscriber's dial reaches its +normal position, will energize the rotary relay of the second selector. +This, in turn, energizes the private magnet which makes a single +movement of its armature and allows the escapement finger on the side +switch arm to move one step and bring the side switch contacts into the +second position. + +[Illustration: Fig. 394. Circuits of Second Selector] + +_Second Position of Side Switch._ No detailed discussion of this is +necessary, since, with the side switch in its second position, the +actions which occur in causing the wipers of the second selector to seek +and connect with an idle trunk line, are exactly the same as in the case +of the first selector. When the second selector wipers finally reach a +resting place on the bank contacts, the private magnet armature, +operated during the hunting process, is released and the side switch is +thus shifted into the third position. + +_Third Position of Side Switch._ The moving of the side switch into its +final position brings about the same state of affairs with respect to +the second selector that already exists with respect to the first +selector. The trunk line is cut straight through and all bridge circuits +or by-paths from it are cut off. The same guarding conditions are +established to prevent other lines or other pieces of apparatus from +making connections that will interfere with the one being established, +and the same provisions are made for working the back release when the +proper impulse comes from the connector, and for passing this back +release impulse on to the first selector in the same way that the first +selector passes it on to the line switch. The line of the calling +subscriber has now been extended to a connector, and that connector is +one of a group--usually ten--which alone has the ability to reach the +particular hundred lines containing the line of the desired subscriber. +The selection has, therefore, been narrowed down from one in ten +thousand to one in one hundred. + +=The Connector=--_Its Functions._ It has already been stated that the +connector is of the same general type of apparatus as the first and the +second selectors. Unlike the first and the second selectors, however, +the connector is required to make a double selection under the guidance +of the subscriber. The first selector makes a single selection of a +group under the guidance of the subscriber and then an automatic +selection in that group not controlled by the subscriber. So it is with +the second selector. The connector, however, makes a selection of a +group of ten under the guidance of the subscriber and then, again under +the guidance of the subscriber, it picks out a particular one of that +group. + +The connector also has other functions in relation to the ringing of +the called subscriber and the giving of a busy signal to the calling +subscriber in case the line wanted is found busy. It has still other +functions in that the talking current, which is finally supplied to +connected subscribers, is supplied through paths furnished by it. + +_Location of the Connectors._ Connectors are the only ones of the +selecting switches that are in any sense individual to the subscribers' +lines. None of them is individual to a subscriber's line, but it may be +said that a group of ten connectors is individual to a group of one +hundred subscribers' lines. Since each group of one hundred lines has a +group of connectors of its own and since each one hundred lines also has +a line-switch unit of its own, and since the lines of this group must be +multipled through the bank contacts of the connectors of this individual +group and through the bank contacts of the line switches of this +particular unit, it follows that on account of the wiring problems +involved there is good reason for mounting the connectors in close +proximity to the line switches representing the same group of lines. +Some help in the grasping of this thought may result if it be remembered +that the line switch is, so to speak, the point of entry of a call and +that the connector is the point of exit, and, in order to reduce the +amount of wiring and to economize space, the point of exit and the point +of entry are made as close together as possible. + +The relative locations and grouping of the line switches and connectors +are clearly shown in Fig. 395, which is a rear view of the same +line-switch unit that was illustrated in Figs. 387 and 388. + +[Illustration: GAS ENGINE AND POWER BOARD Citizens' Telephone Co., +Racine, Wis. _The Dean Electric Co._] + +=Operation of the Connector.= The circuits of the connector are shown in +Fig. 396. In addition to the features that have been pointed out in the +first and the second selectors, all of which are to be found, with some +modifications, perhaps, in the connector, there must be considered the +features in the connector of busy-signal operation, of ringing the +called subscriber, of battery supply to both subscribers, and of the +trunk release operation. These may be best understood by tracing through +the operations of the connector from the time it is picked up by a +second selector until the connection is finally completed, or until the +busy signal has been given in case completion was found impossible. As +in the first and the second selectors, the sequence of operations is +determined by the position of the side switch. + +[Illustration: Fig. 395. Connector Side of Line-Switch Unit] + +[Illustration: Fig. 396. Circuits of Connector] + +_First Position of Side Switch._ The connector in a ten-thousand-line +system is the recipient of the impulses resulting from the third and +fourth movements of the subscriber's dial. Considering the third +movement of the subscriber's dial, the first impulse resulting from it +comes over the rotary side of the line and results in the rotary relay +attracting its armature once. This results in a single impulse through +the private magnet which, however, does nothing because the projection +_5'_ strikes against a projection on the selector shaft. These two +projections interfere only when the selector shaft is in its normal +position. Then follows the series of impulses from the subscriber's +station corresponding to the tens digit in the called subscriber's +number. These pass over the vertical side of the line and through the +vertical relay, energizing that relay a corresponding number of times. + +The vertical magnet, as in the case of the first and the second +selectors, is included in the circuit controlled by the vertical relay +and this results in the connector shaft being stepped up to the level +corresponding to the particular tens group containing the called +subscriber's number. It will be noted that the impulses from the +vertical side of the line, which cause this selection, pass through one +winding _13_ of the calling battery supply relay. This relay is operated +by these vertical selecting impulses, but in this position of the side +switch the closure of its local circuits accomplishes nothing. + +Immediately after the tens group of selecting impulses over the vertical +side of the line, there follows a single rotary impulse from the +subscriber's station which, as in the case of the first and the second +selectors, energizes the rotary relay and causes it to give one impulse +to the private magnet. This impulse is now able, since the shaft has +moved from its normal position, to release the side switch arm one +notch, and the side switch, therefore, moves into its second position. + +_Second Position of Side Switch._ It is principally in this second +position of the side switch that the connector selecting function +differs from that of the first and the second selector. There is no +trunk to be hunted, but rather the rotary movement of the connector +wipers must be made in response to the impulses, from the subscriber's +station, which correspond to the units digit in the selected number. The +first impulse corresponding to the fourth movement of the subscriber's +dial is a rotary one, and, as usual, it passes through the rotary relay +winding and this, in turn, gives an impulse to the private magnet. The +private magnet at this time has already released the side switch arm to +its second position, but it is unable to release it further because of a +feather on the wiper shaft--which projects just far enough to engage the +lug _5'_, when the shaft is in its normal angular position--thus +preventing the side switch arm from moving farther than its second +position. + +Then follows over the vertical side of the line the last set of +selecting impulses corresponding to the units digit. This, as before, +energizes the vertical relay, but in the second position of the side +switch, it is to be noted, that the vertical relay no longer controls +the vertical magnet; the side switch has shifted the control of the +vertical relay to the rotary magnet. The rotary magnet is, therefore, +energized a number of times corresponding to the last digit in the +called number and the wipers of the connectors are thus brought to the +contacts of the line sought--their final goal. At this point many things +may happen, and the things that do happen depend on whether the called +subscriber's line is idle or busy. + +Called-Line Busy:--It will first be assumed that the called line is +busy. The testing operation at the connectors occurs in the second +position of the side switch. If the called line is busy, it will be +either because it is connected to by some other connector or because it +has itself made a call. In the former case the private contacts of that +line in the banks of all the connectors serving that hundreds group of +lines will be grounded through the private wiper of some other +connector. That this is so, may be seen by tracing the circuit from the +private wiper on the shaft to the third side switch wiper which is +grounded in the third position; the other connector that has already +engaged the line will, of course, have its side switch in its final, or +third position. Again, if the line called is busy, because a call has +already been made from this line to some other line, the private +contacts on the connectors corresponding to the line will be grounded, +as will be seen by tracing from the private bank contacts, which are +shown in Fig. 396, through the private wire to the line switch, which is +shown in Fig. 389, and from thence to ground through the springs _19_ +and _20_, which are brought together when the line switch is operated. + +In any event, therefore, the determining condition of a busy line is +that its private bank contacts on all connectors of its group shall be +grounded. Under the present assumed condition, therefore, the connector +wipers, which have been brought to the bank contacts of the desired +line, will find a ground at the private bank contact. The connector +shaft stops for an instant on the contacts of this busy line and +immediately there follows over the rotary side of the line the +inevitable single rotary impulse. This energizes the rotary relay and +this, as usual, energizes the private magnet. Remembering now that the +connector side switch is in its second position and that the private +wiper of the connector has found a ground, we may trace back from the +private wiper through the third side switch wiper to its second contact; +thence through the contact springs _14_ and _15_, closed by the private +magnet; thence through the release magnet; thence through the contact +springs _16_ and _17_ of the calling battery supply relay to the live +side of the battery. This calling battery supply relay will, at this +time, have its core energized because the coil _18_ is in series with +the rotary relay coil which, as just stated, was energized by the last +rotary impulse. This series of operations has led to the energizing of +the release magnet, and, as a result, the double dog of the connector is +pulled out of the connector shaft ratchets and the shaft and the side +switch are restored to their normal position. + +Busy-Back Signal:--The connector has dropped back to normal in all +respects. The calling subscriber, not knowing this, presses his ringing +button. This grounds the vertical side of the line at his station and +operates the vertical relay at the connector. This steps the shaft of +the connector up one step and causes the closure of the contacts _19_ +and _20_ at the top of the connector shaft. This establishes a +connection to a circuit carrying periodically interrupted battery +current on which an inductive hum is placed. This circuit may be traced +from this source through the springs _20_ and _19_ to the first wiper of +the side switch, thence through the normally closed contacts of the +ringing relay to the rotary side of the line, and the varying potential +to which this path is subjected produces an inductive flow back to the +calling subscriber's telephone, and gives him the necessary signal which +consists of a hum or buzzing noise with which all users of automatic +systems soon become familiar. + +Release on Busy Connection:--The connector, since its last release, has +been stepped up one notch and must again be released. When the +subscriber hangs up his receiver after receiving the busy signal, he +grounds both sides of his line momentarily by the action of the springs +_21_, _22_, and _23_ of Fig. 384. This operates the rotary and the +vertical relays on the connector simultaneously and brings together for +the first time the springs _21_ and _22_ of Fig. 396. This establishes a +connection from the battery through the springs _16_ and _17_ on the +calling battery supply relay, thence through the release magnet of the +connector, thence through the springs _22_ and _21_ of the vertical and +the rotary relay, thence through the release trunk back to the second +selector. From here the circuit passes through the private wiper of that +selector and the back release relay to ground through the third side +switch wiper which is in the third position. Considering this circuit in +respect to its action on the connector it is obvious that it energizes +the release magnet on the connector which restores the connector to +normal as before. At the second selector this circuit passed through the +back release relay, which closed a circuit through the release magnet +and through the back release relay contacts, thence back over the second +selector release trunk to the back release relay of the first selector, +and through the third wiper of the side switch on that selector to +ground, since that side switch also is in its third position. The +current through this circuit energizes the release magnet of the second +selector and restores it to its normal position and also energizes the +back release relay of the first selector. This, in turn, closes the +circuit from the battery through the release magnet of the first +selector and contacts of the back release relay to ground. This works +the release magnet of the first selector and restores that selector to +normal. The contacts on the first selector release magnet, shown in Fig. +390, are closed by the action of the release magnet and this closes the +path from ground back through the first selector release wire, and +through the contacts _13_ and _14_ of the line switch, through the line +switch release magnet to battery, and this restores the line switch to +normal. + +The reason for the term _back release_ will now be apparent. The release +operation at the connector is relayed back to the second selector; that +of the second selector back to the first selector; and that of the first +selector back to the line switch. Until this plan was adopted, the +release magnet of each selector and connector involved in a connection +was left bridged across the talking circuit so as to be available for +release; and it sometimes occurred that a first selector would be +released before a second selector or connector, which latter switches +would thus be left off-normal until rescued by an attendant. The back +release plan makes it impossible for the connection necessary for the +release of a switch to be torn down until the release is actually +accomplished. + +Called Line Found Idle:--It will be remembered that, before the +digression necessary to trace through the operations occurring upon the +finding of a busy line, the connector wipers had been brought, by the +influence of the calling subscriber's impulses, into engagement with the +contacts of the desired line; that the connector side switch was in its +second position; and that the final rotary impulse following the last +series of selecting impulses had not been sent. The condition now to be +assumed is that the called subscriber's line is free and the private +wiper, therefore, has found and rests on an ungrounded private bank +contact. The final rotary impulse which immediately follows will operate +the rotary relay and this, in turn, will operate the private magnet. +This happened under the assumed condition that the line was busy, but in +that case the release magnet was also operated at the same time and +restored all conditions to normal. Under the present condition the +operation of the private magnet will perform its usual function and move +the side switch of the connector into its third position. + +_Third Position of Side Switch._ When the side switch of the connector +moves to its third position, it, as usual, cuts the talking circuit +straight through from the vertical and the rotary sides of the trunk +leading from the previous selector to the outgoing terminal of the +subscriber's line, which may be traced upon Fig. 396 back through the +line switch, shown in Fig. 389. Several things are to be noted about the +talking circuit so established: First, the inclusion of the condensers +in the vertical and the rotary sides of the connector circuit. The +purpose of this will be referred to later. Second, the inclusion in this +circuit at the connector of a pair of normally closed contacts in the +ringing relay. It may be said in passing that the ringing relay +corresponds exactly in function to a ringing key in a manual +switchboard. Third, the talking circuit leading from the connector to +the called subscriber's line passes on one side through the springs _24_ +and _25_ of the bridge cut-off relay of the line switch, which is shown +in Fig. 389. These springs are normally open and would prevent the +completion of the talking circuit but for the fact that the bridge +cut-off relay of the line switch is energized over the private wire +leading to the connector bank and then through the connector wiper to +the third side switch wiper which, at this time, is in its third +position. The talking circuit is thus complete. The operation of this +bridge cut-off relay on the line switch has not only completed the +talking circuit but it has also opened the circuit of the trip magnet of +the line switch so as to prevent the operation of the trip magnet by the +subscriber on that line in case he should attempt to make a call during +the interval between the time when his line was connected with by the +connector and the time when he answers the call. + +The third wiper of the connector side switch when moved into its third +position, puts the ground on all of the private bank contacts of the +line chosen and thus guards that line against connection by others, as +already described. It also operates the bridge cut-off relay of the line +switch as just mentioned. + +The fourth wiper of the side switch, when moved into its third position, +establishes such a connection as will place the ringing relay under the +control of the vertical relay. This may be seen by tracing from ground +to the vertical relay springs _23_ and _24_, thence through the normally +closed upper pair of contacts on the private magnet, thence through the +fourth wiper on the side switch to its third contact, thence through the +ringing relay magnet, and through the springs _16_ and _17_ of the +calling battery supply relay and to battery. The calling battery supply +relay winding being in series with the vertical relay winding, the two +operate together and close the two normally open points in the ringing +relay circuit. This ringing relay acts as an ordinary ringing key and +connects the generator to the called subscriber's line in an obvious +manner, at the same time opening the talking circuit back of the ringing +relay in order to prevent the ringing current chattering the relays in +the circuit back of it. All that remains now is for the called +subscriber to respond. When he does he closes the metallic circuit of +the line through his talking apparatus. + +_Battery Supply to Connected Subscriber._ Throughout the whole process +of building up a connection, it will be remembered that both sides of +the calling line are connected through the respective vertical and +rotary relays involved in building up the connection with the live side +of the battery. At the time when the connection is finally established +and the called subscriber rung, both sides of the calling line are +connected through various relay windings to the live side of the +battery. Such a condition leaves both sides of the line at the same +potential and, therefore, there is no tendency for current to flow +through the calling subscriber's talking apparatus, even though it is +connected across the circuit of the line. It remains, therefore, to be +seen how these conditions are so changed after the building up of a +connection as to supply the calling subscriber with talking current. + +The calling subscriber can get no current until the called subscriber +responds. When the connection is first made with the called subscriber's +line, battery connection to his line is made from the live side of +battery through the normally closed contacts of the calling battery +supply relay, thence through the winding _25_ of the called battery +supply relay to the vertical side of the called line. The grounded side +of the battery is connected to the rotary side of his line through the +third wiper of the connector and the coil _26_ of the called battery +supply relay. As a result, this subscriber receives proper talking +current through the coils _25_ and _26_, and this relay is operated by +the flow of this current. The operation of this called battery supply +relay merely shifts the connection of the rotary side of the calling +subscriber's line from its normal battery connection, to ground, and +thus the battery is placed straight across the calling subscriber's line +so as to supply talking current. This supply circuit to the calling +subscriber may be traced from the live side of the battery through the +winding _13_ of the calling battery supply relay and the winding of the +vertical relay to the vertical side of the line, and from the grounded +side of battery through the third side switch wiper in its third +position to the now closed pair of contacts in the called battery supply +relay through the coil _18_ of the calling battery supply relay and the +coil of the rotary relay to the rotary side of the line. + +It will be noted that the system of battery supply is that of the +standard condenser and retardation coil scheme largely employed in +manual practice; and that aside from the coils through which the battery +current is supplied to the connected subscribers, there are no taps +from, or bridges across, the two sides of the talking circuit. + +=Release after Conversation.= It remains now only to secure the +disconnection of the subscribers after they are through talking. When +the calling subscriber hangs up, the whole disconnection is brought +about, all of the apparatus, including connector, selectors, and line +switch, returning to normal. This is done by the back release system and +is accomplished in almost the same way as has already been described in +connection with the disconnect after an unsuccessful call. There is this +difference, however: after an unsuccessful call when the line called for +was found busy, the release was made while the connector side switch was +in its normal position. In the present case, the release must be made +with the connector side switch in its third position and with the +talking battery bridged across the metallic circuit rather than +connected between each limb of the line and ground. It must be +remembered that the calling battery supply relay, while traversed by +current during the conversation, is not magnetically energized because, +with the current flowing through the metallic circuit of the line, the +two windings exert a differential effect. As soon, however, as the +calling subscriber hangs up his receiver, this differential action +ceases, due to the grounding of both sides of the line at the +subscriber's station. This relay, therefore, operates and cuts off +battery from the called battery supply relay and this, in turn, releases +its armature and thus changes the connection of the rotary side of the +calling line from ground to live side of the battery. The normal +condition of the battery connection now being restored, both the +vertical and the rotary relays at the connector become operated, due to +the ground on both sides of the line at the subscriber's station, and +this, as we have seen, is the condition which brings about the operation +of the connector release magnet, and the relaying back of the disconnect +impulse successively through the selectors to the line switch. + +=Multi-Office System.= In exchanges involving more than one office, the +same general principles and mode of operation already outlined apply. If +the total number of subscribers in the multi-office exchange is to be +less than ten thousand, then four digit numbers suffice, and the first +movement of the dial may be made to select the office into which the +connection is to go, the subscribers' lines being so numbered with +respect to the offices that each office will contain only certain +thousands. The choosing of the thousand by the calling subscriber, +therefore, takes care in itself of the choice of offices. Where, +however, a multi-office exchange is to provide for connections among a +greater number of lines than ten thousand and less than one hundred +thousand, then it will take five movements of the dial to make the +selection--the five movements corresponding either to the five digits in +a number or to the name of an office, as indicated on the dial, and the +four digits of a smaller number. The lines may all carry five digit +numbers or, what is considered better practice, may be designated by an +office name followed by a four digit number. In this latter case the +numbers of the subscribers' lines will in each case be contained in one +or more of the tens of thousands groups, no number having more than four +digits. And the first movement of the dial, whether the name or number +plan be adopted, will select an office; or, looking at it another way, +will select a group of ten thousand and this being done, the next four +successive movements of the dial will select the numbers in that ten +thousand in just the some way that has been already described. + +Certain difficulties arise, however, in multi-office working due to the +fact that the three-wire trunks between offices would in most cases be +objectionable. As long as the trunks extend between the various groups +of apparatus in the same office, it is cheaper to provide three wires +for each of them than it is to make any additional complication in the +apparatus. Where the trunking is done between offices, however, the +system may be so modified as to work over two wire inter-office trunks. + +_The Trunk Repeater._ The purpose of the trunk repeater is to enable the +inter-office trunking to be done over two wires. It may be said that the +trunk repeater is a device placed in the outgoing trunk circuit at the +office in which a call originates, which will do over the two wires of +the trunk leading from it to the distant office just the same thing that +the subscriber's signal transmitter does over the two wires of the +subscriber's lines. It has certain other functions in regard to feeding +the battery for talking purposes back to the calling subscriber's line, +taking the place in this respect of the calling battery feed relay in +the connector in a single office exchange. + +[Illustration: Fig. 397. Circuits of Trunk Repeater] + +The circuits of a trunk repeater are shown in Fig. 397. In considering +it, it must be understood that the three wires entering the figure at +the left are the vertical, rotary, and release wires of a second +selector trunk leading from the first selector banks in the same office. +The two wires leading from the right of the figure are those extending +to the distant office, and terminate there in second selectors. The +vertical and the rotary sides of this trunk as shown at the left will +receive the impulses from the subscriber's station coming through the +line switch and the first selector, as usual. The vertical impulses will +pass through the winding of the vertical relay and through the winding +_1_ of the calling battery supply relay and thence to battery, the same +as on a connector. These impulses will work the armatures of both of +these relays in unison. The movements of the vertical relay armature in +response to these impulses will cause corresponding impulses to flow +over a circuit which may be traced from ground, through the springs _3_ +and _2_ of the vertical relay, the springs _4_ and _5_ of the bridged +relay _6_ and thence to the vertical side of the trunk and to the +distant office, where it passes into a second selector and through its +vertical relay to battery. Thus the vertical impulses are passed on over +the two-wire trunk to the second selector at the distant office. It +becomes necessary, however, to prevent these impulses from passing back +through the winding of the bridge relay _6_ and this is done by means of +the sluggish relay _7_. This relay receives local battery impulses in +unison with those sent over the trunk by the vertical relay, these being +supplied from the battery at the local office through the contacts _8_ +and _9_ of the calling battery supply relay, which works in unison with +the vertical relay. These rapidly recurring impulses are too fast for +the sluggish relay _7_ to follow. And this relay merely pulls up its +armature and cuts off both sides of the trunk leading back to the first +selector. The rotary impulses are repeated to the rotary side of the +two-wire trunk in a similar way. + +Considering now the operation of the trunk repeater in the reverse +direction, the action of the bridging relay _6_ is of vital importance. +Normally both sides of trunk line are connected to the live side of the +battery and, therefore, there is no difference of potential between them +and no tendency to operate the bridged relay. When the connection has +been fully established to the subscriber at the distant office, and that +subscriber has responded, the action of his battery supply relay will, +as before stated, change the connection of the rotary side of the line +from battery to ground, and thus bridge the battery at the distant +exchange across the trunk. This action will pull up the bridged relay +_6_ at the trunk repeater and will perform exactly the same function +with respect to the connection of the battery with the calling +subscriber's line. In other words, it will change the connection of the +rotary side of the calling line from battery to ground, thus +establishing the necessary difference in potential to give the calling +subscriber the necessary current for transmission purposes. The +disconnect feature is about the same as already described. When the +calling subscriber hangs up his receiver both the vertical and rotary +relays of the trunk repeater operate, which places the ground on both +sides of the two-wire trunk to the distant office, which is the +condition for releasing all of the apparatus there. + +For the purpose of convenience the simplified diagram of Fig. 398 has +been prepared, which shows the complete connection from a calling +subscriber to a called subscriber in a multi-office exchange, wherein +the first movement of the dial is employed to establish the connection +to the proper office and the four succeeding movements to make a +selection among ten thousand lines in that office. This circuit, +therefore, employs at the first office the line switch, the first +selector, and the trunk repeater; and at the second office the second +selector, third selector, connector, and line switch. + +The third selector is omitted from Fig. 398, but this will cause no +confusion, since it is exactly like the second selector. The circuits +shown are exactly like those previously described but in drawing them +the main idea has been to simplify the connections to the greatest +possible extent at a sacrifice in the clearness with which the +mechanical inter-relation of parts is shown. No correct understanding of +the circuits of an automatic system is possible without a clear idea of +the mechanical functions performed by the different parts, and, +therefore, we have described what are apparently the more complex +circuit drawings first. It is believed that the student, in attempting +to gain an understanding of this marvel of mechanical and electrical +intricacy, will find his task less burdensome if he will refer freely to +both the simplified circuit drawing of Fig. 398 and the more complex +ones preceding it. By doing so he will often be enabled to clear up a +doubtful circuit point from the simpler diagram and a doubtful +mechanical point from those diagrams which represent more clearly the +mechanical relation of parts. + +[Illustration: Fig. 398. Connection between a Calling and a Called +Subscriber in an Automatic System] + +=Automatic Sub-Offices.= Obviously, the system of trunking employed in +automatic exchanges lends itself with great facility to the subdivision +of an exchange into a large number of comparatively small office +districts and the establishment of branch offices or sub-offices at the +centers of these districts. + +The trunking between large offices has already been described. An +attractive feature of the automatic system is the establishment of +so-called sub-stations or sub-offices. Where there is, in an outlying +district, a distinct group of subscribers whose lines may readily be +centered at a common point within that district and where the number of +such subscribers and lines is insufficient to establish a fully equipped +office, it is possible to establish a so-called sub-station or +sub-office connected with the main office of that district by trunk +lines. At this sub-office there are placed only line switches and +connectors. When a call is originated on one of these sub-office lines, +the line switch acts instantly to connect that line with one of the +trunks leading to the main office of that district, at which this trunk +terminates in a first selector. From there on, the connection is the +same as that in a system in which no sub-offices are employed. Calls +coming into this sub-office over trunk lines from the main office are +received on the connectors at the sub-office and the connection is made +with the sub-office line by the connector in the usual manner. This +arrangement, it is seen, amounts merely to a stretching of the connector +trunks for a given group of lines so that they will reach out from a +main office to a sub-office, it being more economical to lengthen the +smaller number of trunks and by so doing to decrease in length the +larger number of subscribers' lines. + +=The Rotary Connector.= For certain purposes it becomes desirable in +automatic work to employ a special form of connector which will have in +itself a certain ability to make automatic selection of one of a group +of previously chosen trunks in much the same manner as the first and +second selectors automatically choose the first idle one of a group of +trunks. + +Such a use is demanded in private branch-exchange working where a given +business establishment, for instance, has a plurality of lines +connecting its own private switchboard with the central office. The +directory number of all these lines is, for convenience, made the same, +and it is important, therefore, that when a person attempts to make a +connection with this establishment, he will not fail to get his +connection simply because the first one of these lines happens to be +busy. For such use a given horizontal row of connector terminals or a +part of such a row is assigned to the lines leading to the private +branch exchange and the connector is so modified as to have a certain +"discretionary" power of its own. As a result, when the common number of +all these lines is called, the connector will choose the first one, if +it is not already engaged by some other connector, but if it is, it will +pass on to the next, and so on until an idle one is found. It is only +when the connector has hunted through the entire group of lines and +found them all busy that it will refuse to connect and will give the +busy signal to the calling subscriber. + +=Party Lines.= The description of this system as given above has been +confined entirely to direct line working; however, party lines may be +and are frequently employed. + +The circuits and apparatus used with direct lines are, with slight +modifications, applicable to use with party lines. + +The harmonic method of ringing is employed and the stations are so +arranged with respect to the connectors that those requiring the same +frequency for ringing the bells are in groups served by the same set of +connectors. + +[Illustration: POWER MACHINERY Citizens' Telephone Company, Racine, Wis. +_The Dean Electric Co._] + +The party lines are operated on the principle commonly known in manual +practice as the jack per station arrangement. Each party line will, +therefore, have sets of terminals appearing in separate hundreds; the +connectors associated with each of these hundreds being so arranged as +to impress the proper frequency of ringing current on the line. + +From the subscribers' standpoint the operation is the same as for direct +lines, as the particular hundreds digit of a number serves to select one +of a group of connectors capable of connecting the proper ringing +current to the line. + +To avoid confusion, which would be caused by a subscriber on a party +line attempting to make a call when the line is already in use by some +other subscriber, the subscribers' stations are so arranged that when +the line is in use all other stations on the line are locked out. + +[Illustration: Fig. 399. Wall Set for Two-Wire System] + +=The Two-Wire Automatic System.= The two-wire system that has recently +been introduced by the Automatic Electric Company brings about the very +important result of accomplishing all of the automatic switching over +metallic circuit lines without the use of ground or common returns. The +system is thus relieved of the disturbing influences to which the +three-wire system is sometimes subjected, due to differences in earth +potential between various portions of the system, which may add to or +subtract from the battery potential and alter the net potential +available between two distant points. The introduction of this system +has also made possible certain other incidental features of advantage, +one of which is a great simplification and reduction in size of the +subscriber's station signal-transmitting apparatus. + +With the doing away of the ground as a return circuit, it becomes +impossible to send vertical impulses over one side of the line and to +follow them by single rotary impulses over the other side of the line. +Yet it becomes necessary to distinguish between the pure selective +impulses and those impulses which dictate a change of function at the +central office. The plan has, therefore, been adopted of accomplishing +the selection in each case by short and rapidly recurring impulses and +of accomplishing those functions formerly brought about by the single +impulse over the rotary side of the line by a pause between the +respective series of selective impulses. This is accomplished at the +central office by replacing the vertical and the rotary relays of the +three-wire system by a quick-acting and a sluggish relay, respectively; +the quick-acting relay performing the functions previously carried out +by the vertical relay, and the sluggish relay acting only during the +pauses between the successive series of quick impulses to do the things +formerly done by the rotary relay. This has resulted in a delightful +simplification of subscriber's apparatus, since it is now necessary only +to provide a device which will connect the two sides of the line +together the required number of times in quick succession and then allow +a pause with the circuit closed while the subscriber is getting ready to +transmit another set of impulses corresponding to another digit. The +calling device has no mechanical function co-acting with any of the +other parts of the telephone and may be considered as a separate +mechanical device electrically connected with the line. The transmitting +device is not much larger than a large watch and a good idea of it may +be had from Fig. 399, which shows the latest wall set, and Fig. 400, +which shows the latest desk set of the Automatic Electric Company. We +regret the fact that this company has made the request that the complete +details of their two-wire system be not published at this time. + +[Illustration: Fig. 400. Desk Stand for Two-Wire System] + + + + +CHAPTER XXX + +THE LORIMER AUTOMATIC SYSTEM + + +The Lorimer automatic telephone system has not been commercially used in +this country but is in commercial operation in a few places in Canada. +It is interesting from several points of view. It was invented, built, +and installed by the Lorimer Brothers--Hoyt, George William, and +Egbert--of Brantford, Ontario. These young men without previous +telephonic training and, according to their statements, without ever +having seen the inside of a telephone office, conceived and developed +this system and put it in practical operation. With the struggles and +efforts of these young men in accomplishing this feat we have some +familiarity, and it impresses us as one of the most remarkable inventive +achievements that has come to our attention, regardless of whatever the +merits or demerits of the system may be. + +The Lorimer system is interesting also from the fact that, in most +cases, it represents the mechanical rather than the electrical way of +doing things. The switches are power driven and electrically controlled +rather than electrically driven and electrically controlled, as in the +system of the Automatic Electric Company. + +The subscriber's station apparatus consists of the usual receiver, +speech transmitter, call bell, and hook switch, and in addition a signal +transmitter arranged to be manipulated by the subscriber so as to +control the operation of the central-office apparatus in connecting with +any desired line in the system. + +The central-office apparatus is designed throughout upon the principle +of switching by means of power-driven switches which are under the +control of the signal transmitters of the calling subscriber's station. +The switches employed in making a connection are all so arranged with +respect to constantly rotating shafts that the movable member of such +switches may be connected to the shafts by means of electromagnets +controlled directly or indirectly by relays, which, in turn, are brought +under the control of the signal transmitters. + +The circuits are so designed in many instances that the changes +necessary for the different steps are brought about by the movement of +the switches themselves, thus permitting the use of circuits which are +rather simple. The switches employed are all of a rotary type; the +co-ordinate selection, which is accomplished in the Automatic Electric +Company's system by a vertical and rotary movement, being brought about +in this system by the independent rotation of two switches. + +=Subscriber's Station Equipment.= A subscriber's desk-stand set, except +the call bell, is shown in Fig. 401, and a wall set complete in Fig. +402. In both of these illustrations may be seen the familiar +transmitter, receiver, and hook switch, and in the wall set, the call +bell. The portion of these telephone sets which is unfamiliar at present +is the part which is enclosed in the enlarged base of the desk stand and +the protruding device below the speech transmitter in the wall set--the +signal transmitter referred to earlier in the chapter. The small push +button and small plate through which the number may be seen directly +below the transmitter in Fig. 402, are for the purpose of registering +calls. + +[Illustration: Fig. 401. Lorimer Automatic Desk Stand] + +The signal transmitter is a device whose function is to record +mechanically the number of the subscriber's station with which +connection is desired, and to transmit that record to the central office +by a system of electrical impulses over the line conductors. Instead of +operating by its own initiative, the signal transmitter is adapted to +respond to central-office control in transmitting electrically the +number which has been recorded mechanically upon it. + +The signal transmitter shown removed from the base of the desk stand at +the left in Fig. 403 comprises in part four sets of contact pins having +ten pins in each set, one set for each of the digits of a four-digit +number. There are also several additional contact pins for signaling and +auxiliary controlling purposes. All of these contact pins are arranged +upon the circumference of a circle and a movable brush mounted upon a +shaft at the center of the circle is adapted to be rotated by a clock +spring and to make contact with each of the pins successively. The call +is started, after the number desired has been set on the dial, by giving +the crank at the right of the signal transmitter a complete turn and +thus winding the spring. The shaft carrying the signal transmitter brush +carries also an escapement wheel, the pallet of which is directly +controlled by an electromagnet. + +[Illustration: Fig. 402. Lorimer Automatic Wall Set] + +The four dials with the numerals printed on them are attached to four +levers, respectively, and are moved by their levers opposite windows, +near the top of the casing. Through each of these windows a single +numeral may be seen on the corresponding one of the dials. The dials may +be adjusted so that the four numerals seen will read from left to right +to correspond to the number of the line with which connection is +desired. + +The setting of the dials so that the number desired shows at the small +circular opening results in connecting the earth or a common return +conductor to one pin of each set of ten pins, the pin grounded in each +set depending upon the numerical value of the digit for which the dial +is set. + +The circle of contact pins is set in an insulating disk, the signal +transmitting brush operates upon the pins on one side of the disk, and +electrical fingers attached to the dials operate upon the pins on the +other side of the disk. The escapement wheel is a single toothed disk +attached directly to the shaft which carries the signal brush and its +pallet is attached rigidly to the magnet armature. + +[Illustration: Fig. 403. Desk Stand with Signal Transmitter Removed] + +Once a call has been turned in, the entire subscriber's station +equipment is locked beyond power of the subscriber to tamper with it in +any way, rendering it impossible either to defeat the call which has +been started or to prevent the subscriber's station as a whole from +returning completely to normal position and thus restoring itself for +regular service. The key shown just below the signal transmitter in the +case of the desk stand, and at the right in the wall set, is for the +purpose of operating a relay at the central office which, in turn, +connects ringing current to the line of the subscriber with which +connection has been made, and thus actuates the call bell. + +As the number set up at the signal transmitter remains in full view +until reset for some other number, it is easily checked by inspection +and also lessens the labor involved in making a second call for the same +line, which is frequently necessary when the line is found busy the +first time called. + +=Central-Office Apparatus.= The subscriber's lines are divided into +groups of one hundred lines each at the central office, each group being +served by a single unit of central-office apparatus. In a +central-office unit there is "sectional apparatus" which appears but +once for the unit of one hundred lines; "divisional apparatus" which +appears a number of times for each unit, depending upon the traffic; and +"line apparatus" which appears one hundred times for each unit or once +for each line. + +The sectional apparatus comprises devices whose duties are, first, to +detect a calling line, and second, to assign to the calling line a set +of idle divisional apparatus which serves to perform the necessary +switching functions and complete the connection. + +The sets of divisional apparatus, or, as called in this system, +"divisions," are common to a section and are employed in a manner +similar to the connecting cords of a manual switchboard. The number of +these divisions provided for each section is, therefore, determined by +the number of simultaneous connections resulting from calls originating +in the section. It has been the custom in building this apparatus to +provide each section with seven divisions or connective elements. + +The line apparatus comprises one relay, having a single winding, and two +pairs of contacts operated by its armature. This device is substantially +the well known cut-off relay almost universally employed in +common-battery systems. The fixed multiple contacts of the lines in the +switching banks of the connecting apparatus are considered as pertaining +to the various pieces of apparatus on which they are found rather than +to their respective lines. A good idea may be obtained of the +arrangement of the sectional and divisional apparatus by referring to +Fig. 404, which is one unit of a thousand-line equipment. The apparatus +in the vertical row at the extreme left of the illustration is the +sectional apparatus, while the remaining seven vertical rows of +apparatus are the divisions. + +_The Section._ The sectional apparatus for each unit consists of three +separate devices called for convenience a _decimal indicator_, a +_division starter_, and a _decimal-register controller_. All of these +devices are normally motionless when idle. The energization of the +decimal indicator, in response to the inauguration of a call at a +subscriber's station, results immediately in an action of the division +starter which starts a division to connect with the line calling. It +results also in the starting of the decimal-register controller, the +remaining unit of sectional apparatus. + +It is thus seen that upon the starting of a call by a subscriber, all +of the sectional apparatus belonging to his one hundred lines +immediately becomes active, the division starter acting to start a +division, the decimal indicator becoming energized to indicate the tens +group in which the call has appeared, and the decimal-register +controller becoming active to adjust the decimal register of the +division assigned by the division starter. The division starter having +assigned a division for the exclusive use of this particular call, +passes to a position from which it may start a similar idle division +when the next call is received. The decimal register controller makes +its half revolution for the call and comes to rest, awaiting a +subsequent call, and the decimal indicator continues energized but only +momentarily, since it is released by the action of the cut-off relay +when the call is taken in charge by the divisional connective devices. + +Calls may follow each other rapidly, the connective devices being +entirely independent of each other after having been assigned to the +respective calling lines. As has been described, the decimal indicator +starts the division starter and the decimal-register controller in quick +succession. The division starter, shown at the extreme bottom of the +left-hand row of Fig. 404, is a cylinder switch of the same general type +as used throughout this system. In it the terminals of a switch in each +division appear as fixed contact points in a circle over which move the +brushes of the division starter. + +The decimal-register controller has the duties of transmitting to the +divisional apparatus a series of current impulses corresponding in +number to the numerical value of the tens digit of the calling line. +This is effected by providing before a movable brush ten contacts from +which the brush may receive current. These contacts are normally not +connected to battery, so that the brush in passing over them does not +receive current from them; however, when the brush has reached the +contact corresponding in number to the tens digit of the calling line, a +relay associated with the decimal-register controller charges the +contacts with the potential of the main battery, and each of the +remaining contacts passed over by the brush sends a current impulse to a +device designed to indicate on the division selected for the call the +tens digit of the calling line. + +_The Connective Division._ The connective division, seven of which are +shown in Fig. 404, is an assemblage of switches comprising, as a whole, +a set suitable for a complete connection from calling to called +subscriber. Each connective division in the unit illustrated is +completely equipped to care for a called number of three digits, _i. +e._, each division will connect its calling line with any one of one +thousand lines which may be called. By a system of interconnecting +between divisions, each division may be equipped with interconnecting +apparatus so as to make it possible to complete a call with any one of +ten thousand lines. Each connecting division of a ten-thousand-line +exchange comprises six major switches. Of the six major switches, one is +termed a _secondary connector_, another an _interconnector_, and the +four remaining are termed the _primary portion_ of the division. + +[Illustration: Fig. 404. Unit of Switching Apparatus] + +Before taking up the operation of the switches, the mechanical nature of +the switches themselves will be described. The switches are built with a +contact bank cylindrical in form and with internal movable brushes +traveling in a rotary manner in circular paths upon horizontal rows of +contacts fixed in the cylindrical banks. For driving these brushes a +constantly rotating main power-driven shaft is provided. Between each +shaft and the rotating brushes of each major switch is an electric +clutch, which, by the movement of an armature, causes the brushes of the +switch to partake of the motion of the shaft and by the return of the +armature to come again to rest. The motion of the brushes of the major +switches, or cylinder switches, as they are frequently called because of +their form, is constantly in the same direction. They have a normal +position upon a set of the cylinder contacts. They leave their normal +position and take any predetermined position as controlled by the +magnets of the clutch, and, having served the transient purpose, they +return to their normal position by traversing the remainder of their +complete revolution and stopping in their position of rest or idleness. + +The mechanical construction of each of the cylinder switches is such +that it may disengage its clutch and bring its brushes to rest only with +the brushes in some one of a number of predetermined positions. The +locations of the brushes in these positions of rest, or "stop" +positions, as they are called, may differ with the different cylinder +switches, according to the nature of the duty required of the switch, +and the total number of stop positions also may vary. The primary and +secondary connectors, the interconnector selectors, and the +interconnectors each have eleven stop positions; the rotary switch has +eight stop positions; the signal-transmitter controller has but two. + +In the six cylinder switches making up a connective division and +required for any conversation, in a ten-thousand-line exchange some of +the switches are set to positions which are determined by the control of +the calling subscriber and represent by their selective positions the +value of some digit of the calling or called subscriber's number. Others +are switches controlling the call in its progress and controlling the +switches responsive to the call. These latter switches take positions +independent of the numbers. + +In addition to the major switches, there are upon each division four +minor switches termed _registers_. Each consists of an arc of fixed +contacts accompanied by a set of brushes which sweep over the contacts. +Instead of being driven by an electromagnet, the register brushes are +placed under tension of a spring which tends at all times to draw them +forward. They are then restrained by an escapement device similar to a +pallet escapement in a clock, the pallet being controlled by the +register's magnets. When a series of impulses are received by the +register magnets, the pallet is actuated a corresponding number of times +and the register brushes are permitted to move forward under tension of +their powerful propelling spring. Each register is associated with a +major switch, and the register brushes are engaged by a cam upon the +associated major switch, and are restored to normal position against the +tension of their propelling spring, the force of restoration being +obtained from the main shaft. + +The electrical clutches which connect and disconnect the movable brushes +of the major switches from the main driving shaft are controlled in all +instances by circuits local to the central office. In some instances +these circuits include relay contacts and are controlled by a relay. In +other instances they are formed solely through switch contacts. In all +cases the control, when from a distance, is received upon relays +suitable for being controlled by the small currents which are adapted to +flow over long lines. In all instances the power for moving a brush is +derived from the main shaft and only the control of the movement is +derived from electromagnets, relays, or other electric sources. In many +instances the clutch circuit is closed through contacts of its own +switch and, therefore, may be closed only when its switch is in some +predetermined position. All of the switches are mechanically powerful +and designed particularly to sustain the wear of long-continued and +oft-repeated usage. This is true also of the moving parts which carry +the brushes and of the journals sustaining those parts. + +_The Switches of the Connective Division._ The six major switches of the +connecting division are as follows: + +The Primary Connector:--The function of this switch is to connect the +conductors of the calling line with the switching devices of the +connective division. Associated with this switch is a register termed +the _decimal register_. The one hundred lines of the section are +terminated in fixed multiple contacts in the cylinder switch of the +primary connector. The calling line is selected and connected with by +adjusting the decimal register to a position corresponding to the +calling line's tens digit and adjusting the brushes of the cylinder +switch to a position corresponding to the calling line's unit digit. + +The Rotary Switch:--This is a master switch, or pilot switch, +consisting of a cylinder switch without register. Its duty is the +control of other switches and the completion of circuits formed in part +through other switches. It is the pilot switch and the switch of +initiative and control for the entire connective division. + +Signal-Transmitter Controller:--The primary function of this switch is +the generation of signaling impulses of two classes. Impulses of the +first class pass over central-office circuits only and are effective +upon magnets of the divers major and minor switches; impulses of the +second class pass over a line conductor of the calling line and are +effective upon the signal transmitter at the subscriber's station. The +impulses sent out over the line to the subscriber's station cause the +brush to pass over the contacts and thereby indicate the numerical +values of the various digits set by the dials. This switch also enters +in an important manner into the circuits involved in the testing of the +called line for the busy condition. It is controlled by the rotary +switch. + +Interconnector Selector:--In an exchange using four digits in the +numbers, the register of the interconnector selector is adjusted in each +call to a position corresponding to the numerical value of the thousands +digit of the called number. The cylinder switch then acts to select an +idle trunk. The switch is controlled by the rotary switch in connection +with the signal transmitter controller. + +Interconnector:--This switch is similar to the interconnector selector +in design and in function. It is a cylinder switch with register. The +register is adjusted in each call to a position corresponding to the +numerical value of the hundreds digit of the number called and the +cylinder switch then operates to select an idle trunk. The switch is +controlled by the rotary switch in connection with the signal +transmitter controller. + +Secondary Connector:--This switch contains in its cylinder bank of +contacts the multiple points of one hundred subscribers' lines and its +function is to connect the conductors of the called line to the +conductors of the connective division. This is accomplished by adjusting +the register to correspond to the value of the tens digit of the line +desired and by adjusting the cylinder brushes to correspond to the value +of the units digit of the line. The switch is controlled by the rotary +switch in connection with the signal-transmitter controller. + +=Operation.= A brief description of the progress of a call from its +institution to the complete connection and subsequent disconnection +begins with the adjustment of the dial indicators of the telephone set +and the turning of the crank of the signal transmitter one revolution. +This act, performed by the calling subscriber, connects one of the line +conductors to earth. Immediately the decimal indicator associated with +the section in which the calling line terminates is energized and starts +the division starter. The division starter instantly starts the rotary +switch of an idle division. The rotary switch now starts the +decimal-register controller and connects to it the decimal register of +the primary connector of the division selected. + +All of the above acts in the central office occur practically +simultaneously. The impulses generated by the controller are effective +upon the decimal register of the started division and, therefore, adjust +that register to a position corresponding to the tens value of the +calling line. + +The rotary switch now disconnects the tens register and starts the +cylinder brushes of the primary connector which automatically stop when +they encounter the calling line. At this instant the cut-off relay of +the line is energized and the decimal indicator is released. The call +now is clear of all sectional apparatus and another call may come +through immediately, being assigned in charge of another idle division. + +The total time in which any call is in charge of the sectional +apparatus, _i. e._, the total time from the grounding of the line +conductor at the sub-station until the line has been connected with by +the primary connector of some division of that section and the sectional +apparatus has been released by the operation of the cut-off relay, +approximates two-fifths of a second. + +The next operation initiated by the rotary switch is the starting of the +signal-transmitter controller of the connective division, which, in +turn, adjusts the register of the interconnector selector to a position +corresponding to the thousands digit of the number of the called line as +indicated by the signal transmitter at the calling station. This selects +an interconnector serving the lines of the selected thousand. + +This initial selection being completed the rotary switch readjusts the +circuits of the connective division in such manner that in the further +progress of the signal-transmitter controller, its impulses will be +effective upon the register of the selected interconnector. In this +manner, the register of the interconnector, which may be upon the same +connective division as the rotary switch handling the call, or which may +be the interconnector of some other division, as determined by the +number of the called subscriber, is adjusted to a position corresponding +to the second or hundreds digit of the number called. The cylinder +switch of the interconnector then selects and appropriates an idle trunk +extending to a secondary connector upon some connective division serving +the hundred selected. + +The rotary switch again shifts the circuits of the connective division +in such manner that the signal-transmitter controller is effective upon +the secondary connector, both register and cylinder, and adjusts the +register and cylinder, respectively, with their brushes in contact with +the tens and units digits, respectively, of the number of the called +line. + +The conductors of the called line now are connected through the +secondary connector, the interconnector, and the interconnector selector +to the rotary switch; the conductors of the calling line are connected +through the primary connector to the rotary switch; thus completely +connecting the lines except at the rotary switch. To effect the +connecting together of the two lines, both rotary switch and +signal-transmitter controller must pass forward into their next +positions, the connection when thus effected being made through +conductors containing a repeating coil and main battery connection for +supplying talking current to the two lines and containing also ringing +and supervisory relays. + +The called line is tested to determine if busy during the short interval +in which the rotary switch takes a short step to connect the calling and +the called lines. In this step of the rotary switch the busy-test relay +is connected to the guard wire or busy-test wire of the called line, and +if that line be busy, the relay interferes with the control exercised by +the rotary switch upon the signal-transmitter controller, and the +controller is prevented from taking the step required to connect the +line. Thus, when a busy line is encountered, the final step of the +rotary switch is taken to set up the conversation conditions, but the +signal-transmitter controller does not take its final step; by this +failure of the signal-transmitter controller due to the action of the +busy-test relay, the calling line is not connected to the called line +but is connected to a busy-back tone generator instead. + +Whether the line encountered be busy or idle, the connective division +remains in its condition as then adjusted until the subscriber hangs his +receiver upon the hook switch to obtain disconnection. The ringing of +the bell of the called station is done directly by the calling +subscriber in pressing the ringing key. + +The disconnection is effected, when the receiver of the calling line is +hung up, by the supervisory relay in the central office, whose winding +is included in the line circuit, and whose contacts act directly to +start the rotary switch. In disconnecting, the rotary switch starts the +primary and the secondary connectors and thus instantly releases both +the calling and the called lines. Thereafter the rotary switch in +passing from position to position restores switch after switch of the +connective division to normal and finally itself returns to normal in +preparation for its assignment to service in answering a subsequent +call. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXI + +THE AUTOMANUAL SYSTEM + + +Two systems of telephony are now in common use in this country--the +manual system and the automatic. With the growth of the automatic, and +the gradually ripening conviction, which is now fully matured in the +minds of most telephone engineers, that automatic switching is +practical, there has been a growing tendency toward doing automatically +many of the things that had previously been done manually. One of the +results of this tendency has been the production of the _automanual_ +system, the invention of Edward E. Clement, an engineer and patent +attorney, of Washington, D. C. In connection with Mr. Clement's name, as +inventor, must be mentioned that of Charles H. North, whose excellent +work as a designer and manufacturer has contributed much toward the +present excellence of this highly interesting system. + +=Characteristics of System.= The name "automanual" is coined from the +two words, automatic and manual, and is intended to suggest the idea +that the system partakes in part of the features of the automatic system +and in part of those of the manual system. + +We regret that neither space nor the professional relation which we have +had with the development of this system will permit us to make public an +extended and detailed description of its apparatus and circuits. Only +the general features of the system may, therefore, be dealt with. + +[Illustration: POWER APPARATUS FOR COMMON-BATTERY MANUAL OFFICE OF +MEDIUM SIZE] + +The underlying idea of the automanual system is to relieve the +subscriber of all work in connection with the building up of his +connection, except the asking for it; to complicate the subscriber's +station equipment in no way, it being left the same as in the +common-battery manual system; to do away with manual apparatus, such as +jacks, cords and plugs, at the central office, and to substitute for it +automatic switching apparatus which will be guided in its movements, +not by the subscriber, but by a very much smaller number of operators +than would be necessary to manipulate a manual switchboard. + +=General Features of Operation.= A broad view of the operation of the +system is this. The subscriber desiring to make a call takes down his +receiver, and this causes a lamp to light in front of an operator. The +operator presses a button and is in telephonic communication with the +subscriber. Receiving the number desired, the operator sets it up on a +keyboard in just about the same way that a typist will set up the +letters of a short word on a typewriting machine. The setting up of the +number on the keyboard being accomplished, the proper condition of +control of the associated automatic apparatus at the central office is +established and the operator has no further connection with the call. +The automatic switching apparatus guided by the conditions set up on the +operator's keyboard proceeds to make the proper selection of trunks and +to establish the proper connections through them to build up a talking +circuit between the calling subscriber and the called and to ring the +called subscriber's bell, or, if his line is found busy, the apparatus +refuses to connect with it and sends a busy signal back to the calling +subscriber. The operator performs no work in disconnecting the +subscribers, that being automatically taken care of when they hang up +their receivers at the close of the conversation. + +From the foregoing it will be seen that there is this fundamental +difference between the automatic and the automanual--the automatic +system dispenses entirely with the central-office operator for all +ordinary switching functions; the automanual employs operators but +attempts to so facilitate their work that they may handle very many more +calls than would be possible in a manual system, and at the same time +secures the advantages of secrecy which the automatic system secures to +its subscribers. + +=Subscriber's Apparatus.= One of the main points in the controversy +concerning automatic _versus_ manual systems is whether or not it is +desirable to have the subscriber ask for his connection or to have him +make certain simple movements with his fingers which will lead to his +securing it. The developers of the automanual system have taken the +position that the most desirable way, so far as the subscriber is +concerned, is to let him ask for it. It is probable that this point +will not be a deciding one in the choice of future systems, since it +already seems to be proven that the subscribers in automatic systems are +willing to go through the necessary movements to mechanically set up the +call. The advantage which the automanual system shares with the manual, +however, in the greater simplicity of its subscriber's station +apparatus, cannot be gainsaid. + +[Illustration: Fig. 405. Operators' Key Tables] + +[Illustration: Fig. 406. Top View of Key Table] + +=Operator's Equipment.= The general form of the operator's equipment is +shown in Fig. 405. A closer view of the top of one of the key tables is +shown in Fig. 406. As will be seen, the equipment on each operator's +position consists of three separate sets of push-button keys closely +resembling in external appearance the keys of a typewriter or adding +machine. Immediately above each set of keys are the signal lamps +belonging to that set. + +The operator's keys are arranged in strips of ten, placed _across_ +rather than _lengthwise_ on the key shelf. One of these strips is shown +in Fig. 407. There are as many strips of keys in each set as there are +digits in the subscribers' numbers, _i. e._, three in a system having a +capacity of less than one thousand; four in a system of less than ten +thousand; and so on. In addition to the number keys of each set is a +partial row of keys, including what is called a _starting key_ and also +keys for making the party-line selection. + +[Illustration: Fig. 407. Strip of Selecting Keys] + +[Illustration: Fig. 408. Wiring of Key Shelf] + +The simplicity of the operator's key equipment is one of its attractive +features. Fig. 408 shows one of the key shelves opened so as to expose +to view all of the apparatus and wiring that is placed before the +operator. The reason for providing more than one key set on each +operator's position is, that after a call has been set up on one key +set, a few seconds is required before the automatic apparatus controlled +by the key set can do its work and release the key set ready for another +call. The provision of more than one key set makes it possible for the +operator to start setting up another call on another key set without +waiting for the first to be released by the automatic apparatus. + +[Illustration: Fig. 409. Switch Room of Automanual Central Office] + +=Automatic Switching Equipment.= A general view of the arrangement of +automatic switches in an exchange established by the North Electric +Company at Ashtabula, Ohio, is shown in Fig. 409. The desk in the +foreground is that of the wire chief. This automatic apparatus consists +largely of relays and automatic selecting switches. The switches are of +the step-by-step type, having vertical and rotary movements, and an idea +of one of them, minus its contact banks, is given in Fig. 410. The +control of the automatic switches by the operator's key sets is through +the medium of a power-driven, impulse-sending machine. From this machine +impulses are taken corresponding to the numbers of the keys depressed. + +[Illustration: Fig. 410. Selecting Switch] + +=Automatic Distribution of Calls.= A feature of great interest in this +system is the manner in which the incoming calls are distributed among +the operators. From each key set an operator's trunk is extended to what +is called a secondary selector switch, through which it may be connected +to a primary selector trunk and calling line. When a subscriber calls by +taking down his receiver, his line relay pulls up and causes a primary +selector switch to connect his line with an idle local trunk or link +circuit, at the same time starting up a secondary selector switch which +immediately connects the primary trunk and the calling line to an +operator's idle key set. If an operator is at the time engaged in +setting up a call on a key set, or if that key set is still acting to +control the sending of impulses to the automatic switches, it may be +said to be busy, and it is not selected by this preliminary selecting +apparatus in response to an incoming call. As soon, however, as the +necessary impulses have been taken from the key set by the automatic +apparatus, that key set is released and is again ready to receive a +call. In this way the calls come before each operator only as that +operator is able and ready to receive them. + +=Setting up a Connection.= As soon as the key-set lamp lights, in +response to such an incoming call, the operator presses a listening +button, receives the number from the subscriber, and depresses the +corresponding number buttons on that key set, thereby determining the +numbers in each of the series of impulses to be sent to the selector and +the connector switches to make the desired connection. The operator +repeats this number to the calling subscriber as she sets it up, and +then presses the starting button, whereupon her work is done so far as +that call is concerned. If, upon repeating the call to the subscriber, +the operator finds that she is in error, she may change the number set +up at any time before she has pressed the starting button. + +=Building up a Connection.= The keys so set up determine the number of +impulses that will be transmitted by the impulse-sending machine to the +selector and the connector switches. These switches, impelled by these +impulses, establish the connection if the line called for is not already +connected to. If a party-line station is called for, the proper station +on it will be selectively rung as determined by the party-line key +depressed by the operator. If the line is found busy, the connector +switch refuses to make the connection and places a busy-back signal on +the calling line. + +=Speed in Handling Calls.= This necessarily brief outline gives an idea +only of the more striking features of the automanual system. A study of +the rapidity with which calls may be handled in actual practice shows +remarkable results as compared with manual methods of operating. The +operators set up the number keys corresponding to a called number with +the same rapidity that the keys of a typewriter are pressed in spelling +a word. In fact, even greater speed is possible, since it is noticed +that the operators frequently will depress all of the keys of a number +at once, as by a single striking movement of the fingers. The rapidity +with which this is done defies accurate timing by a stop watch in the +hands of an expert. It is practically true, therefore, that the time +consumed by the operator in handling any one call is that which is taken +in getting the number from the subscriber and in repeating it back to +him. + +TABLE XI + +Total Time Consumed by Operator in Handling Calls on Automanual System + + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + | First 100 Calls | + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + |Longest Individual Period 12.40 seconds | + |Average five longest Individual Periods 7.44 seconds | + |Average ten longest Individual Periods 6.34 seconds | + |Shortest Individual Period 1.60 seconds | + |Average five shortest Individual Periods 1.92 seconds | + |Average ten shortest Individual Periods 1.96 seconds | + |Average Entire 100 Calls 3.396 seconds | + |Hourly Rate at which calls were being handled 1060 | + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + | Second 100 Calls | + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + |Longest Individual Period 7.60 seconds | + |Average five longest Individual Periods 5.52 seconds | + |Average ten longest Individual Periods 5.34 seconds | + |Shortest Individual Period 2.00 seconds | + |Average five shortest Individual Periods 2.04 seconds | + |Average ten shortest Individual Periods 2.18 seconds | + |Average Entire 100 Calls 3.374 seconds | + |Hourly Rate at which calls were being handled 1067 | + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + | Third 100 Calls | + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + |Longest Individual Period 5.40 seconds | + |Average five longest Individual Periods 5.32 seconds | + |Average ten longest Individual Periods 4.44 seconds | + |Shortest Individual Period 1.60 seconds | + |Average five shortest Individual Periods 1.65 seconds | + |Average ten shortest Individual Periods 1.80 seconds | + |Average Entire 100 Calls 3.160 seconds | + |Hourly Rate at which calls were being handled 1139 | + +-----------------------------------------------------------------+ + +Owing to the difficulty of securing accurate traffic data by means of a +stop watch, an automatic, electrical timing device, capable of +registering seconds and hundredths of a second, has been used in +studying the performance of this system in regular operation at +Ashtabula Harbor. The operators were not informed that the records were +being taken, and the data tabulated represents the work of two operators +in handling regular subscribers' calls. The figures in Table XI are +given by C. H. North as representing the total time consumed by the +operator from the time her line lamp was lighted until her work in +connection with the call was finished, and it included, therefore, the +pressing of the listening button, the receiving of the number from the +subscriber, repeating it back to him, setting up the connection on the +keys, and pressing the starting key. + +It will be seen that the average time for each 100 calls is quite +uniform and is slightly over three seconds. The considerable variation +in the individual calls, ranging from a maximum of 12.40 seconds down to +a minimum of 1.60 seconds, is due almost entirely to the difference +between the subscribers in the speed with which they can give their +numbers. These figures indicate that, in each of the tests, calls were +being handled at the rate of more than one thousand per hour by each +operator. + +The test of the subscriber's waiting time, _i. e._, the time that he +waited for the operator to answer, for one hundred calls made without +the knowledge of the operator, showed the results as given in Table XII, +in which a split second stop watch was used in making the observations. + +TABLE XII + +Subscribers' Waiting Time + + +----------------------------------------------------------+ + |Number of Calls Tested 100 | + |Longest Individual Period 5.20 seconds | + |Average 5 Longest Individual Periods 4.64 seconds | + |Average 10 Longest Individual Periods 3.80 seconds | + |Shortest Individual Period 1.00 seconds | + |Average 5 Shortest Individual Periods 1.28 seconds | + |Average 10 Shortest Individual Periods 1.34 seconds | + |Average Entire 100 Calls 2.07 seconds | + +----------------------------------------------------------+ + +The length of time which the subscriber has to wait before receiving an +answer from the operator is, of course, one of the factors that enters +into the giving of good telephone service, and the times shown by this +test are considerably shorter than ordinarily maintained in manual +practice. The waiting time of the subscriber is not, of course, a part +of the time that is consumed by the operator, and the real economy so +far as the operator's time is concerned is shown in the tests recorded +in Table XI. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXII + +POWER PLANTS + + +The power plant is an organization of devices to furnish to a telephone +system the several kinds of current, at proper pressures, for the +performance of the several general electrical tasks within the exchange. + +=Kinds of Currents Employed.= Sources of both direct and alternating +current are required and a single exchange may employ these for one or +more of the following purposes: + +_Direct Current._ Current which flows always in one direction whether +steady or varying, is referred to as direct current, and may be required +for transmitters, for relays, for line, supervisory, and auxiliary +signals, for busy tests, for automatic switches, for call registers, for +telegraphy, and in the form of pulsating current for the ringing of +biased bells. + +_Alternating Current._ Sources of alternating current are required for +the ringing of bells, for busy-back and other automatic signals to +subscribers, for howler signals to attract the attention of subscribers +who have left their receivers off their hooks, and for signaling over +composite lines. + +=Types of Power Plants.= Clearly the requirements for current supply +differ greatly for magneto and common-battery systems. There is, +however, no great difference between the power plants required for the +automatic and the manual common-battery systems. + +In the simplest form of telephone system--two magneto telephones on a +private line--the power plant at each station consists of two elements: +one, the magneto generator, which is a translating device for turning +hand power into alternating current for ringing the bell of the distant +station; and the other, a primary battery which furnishes current to +energize the transmitter. In such a system, therefore, each telephone +has its own power plant. The term power plant, however, as commonly +employed in telephone work, refers more particularly to the organization +of devices at the central office for furnishing the required kinds of +current, and it is to power plants in this sense that this chapter is +devoted. + +_Magneto Systems._ If magneto lines be connected to a switchboard, the +current for throwing the drop at the switchboard is furnished by the +subscriber's generator, and the current for energizing the subscriber's +transmitter is furnished by the local battery at his station; but +sources of current must be provided for enabling the central-office +operator to signal or talk to the subscribers. These are about the only +needs for which current must be furnished in an ordinary magneto central +office. If a multiple board is employed, direct current is also needed +for the purpose of the busy test and also for operating the drop +restoring circuits, if the electrical method of restoring the drops is +employed. + +_Common-Battery Systems._ In common-battery systems the requirements are +very much more extensive. The subscribers' telephones have no power +plants of their own, but are provided with a common source of direct +current located at the central office for supplying the talking current, +and for operating the central-office signals, and the operators are +provided with one or more common sources of alternating or pulsating +current for ringing the subscribers' bells. Common-battery equipment +requires the use of currents of different kinds for a greater number of +auxiliary purposes than does magneto equipment. These facts make the +power plant in a common-battery office much more important than in a +magneto office. + +=Operators' Transmitter Supply.= In a small magneto exchange, the +transmitter current may be had from primary batteries, a separate +battery being employed for each operator's set. When there are more than +three or four operators, however, it is usual, even in magneto offices, +to obtain the transmitter current from a common storage battery. A +storage battery has the fortunate quality of very low internal +resistance, therefore a number of operators' transmitters may be +actuated by one source without introducing cross-talk. In other words, a +storage battery is a current-furnishing device of good regulation, the +variation of consumption in one circuit leading from it causing slight +variation in the currents of other circuits leading from it. If this +were not so, cross-talk would exist between the telephones of the +operators' positions connected to the same battery. This regulating +quality enables the multiple feeding of telephone circuits to be carried +further than the mere supplying of operators' sets and is the quality +which makes possible the successful use of a storage battery as the +single source of transmitter current for common-battery central-office +equipment. + +In furnishing a plurality of operators' transmitters from a common +battery, the importance of low resistance and inductance in the portion +of the path that is common to all of the circuits must not be +overlooked. Not only is a battery of extremely low resistance required, +but also conductors leading from it that are common to two or more of +the circuits should be of very low resistance and consequently large in +cross-section and as short as possible. In common-battery offices there +is obviously no need of employing a separate battery for the operators' +transmitters, since they may readily be supplied from the common storage +battery which supplies direct current to the subscribers' lines. + +=Ringing-Current Supply.= _Magneto Generators._ As a central-office +equipment is required to ring many subscribers' bells, only the small +ones find it convenient to ring them by means of hand-operated magneto +generators. Small magneto switchboards are usually equipped so that each +operator is provided with a hand-generator, but even where such is the +case some source of ringing current not manually operated is desirable. +In larger switchboards the hand generators are entirely dispensed with. + +The magneto generator may be driven by a belt from any convenient +constantly moving pulley, and the early telephone exchanges were often +equipped with such generators having better bearings and more current +capacity than those in magneto telephones. These were adapted to be run +constantly from some source of power, delivering ringing current to the +operators' keyboards at from 16 to 20 cycles per second. + +_Pole Changers._ Vibrating pole changers were also used in the early +exchanges, but passed out of use, partly because of poor design, but +more because of the absence of good forms of primary batteries for +vibrating them and for furnishing the direct currents to be transformed +into alternating line current for ringing the bells. The pole changer +was redesigned after the beginning of the great spread of telephony in +the United States in 1893. Today it is firmly established as an element +of good telephone practice. Fig. 411 illustrates the principle upon +which one of the well-known pole changers--the Warner--operates. In +this _1_ is an electromagnet supplied by a constant-current battery _2_ +to keep the vibratory system continually in motion. This motor magnet +and its battery work in a local circuit and cause vibration in exactly +the same manner as the armature of an ordinary electric door bell is +caused to vibrate. The battery from which the ringing current is derived +is indicated at _3_, and the poles of this are connected, respectively, +to the vibrating contacts _4_ and _5_. These contacts are merely the +moving members of a pole changing switch, and a study of the action will +readily show that when these moving parts engage the right-hand +contacts, current will flow to the line supposed to be connected to the +terminals _6_ and _7_ in one direction, while, when these parts engage +the left-hand contacts, current will flow to the line in the reverse +direction. The circuit of the condenser shown is controlled by the +armature of the relay _8_. + +The winding of this relay is put directly in the circuit of the main +battery _3_, so that whenever current is drawn from this battery to ring +a distant bell, this relay will be operated and will bridge the +condenser across the circuit of the line. The purpose of the condenser +is to make the impulses flowing from the pole changer less abrupt, and +the reason for having its bridged circuit normally broken is to prevent +a waste of current from the battery _3_, due to the energy which would +otherwise be consumed by the condenser if it were left permanently +across the line. + +[Illustration: Fig. 411. Warner Pole Changer] + +[Illustration: Fig. 412. Pole Changers for Harmonic Ringing] + +Pole changers for ringing bells of harmonic party lines are required to +produce alternating currents of practically constant frequencies. The +ideal arrangement is to cause the direct currents from a storage battery +to be alternated by means of the pole changers, and then transformed +into higher voltages required for ringing purposes, the transformer +also serving to smooth the current wave, making it more suitable for +ringing purposes. In Fig. 412 such an arrangement, adapted to develop +currents for harmonic ringing on party lines, is shown. The regular +common battery of the central office is indicated at _1_, _2_ being an +auxiliary battery of dry cells, the purpose of which will be presently +referred to. At the right of the battery _1_ there is shown the calling +plug with its associated party-line ringing keys adapted to impress the +several frequencies on the subscribers' lines. The method by which the +current from the main storage battery passes through the motor magnets +of the several vibrators, and by which the primary currents through the +transformers are made to alternate at the respective frequencies of +these vibrators, will be obvious from the drawing. It is also clear that +the secondary currents developed in these transformers are led to the +several ringing keys so as to be available for connection with the +subscribers' lines at the will of the operator. The condensers are +bridged across the primary windings of the transformers for the purpose +of aiding in smoothing out the current waves. The use of the auxiliary +battery _2_ and the retardation coil _3_ in the main supply lead is for +the purpose of preventing the pulsating currents drawn from the main +battery _1_ from making the battery "noisy." These two batteries have +like poles connected to the supply lead, and the auxiliary battery +furnishes no current to the system except when the electromotive force +of the impulse flowing from the main battery is choked down by the +impedance coil and the deficiency is then momentarily supplied for each +wave by the auxiliary battery. This is the method developed by the Dean +Electric Company for preventing the pole-changer system from causing +disturbances on lines supplied from the same main battery. + +[Illustration: Fig. 413. Multi-Cyclic Generator Set] + +_Ringing Dynamos._ Alternating and pulsating currents for ringing +purposes are also largely furnished from alternating-current dynamos +similar to those used in commercial power and lighting work, but +specially designed to produce ringing currents of proper frequency and +voltage. These are usually driven by electric motors deriving their +current either from the commercial supply mains or from the +central-office battery. In large exchanges harmonic ringers are usually +operated by alternating-current generators driven by motors, a separate +dynamo being provided to furnish the current of each frequency. Fig. 413 +shows a set of four such generators directly connected to a common +motor. As no source of commercial power for driving such generators is +absolutely uniform, and since the frequency of the ringing current must +remain very close to a constant predetermined rate, some means must be +employed for holding the generators at a constant speed of revolution, +and this is done by means of a governor shown at the right-hand end of +the shaft in Fig. 413. The principle of this governor is shown in Fig. +414. A weighted spring acts, by centrifugal force, to make a contact +against an adjustable screw, when the speed of the shaft rises a +predetermined amount. This spring and its contact are connected to two +collector rings _1_ and _2_ on the motor shaft, and connection is made +with these by the brushes _3_ and _4_. The closing of the governor +contact serves, therefore, merely to short-circuit the resistance _5_, +which is normally included in the shunt field of the motor. This +governor is based on the principle that weakening the field increases +the speed. It acts to insert the resistance in series with the field +winding when the speed falls, and this, in turn, results in restoring +the speed to normal. + +[Illustration: Fig. 414. Governor for Harmonic Ringing Generators] + +=Auxiliary Signaling Currents.= Alternating currents, such as those +employed for busy signals to subscribers in automatic systems, those for +causing loud tones in receivers which have been left off the hook +switch, and those for producing loud tones in calling receivers +connected to composite lines, all need to be of much higher frequency +than alternating current for ringing bells. The simplest way of +producing such tones is by means of an interrupter like that of a +vibrating bell; but this is not the most reliable way and it is usual to +produce busy or "busy-back" currents by rotating commutators to +interrupt a steady current at the required rate. As the usual busy-back +signal is a series of recurrent tones about one-half second long, +interspersed with periods of silence, the rapidly commuted direct +current is required to be further commuted at a slow rate, and this is +conveniently done by associating a high-speed commutator with a +low-speed one. Such an arrangement may be seen at the left-hand end of +the multicyclic alternating machine shown in Fig. 413. This commuting +device is usually associated with the ringing machine because that is +the one thing about a central office that is available for imparting +continuous rotary motion. + +=Primary Sources.= Most telephone power plants consume commercial +electric power and deliver special electric current. Usually some +translating device, such as a motor-generator or a mercury-arc +rectifier, is employed to transform the commercial current into the +specialized current required for the immediate uses of the exchange. + +_Charging from Direct-Current Mains._ In some cases commercial direct +current is used to charge the storage batteries without the intervention +of the translating devices, resistances being used in series with the +battery to regulate the amount of current. Commercial direct current +usually is available at pressures from 110 volts and upward, while +telephone power plants contain storage batteries rarely of pressures +higher than 50 volts. To charge a 50-volt storage battery direct from +110-volt mains results in the loss of about half the energy purchased, +this lost energy being set free in the form of heat generated in the +resistance devices. Notwithstanding this, it is sometimes economical to +charge directly from the commercial direct-current power mains, but only +in small offices where the total amount of current consumed is not large +and where the greatest simplicity in equipment is desirable. It is +better, however, in nearly all cases, to convert the purchased power +from the received voltage to the required voltage by some form of +translating device, such as a rotary converter or a mercury-arc +rectifier. + +_Rotary Converters._ Broadly speaking, a rotary converter consists of a +motor adapted to the voltage and kind of current received, mechanically +coupled to a generator adapted to produce current of the required kind +and voltage. The harmonic ringing machine shown in Fig. 413 is an +example of this, this particular one being adapted to receive direct +current at ordinary commercial pressure and to deliver four different +alternating currents of suitable pressures and frequencies. It is to be +understood, however, that the conversion may be from direct current to +direct current, from alternating to direct, or from direct to +alternating. Such a device where the motor is a separate and distinct +machine from the generator or generators is called a _motor-generator_. +It is usual to connect the motors and the generators together directly +by a coupling having some flexibility, as shown in Fig. 413, so as to +prevent undue friction in the bearings. + +[Illustration: THE POWER AND WIRE CHIEF'S ROOM OF THE EXCHANGE AT WEBB +CITY, MISSOURI] + +As an alternative to the converting device made up of a motor coupled to +a generator, both motor and generator windings may be combined on the +same core and rotate within the same field. Such a rotary converter has +been called a _dynamotor_. As a rule the dynamotor is only suitable for +small power-plant work. It has the following objectionable features: +(_a_) It is difficult to regulate its output, since the same field +serves for both the motor and the dynamo windings. For this reason its +main use is as a ringing machine where the regulation of the output is +not an important factor. (_b_) Furthermore, the fact that the motor and +dynamo armature windings are on the same core makes it difficult to +guard against breakdowns of the insulation between the two windings, +especially when the driving current is of high voltage. + +_Charging Dynamos._ The dynamo for charging the storage battery is, of +course, a direct-current machine and may be a part of a motor generator +or it may derive its power from some other than an electric motor, such +as a gas or steam engine. It should be able to develop a voltage +slightly above that of the voltage of the storage battery when at its +maximum charge, so as always to be able to deliver current to the +charging battery regardless of the state of charge. A 30-volt generator, +for example, can charge eleven cells in series economically; a 60-volt +generator can charge twenty-five cells in series economically. + +Battery-charging generators are controlled as to their output by varying +a resistance in series with their fields. Such machines are usually +shunt-wound. Sometimes they are compound-wound, but compounding is less +important in telephone generators than in some other uses. A feature of +great importance in the design of charging generators is smoothness of +current. If it were possible to design generators to produce absolutely +even or smooth current, the storage battery would not be such an +essential feature to common-battery exchanges, because then the +generator might deliver its current directly to the bus bars of the +office without any storage-battery connection and without causing noise +on the lines. Such generators have been built in small units. Even if +these smooth current generators were commercially developed to a degree +to produce absolutely no noise on the lines, the storage battery would +still be used, since its action as a reservoir for electrical energy is +important. It not only dispenses with the necessity of running the +generators continuously, but it also affords a safeguard against +breakdowns which is one of its important uses. + +The ability to carry the load of a central office directly on the +charging generator without the use of a storage battery is of no +importance except in an emergency which takes the storage battery wholly +out of service. Since the beginning of common-battery working such +emergencies have happened a negligible number of times. Far more +communities have lacked telephone service because of accidents beyond +human control than because of storage-battery failures. + +In power plants serving large offices, the demand upon the storage +battery is great enough to require large plate areas in each cell. The +internal resistance, therefore, is small and considerable fluctuations +may exist in the charging current without their being heard in the +talking circuits. The amount of noise to be heard depends also on the +type of charging generator. Increasing the number of armature coils and +commutator segments increases the smoothness of the charging current. +The shape of the generator pole pieces is also a factor in securing such +smoothness. + +If, with a given machine and storage battery, the talking circuits are +disturbed by the charging current, relief may be obtained by inserting a +large impedance in the charging circuit. This impedance requires to be +of low resistance, because whatever heat is developed in it is lost +energy. This means that the best conditions exist when the resistance is +low and the inductance large. These conditions are satisfied by using in +the impedance coil many turns of large wire and an ample iron core. + +Dynamotors are not generally suitable for charging purposes. Not only is +the difficulty in regulating their output a disadvantage, but the fact +that the primary and secondary windings are so closely associated on the +armature core makes them carry into the charging current, not only the +commutator noises of the generator end, but of the motor end as well. + +_Mercury-Arc Rectifiers._ In common-battery offices serving a few +hundred lines, and where the commercial supply is alternating current, +it is good practice to transform it into direct-battery charging current +by means of a mercury-arc rectifier. It is a device broadly similar to +the mercury-arc lamp produced by Peter Cooper Hewitt. It contains no +moving parts and operates at high efficiency without introducing noises +into the telephone lines. It requires little care and has good length of +life. + +[Illustration: Fig. 415. Mercury-Arc Rectifier Circuits] + +The circuit of a mercury-arc rectifier charging outfit is shown in Fig. +415. The mercury-arc rectifier proper consists of a glass bulb +containing vacuum and a small amount of mercury. When its terminals are +connected, as indicated--the two anodes across an alternating-current +source and the cathode with a circuit that is to be supplied with direct +current--this device has the peculiarity of action that current will +flow alternately from the two anodes always to the cathode and never +from it. The cathode, therefore, becomes a source of positive potential +and, as such, is used in charging the storage battery through the series +reactance coil and the compensating reactances, as indicated. The line +transformer shown at the upper portion of Fig. 415, is the one for +converting the high-potential alternating current to the comparatively +low-potential current required for the action of the rectifier. The +transformer below this has a one-to-one ratio, and is called the +insulating transformer. Its purpose is to safeguard the telephone +apparatus and circuits against abnormal potentials from the line, and +also to prevent the ground, which is commonly placed on the neutral wire +of transformers on commercial lighting circuits, from interfering with +the ground that is commonly placed on the positive pole of the +central-office battery. + +=Provision Against Breakdown.= In order to provide against breakdown of +service, a well-designed telephone power plant should have available +more than one primary source of power and more than one charging unit +and ringing unit. + +_Duplicate Primary Sources._ In large cities where the commercial power +service is highly developed and a breakdown of the generating station is +practically impossible, it is customary to depend on that service alone. +In order to insure against loss of power due to an accident to portions +of the distributing system, it is the common custom to run two entirely +separate power leads into the office, coming, if possible, from +different parts of the system so that a breakdown on one section will +not deprive the telephone exchange of primary power. In smaller places +where the commercial service is not so reliable, it is usual to provide, +in addition to the commercial electric-power service, an independent +source of power in the form of a gas or steam engine. This may be run as +a regular source, the commercial service being employed as an emergency +or _vice versā_, as economy may dictate. In providing a gas engine for +driving charging dynamos, it is important to obtain one having as good +regulation as possible, in order to obtain a charging current of +practically constant voltage. + +_Duplicate Charging Machines._ The storage batteries of telephone +exchanges are usually provided of sufficient capacity to supply the +direct-current needs of the office for twenty-four hours after a full +charge has been given them. This in itself is a strong safeguard against +breakdown. In addition to this the charging machines should be in +duplicate, so that a burnt-out armature or other damage to one of the +charging units will not disable the plant. + +_Duplicate Ringing Machines._ It is equally important that the ringing +machines, whether of the rotary or vibrating type, be in duplicate. For +large exchanges the ringing machines are usually dynamos, and it is not +unusual to have one of these driven from the commercial power mains and +the other from the storage battery. With this arrangement complete +failure of all sources of primary power would still leave the exchange +operative as long as sufficient charge remains in the storage battery. + +_Capacity of Power Units._ In designing telephone switchboards it is the +common practice to so design the frameworks that the space for multiple +jacks is in excess of that required for the original installation. In a +like manner, the power plant is also designed with a view of being +readily increased in capacity to an amount sufficient to provide current +for the ultimate number of subscribers' lines for which the switchboard +is designed. The motor generators, or whatever means are provided for +charging the storage batteries, are usually installed of sufficient size +to care for the ultimate requirements of the office. The ringing +machines are also provided for the ultimate equipment. However, in the +case of the storage battery, it is common practice to provide the +battery tanks of sufficient size to care for the ultimate capacity, +while the plates are installed for a capacity only slightly in excess of +that required for the original installation. As the equipment of +subscribers' lines is increased, additional plates may, therefore, be +added to the cells without replacing the storage battery as a whole, and +without making extraordinary provisions to prevent the interruption of +service. It is also customary to provide charging and supply leads from +the storage battery of carrying capacity sufficient for the ultimate +requirements of the office. + +=Storage Battery.= The storage battery is the power plant element which +has made common-battery systems possible. The common-battery system is +the element which has made the present wide development of telephony +possible. + +A storage-battery cell is an electro-chemical device in which a chemical +state is changed by the passage of current through the cell, this state +tending to revert when a current is allowed to flow in the opposite +direction. A storage cell consists of two conductors in a solution, the +nature and the relation of these three elements being such that when a +direct current is made to pass from one conductor to the other through +the solution, the compelled chemical change is proportional to the +product of the current and its duration. When the two conductors are +joined by a path over which current may flow, a current does flow in the +opposite direction to that which charged the cell. + +All storage batteries so far in extensive use in telephone systems are +composed of lead plates in a solution of sulphuric acid in water called +the _electrolyte_. In charging, the current tends to oxidize the lead of +one plate and de-oxidize the other. In discharging, the tendency is +toward equilibrium. + +The containers, employed in telephone work, for the plates and +electrolyte are either of glass or wood with a lead lining, the glass +jars being used for the smaller sized plates of small capacity cells, +while the lead-lined wooden tanks are employed with the larger capacity +cells. The potential of a cell is slightly over two volts and is +independent of the shape or size of the plates for a given type of +battery. The storage capacity of a cell is determined by the size and +the number of plates. Therefore, by increasing the number of plates and +the areas of their surfaces, the ampere-hour capacity of the cell is +correspondingly increased. The desired potential of the battery is +obtained by connecting the proper number of cells in series. +Storage-battery cells used in telephone work vary from 2 plates having +an area of 12 square inches each, to cells having over 50 plates, each +plate having an area of 240 square inches. The ampere-hour capacity of +these batteries varies from 6 ampere hours to 4,000 ampere hours, +respectively, when used at an average 8-hour discharge rate. In Fig. 416 +is illustrated a storage cell employing a glass container and having +fifteen plates. Each plate is 11 inches high and 10-1/2 inches wide, +with an area, therefore, of 115.5 square inches. Such a cell has a +normal capacity of 560 ampere hours. The type illustrated is one made by +the Electric Storage Battery Company of Philadelphia, Pa.[A] + +[Illustration: Fig. 416. Storage Cell] + +_Installation._ In installing the glass jars it is customary to place +them in trays partially filled with sand. They are, however, at times +installed on insulators so designed as to prevent moisture from causing +leakage between the cells. The cells using wooden tanks are placed on +glass or porcelain insulators, and the tanks are placed with enough +clearance between them to prevent the lead lining of adjacent tanks from +being in contact and thereby short-circuiting the cells. After the +positive and the negative plates have been installed in the tanks, their +respective terminals are connected to bus bars, these bus bars being, +for the small types of battery, lead-covered clamping bolts, while in +the larger types reinforced lead bus bars are employed, to which the +plates are securely joined by a process called lead burning. This +process consists in melting a portion of the bus bar and the terminal +lug of the plate by a flame of very high temperature, thus fusing each +individual plate to the proper bus bar. The plates of adjacent cells are +connected to the same bus bar, thus eliminating the necessity of any +other connection between the cells. + +_Initial Charge._ As soon as the plates have been installed in the tanks +and welded to the bus bars, the cell should be filled with electrolyte +having a specific gravity of 1.180 to 1.190 to one-half inch above the +tops of the plates and then the charge should be immediately started at +about the normal rate. In the case of a battery consisting of cells of +large capacity, it is customary to place the electrolyte in the cells as +nearly simultaneously as possible rather than to completely fill the +cells in consecutive order. When the electrolyte is placed in the cells +simultaneously, the charge is started at a very much reduced rate before +the cells are completely filled, the rate being increased as the cells +are filled, the normal rate of charge being reached when the cells are +completely filled. Readings should be taken hourly of the specific +gravity and temperature of the electrolyte, voltage of the cells, and +amperage of charging current. A record or log should be kept of the +specific gravity and voltage of each of the cells of the battery +regularly during the life of the battery and it is well to commence this +record with the initial charge. + +The initial charge should be maintained for at least ten hours after the +time when the voltage and specific gravity have reached a maximum. If +for any reason it is impractical to continue the initial charge +uninterrupted, the first period of charging should be at least from +twelve to fifteen hours. However, every effort should be made to have +the initial charge continuous, as an interruption tends to increase the +time necessary for the initial charge, and if the time be too long +between the periods of the initial charge, the efficiency and capacity +of the cells are liable to be affected. In case of a large battery, +precaution should be taken to insure that the ventilation is +exceptionally good, because if it is not good the temperature is liable +to increase considerably and thereby cause an undue amount of +evaporation from the cells. + +The object of the temperature readings taken during the charge is to +enable corrections to be made to the specific gravity readings as +obtained by the hydrometer, in order that the correct specific gravity +may be ascertained. This correction is made by adding .001 specific +gravity for each three degrees in temperature above 70° Fahrenheit, or +subtracting the same amount for each three degrees below 70° Fahrenheit. +At the time the cells begin to gas they should be gone over carefully to +see that they gas evenly, and also to detect and remedy early in the +charging period any defects which may exist. If there is any doubt in +regard to the time at which the cells reach a maximum voltage and +specific gravity, the charge should be continued sufficiently long +before the last ten hours of the charge are commenced to eliminate any +such doubt, as in many cases poor efficiency and low capacity of a cell +later in its life may be traced to an insufficient initial charge. + +_Operation._ After the battery has been put in commission the periodic +charges should be carefully watched, as excessive charging causes +disintegration and decreases the life and capacity of the battery; +while, on the other hand, undercharging will result in sulphating of the +plates and decrease of capacity, and, if the undercharge be great, will +result in a disintegration of the plates. It is, therefore, essential +that the battery be charged regularly and at the rate specified for the +particular battery in question. In order to minimize the chance of +either continuously overcharging or undercharging the battery, the +charges are divided into two classes, namely, regular charges and +overcharges. The regular charges are the periodic charges for the +purpose of restoring the capacity of the battery after discharge. The +overcharges, which should occur once a week or once in every two weeks, +according to the use of the battery, are for the purpose of insuring +that all cells have received their proper charge, for reducing such +sulphating as may have occurred on cells undercharged, and for keeping +the plates, in general, in a healthy condition. The specific gravity of +the electrolyte, the voltage of the battery, and the amount of gasing +observed are all indications of the amount of charge which the battery +has received and should all be considered when practicable. Either the +specific gravity or voltage may be used as the routine method of +determining the proper charge, but, however, if the proper charge is +determined by the voltage readings, this should be frequently checked by +the specific gravity, and _vice versā_. + +During the charging and discharging of a battery the level of the +electrolyte in the cells will fall. As the portion of the electrolyte +which is evaporated is mainly water, the electrolyte may be readily +restored to its normal level by adding distilled water or carefully +collected rain water. + +_Pilot Cell._ As the specific gravity of all the cells of a battery, +after having once been properly adjusted, will vary the same in all the +cells during use, it has been found satisfactory to use one cell, +commonly termed the pilot cell, for taking the regular specific gravity +readings and only reading the specific gravity of all the cells +occasionally or on the overcharge. This cell must be representative of +all the cells of the battery, and if the battery is so subdivided in use +that several sets of cells are liable to receive different usage, a +pilot cell should be selected for each group. + +_Overcharge._ If the battery is charged daily, it should receive an +overcharge once a week, or if charged less frequently, an overcharge +should be given at least once every two weeks. In making an overcharge +this should be done at a constant rate and at a rate specified for the +battery. During the overcharge the voltage of the battery and the +specific gravity of the pilot cell should be taken every fifteen minutes +from the time the gasing begins. The charge should be continued until +five consecutive, specific-gravity readings are practically the same. +The voltage of the battery should not increase during the last hour of +the charge. + +As the principal object of the overcharge is to insure that all of the +cells have received the proper charge, it must, therefore, be continued +long enough to not only properly charge the most efficient cells, but +also to properly charge those which are lower in efficiency. The longer +the interval between overcharges, the greater will be the variation +between the cells and, therefore, it is necessary to continue the +overcharge longer when the interval between overcharges is as great as +two weeks. Before the overcharge is made the cells should be carefully +inspected for short circuits and other abnormal conditions. These +inspections may best be made by submerging an electric lamp in the cell, +if the cell be of wood, or of allowing it to shine through from the +outside, if it be of glass. By this means any foreign material may be +readily detected and removed before serious damage is caused. In making +these inspections it must be borne in mind that whatever tools or +implements are used must be non-metallic and of some insulating +material. + +_Regular Charge._ Regular charges are the periodic charges for restoring +the capacity of the battery, and should be made as frequently as the use +of the battery demands. The voltage of the cells is a good guide for +determining when the battery should be recharged. The voltage of a cell +should never be allowed to drop below 1.8 volts, and it is usually +considered better practice to recharge when the battery has reached 1.9 +volts. If a battery is to remain idle for even a short time, it should +be left in a completely charged condition. + +The regular charges for cells completely equipped with plates should be +continued until the specific gravity of the pilot cell has risen to five +points below the maximum attained on the preceding overcharge, or, if +only partially equipped with plates, until it has risen to three points +below the previous maximum. The voltage per cell at this time should be +from .05 volts to .1 volts below that obtained on the previous +overcharge. At this time all the cells should be gasing, but not as +freely as on an overcharge. + +_Low Cells._ An unhealthy condition in a cell usually manifests itself +in one of the following ways: Falling off in specific gravity or voltage +relative to the rest of the cells, lack of gasing when charged, and +color of the plates, either noticeably lighter or darker than those of +other cells of the battery. When any of the above conditions are found +in a cell, the cell should receive immediate attention, as a delay may +mean serious trouble. The cell should be thoroughly inspected to +determine if a short-circuit exists, either caused by some foreign +substance, by an excess of sediment in the bottom of the tank, or by +portions of the plates themselves. If such a condition is found, the +cause should be immediately removed and, if the defect has been of short +duration, the next overcharge will probably restore it to normal +condition. If the defect has existed for some time, it is often +necessary to give the cell a separate charge. This may be done by +connecting it directly to the charging generator with temporary leads +and thus bring it back to its normal condition. It is sometimes found +necessary to replace the cell in order to restore the battery to its +normal condition. + +_Sediment._ The cells of the battery should be carefully watched to +prevent the sediment which collects in the bottom of the jar or tank +during use from reaching the bottom of the plates, thereby causing short +circuits between them. When the sediment in the cell has reached within +one-half inch of the bottom of the plates, it should be removed at once. +With small cells using glass jars this can most easily be done directly +after an overcharge by carefully drawing off the electrolyte without +disturbing the sediment and then removing it from the jar. The plates +and electrolyte should be replaced in the jar as soon as convenient to +prevent the plates from becoming dry. If the plates are large and in +wooden tanks, the sediment can most easily be removed by means of a +scoop made especially for the purpose. The preferable time to clean the +tanks is just before an overcharge. + +_Replacing Batteries._ There comes a time in the life of nearly every +central-office equipment when the storage battery must be completely +renewed. This is due to the fact that the life of even the best of +storage batteries is not as great as the life of the average switchboard +equipment. It may also be due to the necessity for greater capacity than +can be secured with the existing battery tanks, usually caused by +underestimating the traffic the office will be required to handle. +Again, it is sometimes necessary to make extensive alterations in an +existing battery, perhaps due to the necessity for changing its +location. To change a battery one cell at a time, keeping the others in +commission meanwhile, has often been done, but it is always expensive +and unsatisfactory and is likely to shorten the life of the battery, due +to improper and irregular forming of the plates during the initial +charge. The advent of the electric automobile industry has brought with +it a convenient means for overcoming this difficulty. Portable storage +cells for automobile use are available in almost every locality and may +often be rented at small cost. A sufficient number of such cells may be +temporarily installed, enough of them being placed in multiple to give +the necessary output. By floating a temporary battery so formed across +the charging mains and running the generators continuously, a temporary +source of current supply may be had at small expense for running the +exchange during the period required for alterations. Usually a time of +low traffic is chosen for making the changes, such as from Saturday +evening to Monday morning. Very large central-office batteries, serving +as many as 6,000 lines, have thus been taken out of service and replaced +without interfering with the traffic and with the use of but a +comparatively few portable cells. One precaution has to be observed in +such work, and that is not to subject the portable cells to too great an +overcharge, due to the great excess of generator over battery capacity. +This is easily avoided by watching the ammeters to see that the input is +not in too great excess of the output, and if necessary, by frequently +stopping the machines to avoid this. + +=Power Switchboard.= The clearing-house of the telephone power plant is +the power board. In most cases, it carries switches, meters, and +protective devices. + +_Switches._ The switches most essential are those for opening and +closing the motor and the generator circuits of the charging sets and +with these usually are associated the starting rheostats of the motors +and the field rheostats of the generators. The starting rheostats are +adapted to allow resistance to be removed from the motor armature +circuit, allowing the armature to gain speed and increase its +counter-electromotive force without overheating. The accepted type has +means for opening the driving circuit automatically in case its voltage +should fall, thus preventing a temporary interruption of driving current +from damaging the motor armature on its return to normal voltage. + +[Illustration: Fig. 417. Power-Plant Circuits] + +_Meters._ The meters usually are voltmeters and ammeters, the former +being adapted to read the several voltages of direct currents in the +power plant. An important one to be known is the voltage of the +generator before beginning a battery charge, so that the generator may +not be thrown on the storage battery while generating a voltage less +than that of the battery. If this were done, the battery would discharge +through the generator armature. The voltmeter enables the voltage of the +charging generator to be kept above that of the battery, as the latter +rises during charge. It enables the performance of several cells of the +battery to be observed. A convenient way is to connect the terminals of +the several cells to jacks on the power board and to terminate the +voltmeter in a plug. + +The ammeter, with suitable connections, enables the battery-charge rate +to be kept normal and the battery discharge to be observed. In order to +economize power, it is best to charge the battery during the hours of +heavy load. The generator output then divides, the switchboard taking +what the load requires, the battery receiving the remainder. + +In systems requiring the terminal voltage of the equipment to be kept +constant within close limits, either it is necessary to use two +batteries--never drawing current from a battery during charge--or to +provide means of compensating for the rise of voltage while the battery +is under charge. The latter is the more modern method and is done either +by using fewer cells when the voltage per cell is higher or by inserting +counter-electromotive force cells in the discharge leads, opposing the +discharge by more or fewer cells as the voltage of the battery is +higher or lower. In either method, switches on the power board enable +the insertion and removal of the necessary end cells or +counter-electromotive force cells. + +_Protective Devices._ The protective devices required on a power board +are principally _circuit-breakers_ and _fuses_. Circuit-breakers are +adapted to open motor and generator circuits when their currents are too +great, too small, or in the wrong direction. Fuses are adapted to open +circuits when the currents in them are too great. The best type is that +in which the operation of the fuses sounds or shows an alarm, or both. + +=Power-Plant Circuits.= The circuit arrangement of central-office power +plants is subject to wide variation according to conditions. The type of +telephone switchboard equipment, whether magneto or common-battery, +automatic or manual, will, of course, largely affect the circuit +arrangement of the power plant. Fig. 417 shows a typical example of good +practice in this respect for use with a common-battery manual +switchboard equipment. Besides showing the switches for handling the +various machines and the charge-and-discharge leads from the storage +battery, this diagram shows how current from the storage battery is +delivered to various parts of the central-office equipment. + +[Footnote A: The instructions given later in this chapter are for +batteries of this make, although they are applicable in many respects to +all types commonly used in telephone work.] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIII + +HOUSING CENTRAL-OFFICE EQUIPMENT + + +=The Central-Office Building.= Proper arrangement of the central-office +equipment depends largely upon the design of the central-office +building. The problem involved should not be solved by the architect +alone. The most careful co-operation between the engineer and the +architect is necessary in order that the various parts of the telephonic +equipment may be properly related, and that the wires connecting them +with each other and with the outside lines be disposed of with due +regard to safety, economy, and convenience. So many factors enter into +the design of a central-office building that it is impossible to lay +down more than the most general rules. The attainment of an ideal is +often impossible, because of the fact that the building is usually in +congested districts, and its very shape and size must be governed by the +lot on which it is built, and by the immediate surroundings. Frequently, +also, the building must be used for other purposes than those of a +telephone office, so that the several purposes must be considered in its +design. Again, old buildings, designed for other purposes, must +sometimes be altered to meet the requirements of a telephone office, and +this is perhaps the most difficult problem of all. + +The exterior of the building is a matter that may be largely decided by +the architect and owner after the general character of the building has +been determined. One important feature, however, and one that has been +overlooked in many cases that we know of, is to so arrange the building +that switchboard sections and other bulky portions of the apparatus, +which are necessarily assembled at the factory rather than on the site, +may be brought into the building without tearing down the walls. + +_Fire Hazard._ The apparatus to be housed in a central-office building +often represents a cost running into the hundreds of thousands of +dollars; but whether of large or small first cost, it is evident that +its destruction might incur a very much greater loss than that +represented by its replacement value. In guarding the central-office +equipment against destruction by fire or other causes, the telephone +company is concerned to a very much greater extent than the mere cost of +the physical property; since it is guarding the thing which makes it +possible to do business. While the cost of the central office and its +contents may be small in comparison with the total investment in outside +plant and other portions of the equipment, it is yet true that these +larger portions of the investment become useless with the loss of the +central office. + +There is another consideration, and that is the moral obligation of the +operating company to the public. A complete breakdown of telephone +service for any considerable period of time in a large city is in the +nature of a public calamity. + +For these reasons the safeguarding of the central office against damage +by fire and water should be in all cases a feature of fundamental +importance, and should influence not only the character of the building +itself, but in many cases the choice of its location. + +_Size of Building._ It goes without saying that the building must be +large enough to accommodate the switchboards and other apparatus that is +required to be installed. The requirement does not end here, however. +Telephone exchange systems have, with few exceptions, grown very much +faster than was expected when they were originally installed. Many +buildings have had to be abandoned because outgrown. In planning the +building, therefore, the engineer should always have in mind its +ultimate requirements. It is not always necessary that the building +shall be made large enough at the outset to take care of the ultimate +requirements, but where this is not done, the way should be left clear +for adding to it when necessity demands. + +[Illustration: RINGING AND CHARGING MACHINES AND POWER BOARD Plaza +Office, New York Telephone Co.] + +_Strength of Building._ The major portion of telephone central-office +apparatus, whether automatic or manual, is not of such weight as to +demand excessive strength in the floors and walls of buildings. +Exceptions to this may be found in the storage battery, in the power +machinery, especially where subject to vibration, and in certain cases +in the cable runs. After the ultimate size of the equipment has been +determined, the engineer and the architect should confer on this point, +particularly with reference to the heavier portions of the apparatus, +to make sure that adequate strength is provided. The approximate weights +of all parts of central-office equipments may readily be ascertained +from the manufacturers. + +_Provision for Employes._ In manual offices particularly it has been +found to be not only humane, but economical to provide adequate quarters +for the employes, both in the operating rooms and places where they +actually perform their work, and in the places where they may assemble +for recreation and rest. The work of the telephone operator, +particularly in large cities, is of such a nature as often to demand +frequent periods of rest. This is true not only on account of the +nervous strain on the operator, but also on account of the necessity, +brought about by the demands of economy, for varying the number of +operators in accordance with the traffic load. These features accentuate +the demand for proper rooms where recreation, rest, and nourishment may +be had. + +_Provision for Cable Runways._ In very small offices no special +structural provision need be made in the design of the building itself +for the entrance of the outside cables, and for the disposal of the +cables and wires leading between various portions of the apparatus. For +large offices, however, this must necessarily enter as an important +feature in the structure of the building itself. It is important that +the cables be arranged systematically and in such a way that they will +be protected against injury and at the same time be accessible either +for repairs or replacement, or for the addition of new cables to provide +for growth. Disorderly arrangement of the wires or cables results in +disorder indeed, with increased maintenance cost, uneconomical use of +space, inaccessibility, liability to injury, and general unsightliness. + +The carrying of cables from the basement to the upper floors or between +floors elsewhere must be provided for in a way that will not be wasteful +of space, and arrangements must be made for supporting the cables in +their vertical runs. In the aggregate their weight may be great, and +furthermore each individual cable must be so supported that its sheath +will not be subject to undue strain. Another factor which must be +considered in vertical cable runs is the guarding against such runs +forming natural flues through which flames or heated gases would pass, +in the event of even an unimportant fire at their lower ends. + +=Arrangement of Apparatus in Small Manual Offices.= Where a +common-battery multiple switchboard equipment is used, at least three +principal rooms should be provided--one for the multiple switchboard +proper; one for the terminal and power apparatus, including the +distributing frames, racks, and power machinery; and the third for the +storage battery. These should adjoin each other for purposes of +convenience and of economy in wiring. + +[Illustration: Fig. 418. Typical Small Office Floor Plan] + +_Floor Plans for Small Manual Offices._ As was pointed out, there are +several plans of disposing of the main and intermediate distributing +frames and the line and cut-off relay racks. The one most practiced is +to mount the relay rack alongside the main and intermediate distributing +frame in the terminal room. A typical floor plan of such an arrangement +for a small office, employing as a maximum five sections of multiple +switchboards, is shown in Fig. 418. This is an ideal arrangement well +adapted for a rectangular floor space and on that account may often be +put into effect. It should be noted that the switchboard grows from left +to right, and that alternative arrangements are shown for disposing of +those sections beyond the second. The cable turning section through +which the multiple and answering jacks are led to the terminal frames is +placed as close as possible to the terminal frames. This results in a +considerable saving in cable. An interesting feature of this floor plan +is the arrangement of unitary sections of main and intermediate frames +and relay racks, representing recent practice of the Western Electric +Company. The iron work of the three racks is built in sections and these +are structurally connected across so that the first section of the main +frame, the intermediate frame, and the relay rack form one unit, the +structural iron work which ties them together forming the runway for the +cables between them. But two of these units, including two sections of +each frame, are shown installed, the provision for growth being +indicated by dotted lines. + +The battery room in this case provides for the disposal of the battery +cells in two tiers. This room is merely partitioned off from the +distributing or terminal room. Where this is done the partition walls +should be plastered on both sides so as to prevent, as far as possible, +the entrance of any battery fumes into the apparatus rooms. + +The wire chief's desk, as will be noted, is located in such a position +as to give easy access from it not only to the distributing frames and +relay rack, but to the power apparatus as well. + +_Combined Main and Intermediate Frames._ For use in small exchanges, the +Western Electric Company has recently put on the market a combined main +and intermediate distributing frame. This is constructed about the same +as an ordinary main frame, the protectors being on one side and the line +and intermediate frame terminals on the other. The lower half of the +terminals on each vertical bay is devoted to the outside line terminals +and the upper half is devoted to intermediate frame terminals. This +arrangement is indicated in the elevation in Fig. 419. With the use of +this combined main and intermediate frame, the floor plan of Fig. 418 +may be modified, as shown in Fig. 420. + +[Illustration: Fig. 419. Combined Main and Intermediate Frames] + +[Illustration: Fig. 420. Small Office Floor Plan] + +[Illustration: Fig. 421. Terminal Apparatus--Small Office] + +In Fig. 421 is given an excellent idea of terminal-room apparatus +carried out in accordance with the more usual plan of employing separate +main and intermediate distributing frames. At the extreme right of this +figure the protector side of the main frame is shown. It will be +understood that the line cables terminate on the horizontal terminal +strips on the other side of this frame and are connected through the +horizontal and vertical runways of the frame to the protector terminals. +The intermediate frame is shown in the central portion of the figure, +the side toward the left containing the answering-jack terminals, and +the side toward the right the multiple jack terminals, these latter +being arranged horizontally. This horizontal and vertical arrangement of +the terminals on the main and intermediate distributing frames has been +the distinguishing feature between the Bell and Independent practice, +the Bell Companies adhering to the horizontal and vertical arrangement, +while the Independent Companies have employed the vertical arrangement +on both sides. We are informed that in the future the new smaller +installations of the Bell Companies will be made largely with the +vertical arrangement on both sides. At the left of Fig. 421 is shown the +relay rack in two sections of two bays each. This illustration also +gives a good idea of the common practice in disposing of the cables +between the frames in iron runways just below the ceiling of the +terminal room. + +_Types of Line Circuits._ The design of the terminal-room floor plan +will depend largely on the arrangement of apparatus in the subscribers' +line circuits with respect to the distributing frames and relay racks. +The Bell practice in this respect has already been referred to and is +illustrated in Fig. 348. In this the line and cut-off relays are +permanently associated with the answering jacks and lamps, resulting in +the answering-jack equipment being subject to change with respect to the +multiple and the line through the jumpers of the intermediate frame. The +practice of the Kellogg Company, on the other hand, has been illustrated +in Fig. 353, and in this the line and cut-off relays are permanently +associated with the multiple and with the line, only the answering jacks +and lamps being subject to change through the jumper wires on the +intermediate frame. This latter arrangement has led to a very desirable +parallel arrangement of the two distributing frames and the relay rack. +These are made of equal length so as to correspond bay for bay, and are +placed side by side with only enough space between them for the passage +of workmen--the relay rack lying between the main and intermediate +frames. In this scheme all the multiple and answering-jack cables run +from the intermediate distributing frame, and the cabling between the +intermediate frame and the relay rack and between the relay rack and the +main frame is run straight across from one rack to the other. This +results in a great saving of cable within the terminal room, over that +arrangement wherein the cabling from one frame to another is necessarily +led along the length of the frame to its end and then passes through a +single runway to the end of the other frame. + +=Large Manual Offices.= For purposes of illustrating the practice in +housing the apparatus in very large offices equipped with manual +switchboards, we have chosen the Chelsea office of the New York +Telephone Company as an excellent example of modern practice. + +[Illustration: Fig. 422. Floor Plan, Operating Room, Chelsea Office, New +York City] + +The ground plan of the building is U-shaped, in order to provide the +necessary light over the rather large floor areas. The plan of the +operating floor--the sixth floor of the building--is shown in Fig. 422. +As will be seen, this constitutes a single operating room, the _A_-board +being located in the right wing and the _B_-board in the left. The point +from which both boards grow is near the center of the front of the +building, the boards coming together at this point in a common cable +turning section. The disposal of the various desks for the manager, +chief operator, and monitors is indicated. Those switchboard sections +which are shown in full lines are the ones at present installed, the +provision for growth being indicated in dotted lines. + +[Illustration: Fig. 423. Terminal Room and Operators' Quarters, Chelsea +Office, New York City] + +The fifth floor is devoted to the terminal room and operators' quarters, +the terminal room occupying the left-hand wing and the major portion of +the front of the building, and the operators' quarters the right-hand +wing. The line and the trunk cables come up from the basement of the +building at the extreme left, being supported directly on the outside +wall of the building. Arriving at the fifth floor, they turn +horizontally and are led under a false flooring provided with trap +doors, to the protector side of the main frame. The disposal of the +cables between the various frames will be more readily understood by +reference to the following photographs. + +A general view of a portion of the _A_-board of the Chelsea office is +shown in Fig. 424, this view being taken from a point in the left-hand +wing looking toward the front. In Fig. 425 is shown a closer view of a +smaller portion of the board. Fig. 426 gives an excellent idea of the +rear of this switchboard and of the disposal of the cables and wires. +The main mass of cables at the top are those of the multiple. +Immediately below these may be seen the outgoing trunk cables. The forms +of the answering-jack cables lie below these and are not so readily +seen, but the cables leading from these forms are led down to the runway +at the bottom of the sections, and thence along the length of the board +to the intermediate distributing frame on the floor below. The layer of +cables, supported on the iron rack immediately above the answering-jack +cable runway, shown at the extreme bottom of the view, are those +containing the wires leading from the repeating coils to the cord +circuits. + +An interesting feature of this board is the provisions for protection +against injury by fire and water. On top of the boards throughout their +entire length there is laid a heavy tarpaulin curtain with straps +terminating in handles hanging down from its edges. These may be seen in +Fig. 426 and also in Fig. 425. The idea of this is that if the board is +exposed to a water hazard, as in the case of fire, the board may be +completely covered, front and rear, with this tarpaulin curtain, by +merely pulling the straps. The entire force--both operators and +repairmen--is drilled to assure the carrying out of this plan. + +The rear of the boards is adapted to be enclosed by wooden curtains, +similar to those employed in roll-top desks. These are all raised in the +rear view of Fig. 426, the housing for the rolled-up curtain being shown +at the extreme top of the sections. In order to guard the multiple +cables and the multiple jacks against fire which might originate in the +cord-circuit wiring, a heavy asbestos partition is placed immediately +above the cord racks and is clearly shown in Fig. 426. + +[Illustration: Fig. 424. Subscribers' Board. Chelsea Office, New York +City] + +[Illustration: Fig. 425. Subscribers' Board. Chelsea Office, New York +City] + +[Illustration: Fig. 426. Rear View Chelsea Switchboard] + +[Illustration: Fig. 427. Terminal and Power Apparatus. Chelsea Office] + +A view of the terminal and power room is shown in Fig. 427. In the upper +left-hand corner the cables may be seen in their passage downward from +the cable turning section between the _A_- and _B_-boards. The large +group of cables shown at the extreme left is the _A_-board multiple. +This passes down and then along the horizontal shelves of the +intermediate frame, which is the frame in the extreme left of this view. +The _B_-board multiple comes down through another opening in the floor, +and as is shown, after passing under the _A_-board multiple joins it in +the same vertical run from which it passes to the intermediate frame. +The cord-circuit cables lead down through the same opening as that +occupied by the _A_-board multiple and pass off to the right-hand one of +the racks shown, which contains the repeating coils. The cables leading +from the opening in the ceiling to the right-hand side of the +intermediate distributing frame are the answering-jack cables, and from +the terminals on this side of this frame other cables pass in smaller +groups to the relay terminals on the relay racks which lie between the +intermediate frame and the coil rack. + +The power board is shown at the extreme right. The fuse panel at the +left of the power board contains in its lower portion fuses for the +battery supply leads to the operator's position and to private-branch +exchanges, and in its upper portion lamps and fuses for the ringing +generator circuits for the various operators' positions and also for +private-branch exchanges. + +At the lower left-hand portion of this view is shown the battery +cabinet. It is the practice of the New York Telephone Company not to +employ separate battery rooms, but to locate its storage batteries +directly in the terminal room and to enclose them, as shown, in a wooden +cabinet with glass panels, which is ventilated by means of a lead pipe +extending to a flue in the wall. + +One unit of charging machines, consisting of motor and generator, is +shown in the immediate foreground. A duplicate of this unit is employed +but is not shown in this view. The various ringing and message register +machines are shown beyond the charging machines. Three of these smaller +machines are for supplying ringing current and the remainder are for +supplying 30-volt direct current for operating the message registers. +One of the machines of each set is wound to run from the main storage +battery in case of a failure of the general lighting service from which +the current for operating is normally drawn. + +[Illustration: Fig. 428. Terminal Apparatus. Chelsea Office] + +[Illustration: Fig. 429. Floor Plan, Automatic Office, Lansing, +Michigan] + +Another view of the terminal-room apparatus is given in Fig. 428. This +is taken from the point marked _B_ on the floor plan of Fig. 423. At the +right may be seen the message registers on which the calls of the +subscribers in this office are counted as a basis for the bills for +their service. At the extreme left is shown the private-line test board. +Through this board run all of the lines leased for private use, and also +all of the order wire or call lines passing through this office. The +purpose of such an arrangement is to facilitate the testing of such line +wires. At the right of this private-line test board is shown a +four-position wire chief's desk, upon which are provided facilities for +making all of the tests inside and outside. + +[Illustration: Fig. 430. Line-Switch Units] + +[Illustration: Fig. 431. Automatic Apparatus at Lansing Office] + +The main frame is shown at the right of Fig. 428, just to the right of a +gallery from which a step-ladder leads. The left-hand side of this frame +is the line or protector side, but the portion toward the observer in +this picture is unequipped. These equipped protector strips carry 400 +pairs of terminals each, and the consequent length of these strips makes +necessary the gallery shown, in order that all of them may be readily +accessible. + +[Illustration: Fig. 432. Main Distributing Frame, Lansing Office] + +[Illustration: Fig. 433. Line Switches] + +[Illustration: POWER PLANT FOR AUTOMATIC SWITCHBOARD EQUIPMENT Bay +Cities Home Telephone Company, Berkeley, Cal.] + +[Illustration: Fig. 434. Secondary Line Switches and First Selectors] + +=Automatic Offices.= There is no great difference in the amount of floor +space required in central offices employing automatic and manual +equipment. Whatever difference there is, is likely to be in favor of the +automatic. The fact that no such rigid requirement exists in the +arrangement of automatic apparatus, as that which makes it necessary to +place the sections of a multiple board all in one row, makes it possible +to utilize the available space more economically with automatic than +with manual equipment. + +[Illustration: Fig. 435. Second Selectors] + +[Illustration: Fig. 436. Toll Distributing Frame and Harmonic +Converters] + +In manual practice it is necessary to place the distributing frames and +power apparatus in a separate room from that containing the switchboard, +but in an automatic exchange no such necessity exists; in fact, so far +as the distributing-frame equipment is concerned, it is considered +desirable to have it located in the same room as the automatic switches. + +The battery room in an automatic exchange should be entirely separate +from the operating room, since the fumes from the battery would be fatal +to the proper working of the automatic switches. + +_Typical Automatic Office._ The floor-plan and views of a medium-sized +automatic office at Lansing, Michigan, have been chosen as representing +typical practice. The floor plan is shown in Fig. 429. The apparatus +indicated in full lines represents the present equipment, and that in +dotted lines the space that will be required by the expected future +equipment. + +In Fig. 430 is shown a group of five line-switch units, representing a +total of five hundred lines. The length of such a unit is practically +fourteen feet and the breadth over all about twenty-two inches. + +Fig. 431 shows a general view of this Lansing office, taken from a point +of view indicated at _A_ on the floor plan of Fig. 429. Fig. 432 shows +the main distributing frame, which is of ordinary type; Fig. 433 shows a +closer view of some of the primary line switches; Fig. 434 is a view of +the secondary line switches and first selectors, the latter being on the +right; Fig. 435 is a view of the frequency selectors and second +selectors, the former being used in connection with party-line work; and +Fig. 436 is a view of the toll distributing frame and harmonic +converters for party-line ringing. + +A general view of the main switching room in the Grant Avenue office of +the Home Telephone Company of San Francisco is given in Fig. 437, this +being taken before the work of installation had been fully completed. +The present capacity of the equipment is 6,000 and the ultimate 12,000 +lines. This office is one of a number of similar ones recently installed +for the Home Telephone Company in San Francisco, the combination of +which forms by far the largest automatic exchange yet installed. The +scope of the plans is such as to enable 125,000 subscribers to be served +without any change in the fundamental design, and by means merely of +addition in equipment and lines as demanded by the future subscriptions +for telephone service. + +[Illustration: Fig. 437. Grant Avenue Office--San Francisco] + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIV + +PRIVATE BRANCH EXCHANGES + + +=Definitions.= A telephone exchange devoted to the purely local uses of +a private establishment such as a store, factory, or business office, is +a private exchange. If, in addition to being used for such local +communication, it serves also for communication with the subscribers of +a city exchange, it becomes in effect a branch of the city exchange and, +therefore, a private branch exchange. The term "P. B. X." has become a +part of the telephone man's vocabulary as an abbreviation for private +branch exchange. + +Private exchanges for purely local use require no separate treatment as +any of the types of switching equipments for interconnecting the lines +for communication, that have been or that will be described herein, may +be used. The problem becomes a special one, however, when communication +must also be had with the subscribers of a public exchange, since then +trunking is involved in which the conditions differ materially from +those encountered in trunking between the several offices in a +multi-office exchange. + +For such communication one or more trunk lines are led from the private +branch office usually to the nearest central office of the public +exchange and such trunks are called private branch-exchange trunks. They +are the paths for communication between the private exchange and the +public exchange. For establishing the connections either between the +local lines themselves or between the local lines and the trunks, and +for performing other duties that will be referred to, one or more +private branch-exchange operators are employed at the switchboard of the +private establishment. + +The private branch exchange may operate in conjunction with a manual or +an automatic public exchange, but whether manual or automatic, the +private exchange is usually manually operated, although it is quite +possible to make a private branch exchange that is wholly automatic and +will, therefore, involve no operator at all. + +=Functions of the Private Branch-Exchange Operator.= It is possible, as +just stated, entirely to dispense with the private branch-exchange +operator so far as the mere connection and disconnection of the lines is +concerned. But the real function of the private branch-exchange operator +is a broader one than this and it is for this reason that even in +connection with automatic public exchanges, operators are desirable at +the private branches. The private branch-exchange operator is, as it +were, the doorkeeper of the telephone entrance to the private +establishment. She is the person first met by the public in entering +this telephone door. There is the same reason, therefore, why she should +be intelligent, courteous, and obliging as that the ordinary doorkeeper +should possess these characteristics. + +As to incoming traffic to a private branch exchange, an intelligent +operator may do much toward directing the calls to the proper department +or person, even though the person calling may have little idea as to +whom he desires to reach. This saves the time of the person who makes +the call as well as that of the people at the private branch stations, +since it prevents their being unnecessarily called. + +The functions of the private branch-exchange operator are no less +important with respect to outgoing calls. It is the duty of the operator +to obtain connections through the city exchange for the private branch +subscriber, who merely asks for a certain connection and hangs up his +receiver to await her call when she shall have obtained it. This saving +of time of busy people by having the branch-exchange operator make their +calls for them has one attending disadvantage, which is that the person +in the city exchange who is called does not, when he answers his +telephone, find the real party with whom he is to converse, but has to +wait until that party responds to the private branch operator's call. +This is akin to asking a person to call at one's office and then being +out when he gets there. This drawback is greatly accentuated where both +the parties that are to be involved in the connection are people high in +authority in certain establishments at private branch exchanges. Some +business houses have made the rule that the private branch operator +shall not connect with their lines until she has actually heard the +voice of the proper party at the other end. When two subscribers in two +different private branch exchanges where this rule is enforced, attempt +to get into communication with each other, the possibilities of trouble +are obvious. + +All that may be said on this matter is that the person who calls another +by telephone should extend that person the same courtesies that he would +had he called him in person to his office; and that a person who is +called by telephone by another should meet him with the same +consideration as if he had received a personal call at his office or +home. The arbitrary ruling made by some corporations and persons, which +results always in the "other fellow's" doing the waiting, is not +ethically correct nor is it good policy. + +=Private Branch Switchboards.= Private branch switchboards may be of +common-battery or magneto types regardless of whether they work in +conjunction with main office equipments having common-battery or magneto +equipments. Usually a magneto private branch exchange works in +conjunction with a magneto main office, but this is not always true. +There are cases where the private branch equipment of modern +common-battery type works in conjunction with main office equipment of +the magneto type; and in some of these cases the private branch exchange +has a much larger number of subscribers than the main office. This is +likely to be true in large summer resort hotels located in small and +otherwise unimportant rural districts. In one such case within our +knowledge the private branch exchange has a larger number of stations +than the total census population of the town, resulting in an apparent +telephone development considerably greater than one hundred per cent. + +_Magneto Type._ Where both the private branch and the main office +equipments are of the magneto type, the private branch requirements are +met by a simple magneto switchboard of the requisite size, and the +trunking conditions are met by ring-down trunks extending to the main +office. In this case the supervision is that of the ordinary +clearing-out drop type, the operators working together as best they may. + +_Common-Battery Type._ The cases where the private branch board is of +common-battery type and the main office of magneto type are +comparatively so few that they need not be treated here. Where they do +occur they demand special treatment because the main portion of the +traffic over the trunk lines to the city or town central office is +likely to be toll traffic through that office over long-distance lines. +The principal reason why the equipment of the town offices under such +conditions is magneto rather than common battery is that the traffic +conditions are those of short season and heavy toll, and common-battery +switching equipment at the main office has no especial advantages for +toll work. + +[Illustration: Fig. 438. Desk Type, Private Branch Board] + +For small private branch exchanges the desk type of switch board, shown +in Fig. 438, is largely used. The operator frequently has other work to +do and the desk is, therefore, a convenience. In larger private +exchanges, such as those requiring more than one operator, some form of +upright cabinet is employed, and if, as sometimes occurs, the branch +exchange is of such size as to demand a multiple board, then the general +form of the board does not differ materially from the standard types of +multiple board employed in regular central office work. The most common +private branch-exchange condition is that of a common-battery branch +working into a common-battery main office. In such the main point to be +considered is that of supervision of trunk-line connections. + +_Cord Type._ For the larger sizes of branch exchange switchboards, the +switching apparatus is practically the same as that of ordinary manual +switchboards wherein the connections are made between the various lines +by means of pairs of cords and plugs. The private branch-exchange trunk +lines usually terminate on the private branch board in jacks but in some +cases plug-ended trunks are used. + +[Illustration: Fig. 439. Key Type, Private Branch Board] + +The line signals may consist in mechanical visual signals or in lamps, +the choice between these depending largely on the source of battery +supply at the branch exchange, a matter which will be considered later. +The trunk-line signals at the private branch board are usually ordinary +drops which are thrown when the main-exchange operator rings on the line +as she would on an ordinary subscriber's line. Frequently, however, lamp +signals are used for this purpose, being operated by locking relays +energized when the main-office operator rings or, in some cases, +operated at the time when the main-office operator plugs into the +trunk-line jack. + +[Illustration: Fig. 440. Circuits, Key-Type Board] + +_Key Type._ For small private branch-exchange switchboards, a type +employing no cords and plugs has come into great favor during recent +years. Instead of connecting the lines by jacks and plugs, they are +connected by means of keys closely resembling ordinary ringing and +listening keys. Such a switchboard is shown in Fig. 439, this having a +capacity of three trunks, seven local lines, and the equivalent of five +cord circuits. The drops associated with the three trunks may be seen in +the upper left-hand side of the face of the switchboard. Immediately +below these in three vertical rows are the keys which are used in +connecting the trunks with the "cord circuits" or connecting bus wires. +At the right of the drop associated with the trunks are seven visual +signals, these being the calling signals of the local lines. The seven +vertical rows of keys, immediately to the right of the three trunk-line +rows, are the line keys. The throwing of any one of these keys and of a +trunk-line key in the same horizontal row in the same direction will +connect a line with a trunk through the corresponding bus wires, leaving +one of the supervisory visual signals, shown at the extreme top of the +board, connected with the circuit. The keys in a single row at the right +are those by means of which the operator may bridge her talking set +across any of the "cord circuits." The circuits of this particular board +are shown in Fig. 440. This is equipped for common-battery working, the +battery feed wires being shown at the left. + +=Supervision of Private Branch Connections.= At the main office where +common-battery equipment is used, the private branch trunks terminate +before the _A_-operators exactly in the same way as ordinary +subscribers' lines, _i. e._, each in an answering jack and lamp at one +position and in a multiple jack on each section. It goes without saying, +therefore, that the handling of a private branch call, either incoming +or outgoing, should be done by the _A_-operator in the same manner as a +call on an ordinary subscriber's line, and that the supervision of the +connection should impose no special duties on the _A_-operator. + +There has been much discussion, and no final agreement, as to the proper +method of controlling the supervisory lamp at the main office of a cord +that is, at the time, connected to a private branch trunk. Three general +methods have been practiced: + +The first method is to have the private branch subscriber directly +control the supervisory lamp at the main office without producing any +effect upon the private branch supervisory signal; this latter signal +being displayed only after the connection has been taken down at the +main office and in response to the withdrawal of the main office plug +from the private branch jack. This is good practice so far as the +main-office discipline is concerned but it results in a considerable +disadvantage to both the city and private branch subscribers in that it +is impossible for the private branch subscriber, when connected to the +other, to re-signal the private branch operator without the connection +being first taken down. + +The second method is to have the private branch subscriber control both +the supervisory signal at the private branch board and at the main +board. This has the disadvantage of bringing both operators in on the +circuit when the private branch subscriber signals. + +The third method, and one that seems best, is to place the supervisory +lamp of the private branch board alone under the control of the private +branch subscriber, so that he may attract the attention of the private +branch operator without disturbing the supervisory signal at the main +office. The supervisory signal at the main office in this case is +displayed only when the private branch operator takes down the +connection. This practice results in a method of operation at the main +office that involves no special action on the part of the _A_-operator. +She takes down the connection only when the main-office subscriber has +hung up his telephone and the private branch subscriber has disconnected +from the trunk. + +Whatever method is employed, private branch disconnection is usually +slow, and for this reason many operating companies instruct the +_A_-operators to disconnect on the lighting of the supervisory lamp of +the city subscriber. + +=With Automatic Offices.= Private branch exchanges most used in +connection with automatic offices employ manual switchboards, with the +cord circuits of which is associated a signal transmitting device by +which the operator instead of the subscriber may manipulate the +automatic apparatus of the public exchange by impulses sent over the +private branch-exchange trunk lines. The subscriber's equipment at the +private branch stations may be either automatic or manual. Frequently +the same private branch exchange will contain both kinds. With the +manual sub-station equipment the operation is exactly the same as in a +private branch of a manual exchange, except that the private branch +operator by means of her dial makes the central-office connection +instead of telling the main-office operator to do so for her. With +automatic sub-station equipment at the private branch the subscribers, +by removing their receivers from their hooks, call the attention of the +private branch operator, who may receive their orders and make the +desired central-office connection for them, or who may plug their lines +through to the central office and allow the subscribers to make the +connection themselves with their own dials. + +In automatic equipment of the common-battery type, some change always +takes place in the calling line at the time the called subscriber +answers. In the three-wire system during the time of calling, both wires +are of the same polarity with respect to earth. At the time of the +answering of the called subscriber, the two wires assume different +polarities, one being positive to the other. Such a change is sufficient +for the actuation of devices local to the private exchange switchboard +and may be interpreted through the calling supervisory signal in such a +way as to allow it to glow during calling and not to glow after the +called subscriber has answered. In the two-wire automatic system a +similar change can be arranged for, with similar advantageous results. + +_Secrecy._ In private exchanges operating in connection with automatic +central offices, the secret feature of individual lines may or may not +be carried into the private exchange equipment. Some patrons of +automatic exchanges set a high value on the absence of any operator in a +connection and transact business over such lines which they would not +transact at all over manual lines or would not transact in the same way +over manual lines. To some such patrons, the presence of a private +exchange operator, even though employed and supervised by themselves, +seems to be a disadvantage. To meet such a feeling, it is not difficult +to arrange the circuits of a private exchange switchboard so that the +operator may listen in upon a cord circuit at any time and overhear what +is being said upon it _so long as two subscribers are not in +communication on that cord circuit_. That is, she may answer a call and +may speak to the calling person at any time she wishes until the called +person answers. When he does answer and conversation can take place, +some device operates to disconnect her listening circuit from the cord +circuit, not to be connected again until at least one of the subscribers +has hung up his receiver. With private exchange apparatus so arranged, +the secrecy of the system is complete. + +=Battery Supply.= There are three available methods of supplying direct +current for talking and signaling purposes to private branch exchanges, +each of which represents good practice under certain conditions. First, +by means of pairs of wires extended from the central-office battery; +second, by means of a local storage battery at the private branch +exchange charged over wires from the central office; and third, by means +of a local storage battery at the private exchange charged from a local +source. + +The choice of these three methods depends always on the local conditions +and it is a desirable feature, to be employed by large operating +companies, to have all private branch-exchange switchboards provided +with simple convertible features contained within the switchboard for +adapting it to any one of these methods of supplying current. + +If a direct-current power circuit is available at the private branch +exchange, it may be used for charging the local storage battery by +inserting mere resistance devices in the charging leads. If the local +power circuit carries alternating current, a converting device of some +sort must be used and for this purpose, if the exchange is large enough +to warrant it, a mercury rectifier is an economical and simple device. + +The supply of current to private branch exchanges over wires leading to +the central-office battery has the disadvantage of requiring one or +several pairs of wires in the cables carrying the trunk wires. No +special wires are run, regular pairs in the paper insulated line or +trunk cables being admirably suited for the purpose. Sufficient +conductivity may be provided by placing several such pairs in multiple. + +If the amount of current required by the private exchange warrants it, +pairs of charging wires from the central office may be fewer if a +battery is charged over them than if they are used direct to the bus +bars of the private exchange switchboard. If they are used in the latter +way, and this is simpler for reasons of maintenance, some means must be +provided to prevent the considerable resistance of the supply wires from +introducing cross-talk into the circuit of the private exchange. This is +accomplished by bridging a considerable capacity across the supply pairs +at the private exchange--ten to twelve microfarads usually suffice. This +point has already been referred to and illustrated in connection with +Fig. 141. + +The number of pairs of wires, or, in other words, the amount of copper +in the battery lead between the central office and the private +branch-exchange switchboard needs to be properly determined not only to +eliminate cross-talk when the proper condensers are used with them, but +to furnish the proper difference of potential at the private exchange +bus bars, so that the line and supervisory signals will receive the +proper current. It is a convenience in installing and maintaining +private exchange switchboards of this kind to prepare tables showing the +number of pairs of No. 19 gauge and No. 22 gauge wires required for a +private exchange at a given distance from its central office and of a +probable amount of traffic. The traffic may be expressed in the maximum +number of pairs of cords which will be in use at one time. With this +fact and the distance, the number of pairs of wires required may be +determined. + +=Ringing Current.= The ringing current may be provided in two ways: over +pairs of wires from the city-office ringing machines or by means of a +local hand generator, or both. A key should enable either of these +sources of ringing current to be chosen at will. + +=Marking of Apparatus.= All apparatus should be marked with permanent +and clear labels. That private exchange switchboard is best at which an +almost uninformed operator could sit and operate it at once. It is not +difficult to lay out a scheme of labels which will enable such a board +to be operated without any detailed instructions being given. + +=Desirable Features.= The board should contain means of connecting +certain of the local private exchange lines to the central-office trunks +when the board is unattended. Also, it is desirable that it should +contain means whereby any local private exchange line may be connected +to the trunk so that its station will act as an ordinary subscriber's +station. Whether the trunks of the private exchange lead to a manual or +an automatic equipment, it often is desired to connect a local line +through in that way, either so that the calling person may make his +calls without the knowledge of the private exchange operator, because he +wishes to make a large number of calls in succession, or because for +some other reason he prefers to transact his business directly with or +through the exchange than to entrust it to his operator. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXV + +INTERCOMMUNICATING SYSTEMS + + +=Definition.= The term "intercommunicating" has been given to a +specialized type of telephone system wherein the line belonging to each +station is extended to each of the other stations, resulting in all +lines extending to all stations. Each station is provided with apparatus +by means of which the telephone user there may connect his own telephone +with the line of the station with which he wishes to communicate, +enabling him to signal and talk with the person at that station. + +=Limitations.= The idea is simple. Each person does his own switching +directly, and no operator is required. It is easy to see, however, that +the system has limitations. The amount of line wire necessary in order +to run each line to each station is relatively great, and becomes +prohibitive except in exchanges involving a very small number of +subscribers, none of which is remote from the others. Again, the amount +of switching apparatus required becomes prohibitive for any but a small +number of stations. As a result, twenty-five or thirty stations are +considered the usual practical limit for intercommunicating systems. + +=Types.= An intercommunicating system may be either magneto or +common-battery, according to whether it uses magneto or common-battery +telephones. The former is the simpler; the latter is the more generally +used. + +[Illustration: WESTERN ELECTRIC COMPANY BATTERY ROOM AT MONMOUTH, +ILLINOIS] + +=Simple Magneto System.= The schematic circuit arrangement of an +excellent form of magneto intercommunicating system is given in Fig. +441. In this, five metallic circuit lines are led to as many stations, +an ordinary two-contact open jack being tapped off of each line at each +station. A magneto bell of the bridging type is permanently bridged +across each line at the station to which that line belongs. The +telephone at each station is an ordinary bridging magneto set except +that its bell is, in each case, connected to the line as just stated. +Each telephone is connected through a flexible cord to a two-contact +plug adapted to fit into any of the jacks at the same station. + +The operation is almost obvious. If a person at Station _A_ desires to +call Station _E_, he inserts his plug into the jack of line _E_ at his +station and turns his generator crank. The bell of Station _E_ rings +regardless of where the plug of that station may be. The person at +Station _E_ responds by inserting his own plug in the jack of line _E_, +after which the two parties are enabled to converse over a metallic +circuit. It makes no difference whether the persons, after talking, +leave these plugs in the jacks or take them out, since the position of +the plug does not alter the relation of the bell with the line. + +[Illustration: Fig. 441. Magneto Intercommunicating System] + +This system has the advantage of great simplicity and of being about as +"fool proof" as possible. It is, however, not quite as convenient to use +as the later common-battery systems which require no turning of a +generator crank. + +=Common-Battery Systems.= In the more popular common-battery systems two +general plans of operation are in vogue, one employing a plug and jacks +at each station for switching the "home" instrument into circuit with +any line, and the other employing merely push buttons for doing the +same thing. These may be referred to as the plug type and the +push-button type, respectively. + +[Illustration: Fig. 442. Plug Type of Common-Battery Intercommunicating +System] + +_Kellogg Plug Type._ The circuits of a plug type of intercommunicating +system, as manufactured by the Kellogg Company, are shown in Fig. 442. +While only three stations are shown, the method of connecting more will +be obvious. + +This system requires as many pairs of wires running to all stations as +there are stations, and in addition, two common wires for ringing +purposes. The talking battery feed is through retardation coils to each +line. When all the hooks are down, each call bell is connected between +the lower common wire and the tip side of the talking circuit individual +to the corresponding station. The ringing buttons at each station are +connected between the tip of the plug at that station and the upper +common wire. As a result, when a person at one station desires to call +another, it is only necessary for him to insert his plug in the jack of +the desired station and press his ringing button; the circuit being +traced from one pole of the ringing battery through the upper common +ringing wire, ringing key of the station making the call, tip of plug, +tip conductor of called station's line, bell of called station, and back +to the ringing battery through the lower common ringing wire. + +[Illustration: Fig. 443. Push-Button Wall Set] + +_Kellogg Push-Button Type._ Fig. 443 shows a Kellogg wall-type +intercommunicating set employing the push-button method of selecting, +and Fig. 444 shows the internal arrangement of this set. + +[Illustration: Fig. 444. Push-Button Wall Set] + +_Western Electric System._ The method of operation of the push-button +key employed in the intercommunicating system of the Western Electric +Company is well shown in Fig. 445. When the button is depressed all the +way down, as shown in the center cut of Fig. 445, which represents the +ringing position of the key, contact is made with the line wires of the +station called, and ringing current is placed on the line. When the +pressure is released, the button assumes an intermediate position, as +shown in the right-hand cut, which represents the talking position of +the key and in which the ringing contacts _1_ and _2_ are open, but +contact with the line for talking purposes is maintained. The key is +automatically held in this intermediate position by locking plate _3_ +until this plate is actuated by the operation of another button which +releases the key so that it assumes its normal position as shown in the +left-hand cut. When a button is depressed to call a station, it first +connects the called station's line to the calling station through the +two pairs of contacts _4_ and _5_ and then connects the ringing battery +to that line by causing the spring _1_ to engage the contact _2_. The +ringing current then passes through the bell at the called station, +through the back contacts of the switch hook at that station, over one +side of the line, and through the "way-down" contact _1_ of the button +at the calling station, thence over the other side of the battery line +back to the ringing battery, operating the bell at the called station. + +[Illustration: Fig. 445. Push-Button Action, Western Electric System] + +The circuits of the Western Electric system are similar to those of Fig. +442, but adapted, of course, to the push-button arrangement of switches. +Two batteries are employed, one for ringing and the other for talking, +talking current being fed to the lines through retardation coils to +prevent interference or cross-talk from other stations which might be +connected together at the same time. + +_Monarch System._ As the making of connections in an intercommunicating +system is entirely in the hands of the user, it is desirable that the +operation be simple and that carelessness on the part of the user result +in as few evil effects as possible. For instance, the leaving of the +receiver off its hook will, in many systems, result in such a drain on +the battery as to greatly shorten its life. + +The system of the Monarch Company has certain distinctive features in +this respect. It is of the push-button type and as in the system just +discussed, one pressure of the finger on one button clears the station +of previous connections, rings the station called, and establishes a +talking connection between the caller's telephone and the line desired. +In addition to this, the system is designed to eliminate battery waste +by so arranging the circuits that the battery current does not flow +through either called or calling instrument until a complete connection +is made--the calling button down at one station, the home button down at +the called station, and both receivers off the hook. It does not hurt +the batteries, therefore, if one neglects to hang up his receiver. + +[Illustration: Fig. 446. Push-Button Wall Set] + +[Illustration: Fig. 447. Push-Button Action, Monarch System] + +Three views of the wall set of this system are shown in Fig. 446, which +illustrates how both the door and the containing box are separately +hinged for easy access to the apparatus and connecting rack. As in the +Western Electric and Kellogg push-button systems, each push-button key +has three positions, as shown in Fig. 447. The first button shows all +the springs open, the normal position of the key. The second button is +in the half-way or talking position with all the springs, except the +ringing spring, in contact. The third button shows the springs all in +contact, the condition which exists when ringing a station. + +The mechanical construction of the key is shown in Fig. 448. Each button +has a separate frame upon which the springs are mounted. Any one of the +frames with its group of contact springs may be removed without +interfering with either the electrical or the mechanical operation of +the others. This is a convenient feature, making possible the +installation of as few stations as are needed at first, and the +subsequent addition of buttons as other stations are added. + +[Illustration: Fig. 448. Push-Button Keys] + +The restoring feature is a horizontal metal carriage, in construction +very much like a ladder--one round pressing against each key frame, due +to the tension on the carriage exerted by a single flat spring. The +plunger of each button is equipped with a shoulder, which normally is +above the round of the ladder. When the button is operated, this +shoulder presses against a round of the carriage forcing it over far +enough so that the shoulder can slip by. The upper surface of the +shoulder is flat, and on passing below the pin, allows the carriage to +slip back into its normal position and the pin rests on the top of the +shoulder holding the plunger down. This position places the talking +springs in contact. The ringing springs are open until the plunger is +pressed all the way down, then the ringing contact is made. When the +pressure is released, the plunger comes back to the half-way or talking +position, leaving the ringing contacts open again. + +When another button is pressed, the same operation takes place and, by +virtue of the carriage being temporarily displaced, the original key is +left free to spring back to its normal position. + +Each station is provided with a button for each other station and a +"home" button. The salient feature of the system is that before a +connection may be established, the button at the calling station +corresponding to the station called and also the home button of the +station called must be depressed, if it is not already down. The home +key at any station, when depressed, transposes the sides of the line +with respect to the talking apparatus. The home key also has a spring +which changes the normal connection of the line at that station from the +negative to the positive side of the talking battery. Unless, therefore, +a connection between two stations is made through the calling key at one +station and the home key at the other, no current can flow even though +both receivers are off their hooks, because in that case no connection +will exist with the positive side of the battery. This relation is shown +in Fig. 449, which gives a simplified circuit arrangement for two +connected stations. + +[Illustration: Fig. 449. Monarch Intercommunicating System] + +Referring to Fig. 449, when the station called depresses the home button +the talking circuit is then completed after the hook switch is raised. +This is because the talking battery is controlled by the home key. +Conductors from both the negative and the positive sides of the battery +enter this key. In the normal position of the springs, the negative side +of the battery is in contact with the master spring in the home key and +through these springs the negative battery is applied to all the calling +keys, and from there on to the hook switch. When, however, the home +button is operated, the spring which carries the negative battery to +the home key is opened, and the spring which carries the positive +battery is closed. This puts the positive battery on at the hook switch +instead of the negative battery, as in its normal condition. + +In this system it is seen that a separate pair of line wires is used for +each station, and in addition to these, two common pairs are run to all +stations, one for ringing and one for talking battery connections. + +=For Private Branch Exchanges.= So far the intercommunicating system has +been discussed only with respect to its use in small isolated plants. It +has a field of usefulness in connection with city exchange work, as it +may be made to serve admirably as a private branch exchange. Where this +is done, one or more trunk lines leading to an office of the city +exchange are run through the intercommunicating system exactly as a +local line in that system, being tapped to a jack or push button at +every station. A person at any one of the stations may originate a call +to the main office by inserting his plug in the trunk jack, or pushing +his trunk push button. Also any station, within hearing or sight of the +trunk-line signal from the main office, may answer a main-office call in +the same way. In order that the convenience of a private branch exchange +may be fully realized, however, it is customary to provide an +attendant's station at which is placed the drop or bell on which the +incoming trunk signal is received. The duty of this attendant during +business hours is to answer trunk calls from the main office and finding +out what party is desired, call up the proper station on the +intercommunicating system. The party at that station may then connect +himself with the trunk. + +The practice of the Dean Company, for instance, is as follows in regard +to trunking between intercommunicating systems and main offices with +common-battery equipment. The attendant's station telephone cabinet +contains, besides the push-button keys for local and trunk connections, +a drop signal and release key, together with relays in each trunk +circuit. The latter are used to hold the trunks until the desired party +responds. + +The main-exchange trunk lines, besides terminating at the attendant's +station, are wired through the complete intercommunicating system so +that any intercommunicating telephone can be connected direct to the +central office by depressing the trunk key, which is provided with a +button of distinctive color. The pressing of the trunk key allows the +telephone to take its current from the main-office storage battery and +to operate the main-office line and supervisory signals direct, without +making it necessary to call on the attendant to set up the connection. + +[Illustration: Fig. 450. Junction Box] + +[Illustration: Fig. 451. Typical Arrangement of Intercommunicating +System] + +Incoming calls from the common-battery main office to the +intercommunicating system are all handled by the attendant. The +main-office operator signals the intercommunicating system by ringing, +the same as for a regular subscriber's line. This will operate a drop in +the attendant's station cabinet, and through an armature contact, give a +signal on a low-pitched buzzer. This alarm buzzer operates only when the +main exchange is ringing and, therefore, does not require that the drop +shutter be restored immediately. An extra key may be provided for an +extension night-alarm bell, for use where the attendant also does work +in a room separate from that containing the attendant's station +telephone equipment. + +The attendant operator answers the main-line signal by pressing the +proper trunk button, as designated by the operated drop on the +attendant's cabinet. The answering of the trunk connects a locking relay +across the circuit so that the attendant may call the desired party on +the intercommunicating system without having to hold the trunk manually. +The party desired is then notified which trunk to use and the attendant +operator hangs up her receiver, no further attention being necessary on +her part. + +The trunk-holding relay is automatically released when the desired party +(with the telephone receiver off the hook) depresses the proper trunk +button, thus clearing the trunk line of all bridged apparatus and making +the talking circuit the same as in the regular type of private +branch-exchange switchboard. + +The most convenient way of installing the wires of an intercommunicating +system is to run a cable containing the proper number of pairs to +provide for the ultimate number of stations to all the stations, tapping +off from the conductors in the cable to the jacks or push buttons at +each station. These tap connections are best made by means of junction +boxes which contain terminals for all the conductors. + +Such a junction box, with the through cable and the tap cable in place, +is illustrated in Fig. 450. A schematic lay-out of the various parts of +a Dean intercommunicating system, provided with an attendant's station +and with trunks to a city office, is given in Fig. 451. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVI + +LONG-DISTANCE SWITCHING + + +=Definitions.= Telephone messages between communities are called +long-distance messages. They are also called toll messages. Almost all +long-distance traffic is handled by message-rate (measured-service) +methods of charge. All measured-service messages are toll messages, +whether they are completed within a given community or between +communities. The term "long-distance," therefore, is more descriptive +than the term "toll." The subject of local and long-distance measured +service is treated exhaustively in a chapter of its own. + +Some telephone-exchange operating companies call their own inter-city +business "toll," and use the term "long-distance" for business carried +between exchanges for them by another company. The distinction seems to +be unwarranted. + +=Use of Repeating Coil.= Most long-distance lines are magneto circuits. +If they are switched to grounded circuits, repeating coils need to be +inserted. Toll switching equipments contain means of inserting repeating +coils in the connecting cords when required. Their use reduces the +volume of transmitted speech, but often is essential even in connecting +metallic circuit lines, as a quiet local metallic circuit may have a +ground upon it which will cause excessive noises when a quiet +long-distance line is connected to it. + +=Switching through Local Board.= In the simplest form of long-distance +switching, the lines terminate in switchboards with local lines and may +be connected with each other and with the local lines through the +regular cord circuits, if the equipment be of the magneto type. The +waystations on such a line are equipped with magneto generators. These +waystations may signal each other by bell ringing; the central office +may call any waystation by ringing the proper signal and may supervise +in a way all traffic on such lines by noting the calls for other +stations than the supervising exchange. + +=Operators' Orders.= _By Call Circuits._ Where the long-distance traffic +between two communities is large, economy requires that the sending of +signals by ringing over the line, waiting for an answer, and then +reciting the details of the call, be improved upon. If the traffic is +large and the distance between communities small, call circuits are +established in the same way as between the switchboards in several +manual central offices of an exchange. The long-distance operator +handling the originating call passes the necessary details to the +distant operator by telephone over the call circuit. Such circuits also +are known as order circuits. They are accessible to originating +operators at keys and are connected directly and permanently to the +telephone sets of receiving operators. One call circuit can handle the +orders for a large number of actual conversation circuits. The operator +at the receiving end designates the conversation circuit which shall be +used, the originating operator following that instruction. + +_By Telegraph._ Where traffic and distance are large, conversation lines +cost more than in the case last assumed. It then is of greater +importance to use all the possible talking circuits for actual +conversations in order that the revenue may be as high as possible. A +phantom circuit good enough for call circuit purposes would be good +enough for actual commercial messages, therefore, it is customary to +furnish such originating and receiving operators with Morse telegraph +sets. The lines are obtained by applying composite apparatus to the +conversation circuits. Two Morse circuits can be had from each +long-distance line without impairing any quality of that line except the +ability to ring over it. As one Morse circuit can carry information +enough between two operators to enable them to keep many telephone +circuits busy, they do not need to ring upon the composited lines, so +that nothing is lost while revenue is gained. + +=Two-Number Calls.= In cases where the traffic between communities is +large, where the rate is small, and where the conversations are short +and more on the general order of local calls, it is usual to handle the +switches exactly as local calls are trunked between central offices of +the same exchange. That is, the subscriber's operator who answers the +call trunks it, by the assistance of a call circuit and an incoming +trunk operator. The subscriber's operator records only the numbers of +the calling and called subscribers. No long-distance operators at all +assist in these connections. They are known as "two-number calls." The +calling subscriber remains at his telephone until the conversation is +finished. + +=Particular-Party-Calls.= In cases where the traffic is smaller, and +where the rate is large, it is customary to handle the calls through +long-distance operators. The ticket records the particular party wished, +and the calls are named "particular party" calls. In such connections +the calling patron is allowed to hang up his receiver, after his call is +recorded, and is called again when his correspondent is found and is +ready to talk. This makes _all calls for conversations_ outgoing ones. +Only recording operators receive calls _from_ patrons. Line operators +make calls _to_ patrons. + +=Trunking.= Long-distance lines entering a city usually terminate in one +office only, no matter how many offices the local exchange may have. It +is possible to terminate these long-distance lines on a position of the +multiple switchboard for local lines. For a variety of reasons this is +not practiced except in special cases. The usual method is to terminate +them in a special long-distance board and to provide trunk lines from +this board to the one or more local switchboards of the exchange. In +common-battery systems these toll trunks are so arranged that the called +local subscriber receives transmitter current from the office nearest to +him, yet is able to show the long-distance operator the position of his +switch hook and is able to be called by the long-distance operator +without the intervention of the switching operator in the local office, +even though two repeating coils may be in the trunk circuit. + +_Through Ringing._ There is a distinct traffic advantage in having the +ringing of the subscriber under the control of the long-distance +operator. The latter may call for the subscriber by stating her wish +over the call circuit associated with the long-distance trunk. The +connection having been made by the switching operator, the long-distance +operator may withhold ringing the subscriber's bell until all is in +readiness for the conversation. + +_High-Voltage Toll Trunks._ In some systems, the long-distance trunks +are further specialized by being enabled to furnish transmitter current +to subscribers at a higher voltage than is used in local conversations. +With a given construction of transmitters there is a critical maximum +current which can be carried by the granular carbon of the instrument +without excessive heating, consequent noises, and permanent damage. The +shortest lines and the longest lines of an exchange district being +served by a source of current common to all, the standard potential of +this source must be such as to give the longest lines current enough +without giving the shortest lines too much. The very longest local +lines, however, do not receive current enough from the standard +potential to give maximum efficiency when talking over long distances, +though they get enough for local conversations. By providing a battery +with a voltage twice that used for local conversations and connecting it +into the current supply element of the toll trunk through non-inductive +resistances, not too much current may be given to the shortest lines and +considerably more than normal current to the longest lines. + +=Ticket Passing.= When only one operator is necessary in a town, her +duty being to switch both local and long-distance lines, she may write +her own tickets and execute them entire. In larger communities with +larger long-distance traffic, the duties need to be specialized. The +subscribers' wants as to long-distance connections are given by +themselves to recording long-distance operators, who write them on +tickets and pass these to operators who get the parties together. The +problem of ticket-passing becomes important and many mechanical carriers +have been tried, culminating in the system which utilizes vacuum tubes. +This is in some ways similar to vacuum or compressed-air tube systems +for carrying cash in retail stores. The ticket is carried, however, +without any enclosing case and the tubes are flat instead of round, _i. +e._, they are rectangular in section. By suitable means a vacuum is +maintained in a large common tube having a tap to a box-like valve at +each line operator's position. A ticket tube connects this valve with a +distributing table at or near which the tickets are written. The tickets +are of uniform size and are so made as to enable a flap to be bent up +easily along one edge. The distributing operator has merely to insert +the ticket, bent edge foremost, in the open end of the tube, whereupon +the air pressure behind it will drive it through to its destination, +near by or far away. The tickets travel thirty feet a second. The tube +may be bent into almost any required form. The ticket, on arriving at a +line operator's position, slides between two springs, breaking a shunt +around a relay and allowing the latter to light the lamp. + +=Waystations.= Waystations on long-distance lines may be equipped in +several ways. Most of them have magneto sets and can ring each other. +Some are equipped with common-battery sets and get all current for +signaling and transmission from a terminal central office. In the latter +case, there is the advantage that the ringers are in series with +condensers, assisting greatly in tests for fault locations. Such tests +are hindered by the presence of ringer bridges across the line, as in +magneto practice. Condensers can be inserted in series with ringers of +magneto sets if the testing advantage is valued highly enough. A +disadvantage of the use of common-battery sets in waystations on +long-distance lines is the lessened transmission volume of the stations +farthest from the current source. + +_Center Checking._ An operating advantage of common-battery sets on +long-distance lines is that all calls are forced to be answered by the +terminal station. Waystations can not call each other, as they have no +calling means. With magneto sets, waystation agents sometimes call each +other direct and neglect to record the call and to remit its price. When +they can not call each other direct, the revenues of the company +increase. + +A traffic method which requires all calls from waystations to be made to +a central switching office is called a center-checking system. It is so +called because all checking for stations so switched is done at the +central point instead of each waystation keeping its own records of +calls sent and received. In such practice it is usual to bill each +station once a month for the messages it sent. Where center checking is +not practiced, the agent makes a report and sends a remittance. Center +checking comes about naturally for waystations having no ringing +equipment. + +Center checking originated long before the invention of common-battery +systems. It requires merely that no waystation shall have a generator +which can ring a bell. The method most widely used is to equip the +waystations with magneto generators which produce direct currents only; +such a generator cannot operate a polarized ringer. It is not usual to +produce the direct current by actually rectifying the alternating +current, but merely by omitting half the impulses, sending to the line +only alternate half-cycles of the current generated. Any drop or relay +adapted to respond to regular ringing current will respond to this +modified form of generator. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVII + +TELEPHONE TRAFFIC + + +The term "traffic," with reference to telephone service, has come to +mean the gross transaction of communication between telephone users. +This traffic may be expressed in whatever terms are found convenient for +the particular phase considered. + +=Unit of Traffic.= With reference to payment for local telephone +service, the conversation is the unit of traffic. In the daily +operations of telephone systems there are fewer conversations than there +are connections and fewer connections than there are calls, because +lines are found busy and all calls to subscribers are not answered. + +For these reasons, in traffic inquiries which have to do with the amount +of business which subscribers attempt to transact, the total traffic in +a given time usually is considered as so many calls originated by the +subscribers in the community. From this condition arises the term +"originating calls." + +For the reason that the purpose of the switching equipment in a central +office is to make connections, the abilities of operators and of +equipments frequently are measured in terms of connections per hour or +per other unit of time. + +For the reason that in charging for service all unavailing calls are +omitted, the conversation is the unit of traffic. + +=Traffic Variations.= Telephone-exchange traffic is subject to such +general variations as are noted in the way a compass needle points +north, the migrations of birds, the blowing of the trade winds, and +other natural phenomena. There are variations in traffic which occur +each day, others which change with the seasons, and still others which +are related to holidays and other special commercial and social events. +For instance, the day before Thanksgiving Day, in many regions, is the +busiest telephone traffic day in the year. + +[Illustration: WESTERN ELECTRIC MOTOR-GENERATOR CHARGING SET] + +The daily variations in telephone traffic are closely related to +commercial activities and certain general features of this daily +variation are common to all telephone systems everywhere. Fig. 452 is a +typical graphic record of the traffic of a telephone exchange and +represents what happens in almost every town or city. The total calls in +this figure are not given as absolute units but would vary to adapt the +figure to a particular case. The figure shows principally that the +traffic in the night is light; that it rises to its maximum height +somewhere between 10 o'clock A.M. and noon; that though it is never as +high again during that day, the afternoon peak is over 80 per cent as +great; and that two minor peaks appear about the dinner hour and after +evening entertainments. + +[Illustration: Fig. 452. Load Curve] + +_Busy-Hour Ratio._ If the story told by Fig. 452 were to be turned into +a table of calls per hour, the busiest hour of the day would be found to +correspond to the highest portion of the figure, and in that busiest +hour of the day, if a number of selected days were to be compared, would +be found a very constant traffic. The number of calls made, or the +number of connections completed, in that particular hour, day by day, +would be found to be much the same. The ratio of the number of units in +that hour to the number of units in that entire day would be found to +be practically the same ratio day by day. This ratio of busy hour to +total day would be found to be much more nearly constant than the gross +number of calls per hour or per day. + +In a large, busy city, about one-eighth of the total daily calls are in +some one hour; in a smaller, less active city, probably one-tenth are so +congested. This is reasonable when one remembers that in the larger city +the active business of the day begins later and ends earlier. + +=Importance of Traffic Study.= A knowledge of the amount of traffic in +an exchange, and its distribution as to time and as to the divisions of +the exchange, is important for a number of reasons. Traffic knowledge is +essential in order that the equipment may be designed and placed in the +proper way and the total load distributed properly on that apparatus and +its operators. + +For example, in an office equipped with a manual multiple switchboard, +the length of the switchboard is governed entirely by the number of +operators who must work before it. It is mechanically possible to make a +switchboard for ten thousand lines only 15 feet long, seating seven +operators. The entire multiple of ten thousand lines could appear three +times in such a switchboard. The seven operators could not handle the +traffic we know would be originated by ten thousand lines, with any +present system of charging for service. Even a rough knowledge of the +probable traffic would enable us to approximate the number of operators +needed and to equip each position, not only with access to the ten +thousand lines to be called, but also with just enough keyboard +equipment, serving as tools, and just enough answering jacks, serving as +means of bringing the traffic to her. It is foreknowledge of traffic +which enables a switchboard to fit the task it is to perform. + +=Rates of Calling.= The rates of calling of different kinds of lines +vary. The lines of business stations originate more calls than do the +lines of residences. Some kinds of business originate more calls than +others. Some kinds of business have a higher rate of calling in one +season than in others. Flat-rate lines originate more calls than do +message-rate lines. When a line changes from a flat rate to a message +rate, the number of originating calls per day decreases. An operator's +position, handling message-rate lines only, can serve more lines than if +all of them were at flat rates. The number of message-rate or +coin-prepayment lines which an operator's position can care for depends +not only on the traffic but on the method of charging for service, +whether by tickets or meters and upon the kind of meters; or it depends +on the method of collecting the coins. In some regions, the rate of +calling, on the introduction of a complete measured-service plan, has +been reduced to one-fourth of what it was on the flat-rate plan. + +In manual switchboards of early types, wherein the position of the +subscriber's answering jack was fixed by his telephone number, the +inequality of traffic became a serious problem. Most of the subscribers +who first installed telephones when the exchange was small, retained +their telephones and numbers; as their use of the telephone grew with +their business, it was customary to find the positions answering the +lower numbers much more busy than the positions answering the higher +numbers, the latter belonging to later and usually less active business +places. + +_Functions of Intermediate Distributing Frame._ The intermediate +distributing board was invented to meet these conditions of unequal +traffic upon lines and of variations in traffic with changes of seasons +and of charges. The intermediate distributing board enables a line to +retain its number and its position in the multiple, but to keep its +answering jack and lamp signal in any desired position. If a flat-rate +subscriber changes to a message rate, his line may be moved to a +message-rate position and be answered, in company with others like it, +by an operator serving many more lines than she could serve if all of +them were flat rate. + +=Methods of Traffic Study.= The best way to learn traffic facts for the +purposes of designing and operating equipment is to conduct systematic +series of observations in all exchanges; to record them in company with +all related facts; and to compare them from time to time, recording the +results of the comparisons. Then when it is required to solve a new +problem, the traffic data will enable the probable future conditions to +be known with as great exactness as is possible in studies with relation +to transportation or any other human activity. + +TABLE XIII + +Calling Rates + + +-------------------------+-------------------------------+ + | | CALLS PER DAY WITH DIFFERENT | + | KIND OF SERVICE | METHODS OF CHARGE | + | +-------------+-----------------+ + | | FLAT RATE | MESSAGE RATE | + +-------------------------+-------------+-----------------+ + |Residence | 8 | 4 | + |Business | 12 to 20 | 8 to 14 | + |Private Exchange Trunk | 40 | 25 | + |Hotel Exchange Trunk | 50 | 30 | + |Apartment House Trunk | 30 | 18 | + +-------------------------+-------------+-----------------+ + +There are three general ways of observing traffic. A record of +originating calls is known as a "peg count," because the counting +formerly was done by moving a peg from place to place in a series of +holes. The simplest exact way is to provide each operator with a small +mechanical counter, the key of which she can depress once for each call +to be counted. A second way is to determine a ratio which exists, for +the particular time and place, between the number of calls in a given +period and the average number of cord circuits in use. Knowing this +ratio, the cord circuits can be counted, the ratio applied, and the +probable total known. The third method, which is applicable to offices +having service meters on all lines, is to associate one master meter per +position or group of lines with all the meters of that position or +group, so that each time any service meter of that position is operated, +the master meter will count one unit. This method applies to either +manual or automatic equipments. + +=Representative Traffic Data.= For purposes of comparison, the following +are representative facts as to certain traffic conditions. + +_Calling Rates._ The number of calls originated per day by different +kinds of lines with different methods of charge are shown in Table XIII. + +_Operators' Loads._ The abilities of subscribers' operators to switch +these calls depend on the type of equipment used, on the kind of +management exercised, and on the individual skill of operators. With +manual multiple equipment of the common-battery type, and good +management, the numbers of originating calls per busy hour given in +Table XIV can be handled by an average operator. The number of calls per +operator per busy hour depends upon the amount of trunking to other +offices which that operator is required to do. In a small city, for +example, where all the lines are handled by one switchboard, there is no +local switching problem except to complete the connection in the +multiple before each position. In a large city, where wire economy and +mechanical considerations compel the lines to be handled by a number of +offices with manual equipment, some portion of the total originating +load of each office must be trunked to others. Table XIV shows that an +increase of 90 per cent in the amount of out-trunking has decreased the +operator's ability to less than 70 per cent of the possible maximum. + +TABLE XIV + +Effect of Out-Trunking on Operator's Capacity + + +----------------------------+---------------------------------------+ + |PER CENT ORIGINATING CALLS | CAPACITY OF SUBSCRIBERS' OPERATOR'S | + |TRUNKED TO OTHER OFFICES | POSITION IN CALLS PER BUSY HOUR | + +----------------------------+---------------------------------------+ + | 0 | 240 | + | 10 | 230 | + | 30 | 200 | + | 50 | 185 | + | 75 | 170 | + | 90 | 165 | + +----------------------------+---------------------------------------+ + +_Trunking Factor._ In providing the system of trunks interconnecting the +offices, whether the equipment be manual or automatic, it is essential +to know not only how much traffic originates in each office, but how +much of it will be trunked to each other office and how many trunks will +be required. An interesting phase of telephone traffic studies is that +it is possible to determine in advance the amount of traffic which can +be completed directly in the multiple of that office and how much must +be trunked elsewhere. Theoretical considerations would indicate that if +the local multiple contains one-eighth of the total lines of the city, +one-eighth of the calls originating in that office could be completed +locally and seven-eighths would be trunked out. In almost all cases, +however, it is found that more than the theoretical percentage of +originating calls are for the neighborhood of that office and can be +completed in the multiple. This results in the determination of a factor +by which the theoretical out-trunking can be multiplied to determine the +probable real out-trunking. In most cases, the ratio of actual to +theoretical out-trunking is 75 per cent, or approximately that. In +special cases, it may be far from 75 per cent. + +_Trunk Efficiency._ The capacities of trunks vary with their methods of +operation and with the number of trunks in a group. For example, in the +manual system where trunk operators in distant offices are instructed +over call circuits and make disconnections in response to lamp signals, +such an incoming trunk operator can complete from 250 to 500 connections +per busy hour. The actual ability depends upon the number of distant +offices served by that operator and upon the amount of work she has to +perform on each call. + +The number of messages which can be handled by one trunk in the busy +hour will depend upon the number of trunks in the group and upon the +system employed. It appears that the ability of trunks in this regard is +higher in the automatic system than in the manual system. For the +latter, Table XV gives representative facts. + +TABLE XV + +Messages per Trunk in Manual System + + +----------------------------+------------------------+ + | NUMBER OF TRUNKS IN GROUP, | MESSAGES PER TRUNK PER | + | MANUAL SYSTEM | BUSY HOUR | + +----------------------------+------------------------+ + | 5 | 7 | + | 10 | 9 | + | 20 | 12 | + | 40 | 15 | + | 60 | 18 | + +----------------------------+------------------------+ + +Some of the reasons for the higher efficiencies of trunks in the +automatic system are not well defined, but unquestionably exist. They +have to do partly with the prompter answering observable in automatic +systems. The operation of calling being simple, a called subscriber +seems to fear that unless he answers promptly the calling party will +disconnect and perhaps may call a competitor. The introduction of +machine-ringing on automatic lines, where existing in competition with +manual ringing on manual lines, seems to encourage subscribers to answer +even more promptly. The length of conversation in automatic systems +seems to be shorter than in manual systems. Still more important, +disconnection in automatic systems is instantaneous during all hours, +whereas in manual systems it is less prompt in the busiest and least +busy hours than in the hours of intermediate congestion. The practical +results of trunk efficiencies in automatic systems are given in Table +XVI. + +TABLE XVI + +Messages per Trunk in Automatic System + + +----------------------------+------------------------+ + | NUMBER OF TRUNKS IN GROUP, | MESSAGES PER TRUNK PER | + | AUTOMATIC SYSTEM | BUSY HOUR | + +----------------------------+------------------------+ + | 5 | 15 | + | 10 | 22 | + | 20 | 28 | + | 40 | 32 | + | 60 | 34 | + +----------------------------+------------------------+ + +_Toll Traffic._ Toll or long-distance traffic follows the general laws +of local or exchange traffic. Conversations are of greater average +length in long-distance traffic. The long-distance line is held longer +for an average conversation than is a local-exchange line. The local +trunks which connect long-distance lines with exchange lines for +conversation are held longer than are the actual long-distance trunks +between cities. Knowing the probable traffic to be brought to the +long-distance switching center by the long-distance trunks from exchange +centers, the number of trunks required may be determined by knowing the +capacity of each trunk. These trunk capacities vary with the method of +handling the traffic and they vary as do local trunks with the number of +trunks in a group. Table XVII illustrates this variation of capacity +with sizes of groups. + +TABLE XVII + +Messages per Trunk in Long-Distance Groups + + +--------------------------+-------------------------+ + | NUMBER OF LONG-DISTANCE | MESSAGES PER TRUNK PER | + | TRUNKS IN GROUP | BUSY HOUR | + +--------------------------+-------------------------+ + | 5 | 2 | + | 10 | 3 | + | 20 | 3.2 | + | 40 | 3.5 | + | 60 | 4 | + | 100 | 4.6 | + +--------------------------+-------------------------+ + +=Quality of Service.= The quality of telephone service rendered by a +particular equipment managed in a particular way depends on a great +variety of elements. The handling of the traffic presented by patrons is +a true manufacturing problem. The quality of the service rendered +requires continuous testing in order that the management may know +whether the service is reaching the standard; whether the standard is +high enough; whether the cost of producing it can be reduced without +lowering the quality; and whether the patrons are getting from it as +much value as they might. + +In manual systems, the quality of telephone service depends upon a +number of elements. The following are some principal ones: + + 1. Prompt answering. + + 2. Prompt disconnection. + + 3. Freedom from errors in connecting with the called line. + + 4. Promptness in connecting with the called line. + + 5. Courtesy and the use of form. + + 6. Freedom from failure by busy lines and failure to answer. + + 7. Clear enunciation. + + 8. Team work. + +_Answering Time._ There is an interrelation between these elements. Team +work assists both answering and prompt disconnection. The quality of +telephone service can not be measured alone in terms of prompt +answering. Formerly telephone service was boasted of as being +"three-second service" if most of the originating calls were answered in +three seconds. Often such prompt answering reacts to prevent prompt +disconnecting. Patient, systematic work is required to learn the real +quality of the service. + +As to answering, the clearest, truest statement concerning manual +service is found by making test calls to each position, dividing them +into groups of various numbers of whole seconds each, and comparing the +percentage of these groups to the whole number of telephones to that +position. For example, assume each of the calls to a given position to +have been answered in ten seconds or less, in which + + 100 per cent are answered in ten seconds or less; + + 80 per cent in eight seconds or less; + + 60 per cent in six seconds or less. + +It is probable that a reasonably uniform manual service will show only a +small percentage answered in three seconds or under. Such percentages +may be drawn in the form of curves, so that at a glance one may learn +efficiency in terms of prompt answering. + +_Disconnecting Time._ Prompt disconnection was improved enormously by +the introduction of relay manual boards. Just before the installation of +relay boards in New York City, the average disconnecting time was over +seventeen seconds. On the completion of an entire relay equipment, the +average disconnecting time was found to be under three seconds. The +introduction of relay manual apparatus has led subscribers to a larger +traffic and to the making of calls which succeed each other very +closely. A most important rule is, _that disconnect signals shall be +given prompt attention either by the operator who made the connection, +by an operator adjacent, or by a monitor who may be assisting_; and +another, still more important one is, _that a flashing keyboard lamp +indicating a recall shall be given precedence over all originating and +all other disconnect signals_. + +_Accuracy and Promptness._ Promptness and accuracy in connecting with +the called line are vital, and yet a large percentage of errors in these +elements might exist in an exchange having a very high average speed of +answering the originating call. Indeed, it seems quite the rule that +where the effort of the management is devoted toward securing and +maintaining extreme speed of original answering, all the other elements +suffer in due proportion. + +_Courtesy and Form._ It goes without saying that operators should be +courteous; but it is necessary to say it, and keep saying it in the most +effective form, in order to prevent human nature under the most +exasperating circumstances from lapsing a little from the standard, +however high. The use of form assists both the operators and the +subscribers, because in all matters of strict routine it is much easier +to secure high speed and great accuracy by making as many as possible of +the operations automatic. The use of the word "number" and other +well-accepted formalities has assisted greatly in securing speed, clear +understanding, and accurate performance. The simple expedient of +spelling numbers by repeating the figures in a detached form--as "1-2-5" +for 125--has taught subscribers the same expedient, and the percentage +of possible error is materially reduced by going one step further and +having the operator, in repeating, use always the opposite form from +that spoken by the calling subscriber. + +_Busy and Don't Answer Calls._ Notwithstanding the old impression of the +public to the contrary, the operator has no control over the "busy line" +and "don't answer" situation. It is, however, of high importance that +the management should know, by the analysis of repeated and exhaustive +tests of the service, to what extent these troubles are degrading it. In +addition to improving the service by the elimination of busy reports, +there is no means of increasing revenue which is so easy and so certain +as that which comes from following up the tabulated results of busy +calls. + +_Enunciation._ It must be remembered that clear enunciation for +telephone purposes is a matter wholly relative, and the ability of an +operator in this regard can be determined only by a close analysis of +many observations from the standpoint of a subscriber. A trick of speech +rather than a pleasant voice and an easy address has made the answering +ability of many an operator captivating to a group of satisfied +subscribers. + +_Team Work._ By team work is meant the ability of a group of operators, +seated side by side, to work together as a unit in caring for the +service brought to them by the answering jacks within their reach. In +switchboards of the construction usual today, a call before any operator +may be answered by her, or by the operator at either the right or the +left of her position. In many exchanges this advantage is wholly +overlooked. In the period of general re-design of central-office +equipments about fourteen years ago, a switchboard was installed with +mechanical visual signals and answering-jacks on a flat-top board, and +an arrangement of operators such that the signal of any call was +extremely prominent and in easy reach of each one of four or possibly +five operators. Associated with the line signals within the reach of +such a group was an auxiliary lamp signal which would light when a call +was made by any of the lines so terminating. It was found that with this +arrangement the calls were answered in a strictly even manner, special +rushes being cared for by the joint efforts of the group rather than +serving to swamp the operator who happened to be in charge of the +particular section affected by the rush. + +This principle has been tried out in so many ways that it is astonishing +that it is not recognized as being a vital one. The whole matter is +accomplished by impressing upon each operator that her duty is, _not_ to +answer the calls of a specific number of lines before her, but to +answer, with such promptness as is possible, _any call which is within +the reach of her answering equipment_. + +=Observation of Service.= All that is required to be known concerning +the form of address and courtesy may be learned by a close observation +of the operators' work by the chief operators and monitors, and by the +use of listening circuits permanently connected to the operators' sets. +It is naturally necessary that the use of these listening circuits by +the chief operator or her assistants must not be known to the operators +at the times of use, even though they may know of the existence of such +facilities. + +With a well-designed and properly maintained automatic equipment, the +eight elements of good manual service reduce themselves to only one or +two. Freedom from failure by busy lines and failure to answer are +service-qualities independent of the kind of switching apparatus. Too +great a percentage of busy calls for a given line indicates that the +telephone facilities for calls incoming to that subscriber are +inadequate. The best condition would be for each subscriber to have +lines enough so that none of them ever would be found busy. This is the +condition the telephone company tries to establish between its various +offices. + +In manual practice it is possible to keep such records as will enable +the traffic department to know when the lines to a subscriber are +insufficient for the traffic trying to reach him. As soon as such facts +are known, they can be laid before the subscriber so that he may arrange +for additional incoming lines. In automatic practice this is not so +simple, as the source and destination of traffic in general is not so +clearly known to the traffic department. Automatic recorders of busy +calls are necessary to enable the facts to be tabulated. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXVIII + +MEASURED SERVICE + + +In the commercial relation between the public and a telephone system, +the commodity which is produced by the latter and consumed by the former +is telephone service. Users often consider that payment is made for +rental of telephone apparatus and to some persons the payment per month +seems large for the rental of a mere telephone which could be bought +outright for a few dollars. + +The telephone instrument is but a small part of the physical property +used by a patron of a telephone system. Even the _entire_ group of +property elements used by a patron in receiving telephone service +represents much less than what really is his proportion of the +service-rendering effort. What the patron receives is service and its +value during a time depends largely on how much of it he uses in that +time, and less on the number of telephones he can call. + +_The cost of telephone service varies as the amount of use._ It is just, +therefore, that the selling price should vary as the amount of use. + +=Rates.= There are two general methods of charging for telephone service +and of naming rates for this charge. These are called flat rates and +measured-service rates. The latter are also known as message rates, +because the message or conversation is the unit. Flat rates are those +which are also known as rentals. The service furnished under flat rates +is also known as unlimited service, for the reason that under it a +patron pays the same amount each month and is entitled to hold as many +conversations--send as many messages and make as many calls--as he +wishes, without any additional payment. In the measured-service plan, +the amount of payment in a month varies in some way with the amount of +use, depending on the plan adopted. The patron may pay a fixed base +amount per month, entitling him to have equipment for telephone service +and to receive messages, but being required to pay, in addition to this +base amount, a sum which is determined by the number of messages which +he sends. Or he may pay a base amount per month and be entitled to have +the equipment, to receive calls, and to send a certain number of +messages, paying specifically in addition only for messages exceeding +that certain number. + +Whether flat rates or measured-service rates are practiced, the general +tendency is to establish lower rates for service in homes than in +business places. This is another recognition of the justice of +graduating the rates in accordance with the amount of use. + +=Units of Charging.= While both the flat-rate and the measured-rate +methods of charging for unlimited and measured service are practiced in +local exchanges, long-distance service universally is sold at message +rates. The unit of message rates in long-distance service is time. The +charge for a message between two points joined by long-distance lines +usually is a certain sum for a conversation three minutes long plus a +certain sum for each additional minute or fraction of a minute. In local +service, the message-rate time charge per message takes less account of +the time unit. The conversation is almost universally the unit in +exchanges. Some managements restrict messages of multi-party lines to +five minutes per conversation, because of the desire to avoid +withholding the line from other parties upon it for too long periods. +Service sold at public stations similarly is restricted as to time, even +though the message be local to the exchange. Three to five minutes local +conversation is sold generally for five cents in the United States. The +time of the average local message, counting actual conversation time +only, is one hundred seconds. + +=Toll Service.= _Long Haul._ In long-distance service, there are two +general methods of handling traffic, as to the relations between the +calling and the called stations. For the greater distances, as between +cities not closely related because not belonging to one general +community, the calling patron calls a particular person and pays nothing +unless he holds conversation with that person. In this method, the +operator records the name of the person called for; the name, telephone +number, or both, of the person calling; the names of the towns where the +message originated and ended; the date, the time conversation began, and +the length of time it lasted. + +_Short Haul._ Where towns are closely related in commercial and social +ways and where the traffic is large and approaches local service in +character, and yet where conversations between them are charged at +different rates than are local calls within them, a more rapid system of +toll charging than that just described is of advantage. In these +conditions, patrons are not sold a service which allows a particular +party to be named and found, nor is the identity of the calling person +required. The operator needs to know merely of these calls that they +originate at a certain telephone and are for a certain other. The facts +she must record are fewer and her work is simpler. Therefore, the cost +of such switching is less than for true long-distance calls and it can +be learned by careful auditing just when traffic between points becomes +great enough to warrant switching them in this way. Such switching, for +example, exists between New York and Brooklyn, between Chicago and +suburbs around it which have names of their own but really are part of +the community of Chicago, and between San Francisco and other cities +which cluster around San Francisco Bay. + +Calls of the "long-haul" class are known as "particular person" or +"particular party" calls, while "short-haul" calls are known as +"two-number" long-distance calls. It is customary to handle particular +party calls on long-distance switchboards and to handle two-number calls +in manual systems on subscribers' switchboards exactly like local calls, +except that the two-number calls are ticketed. It is customary in +automatic systems to handle two-number calls by means of the regular +automatic equipment plus ticketing by a suburban or two-number operator. + +_Timing Toll Connections._ It formerly was customary to measure the time +of long-distance conversations by noting on the ticket the time of its +beginning and the time of its ending, the operator reading the time from +a clock. For human and physical reasons, such timing seems not to be +considered infallible by the patron who pays the charge, and in cases of +dispute concerning overtime charges so timed, telephone companies find +it wisest to make concessions. The physical cause of error in reading +time from a clock is that of parallax; that is, the error which arises +from the fact that the minute hand of a clock is some distance from the +surface of the dial so that one can "look under it." On an ordinary +clock having a large face and its minute hand pointing upward or +downward, five people standing in a row could read five different times +from it at the same instant. The middle person might see the minute +hand pointing at 6, indicating the time to be half-past something; +whereas, person No. 1 and person No. 5 in the row might read the time +respectively 29 and 31 minutes past something. Operators far to the +right or to the left of a clock will get different readings, and an +operator below a clock will get different kinds of readings at different +times and correct readings at few times. + +Timing Machines:--Machines which record time directly on long-distance +tickets are of value and machines which automatically compute the time +elapsing during a conversation are of much greater value. The +calculagraph is a machine of the latter class. The use of some such +machine uniformly reduces controversy as to time which really elapsed. +Parallax errors are avoided. The record possesses a dignity which +carries conviction. + +[Illustration: Fig. 453. Calculagraph Records] + +Calculagraph records are shown in Fig. 453. In the one shown in the +upper portion of this figure, the conversation began at 10.44 P.M. This +is shown by the right-hand dial of the three which constitute the +record. The minutes past 10 o'clock are shown by the hand within the +dial and the hour 10 is shown by the triangular mark just outside the +dial between X and XI. + +The duration of the conversation is shown by the middle and the +left-hand dials. The figures on both these dials indicate minutes. The +middle dial indicates roughly that the conversation lasted for a time +between 0 and 5 minutes. The left-hand dial indicates with greater +exactness that the conversation lasted one and one-quarter minutes. + +The hand of the left-hand dial makes one revolution in five minutes; of +the middle dial, one revolution in an hour. The middle dial tells how +many full periods of five minutes have elapsed and the left-hand dial +shows the excess over the five-minute interval. + +The lower portion of Fig. 453 is a similar record beginning at the same +time of day, but lasting about five and one-half minutes. As before, the +readings of the two dials are added to get the elapsed time. + +[Illustration: Fig. 454. Relative Position of Hands and Dials] + +The right-hand dial, showing merely time of day, stands still while its +hands revolve. The dies which print the dials and hands of the middle +and the left-hand records rotate together. Examining the machine, one +finds that the hands of these dials always point to zero. The middle +dial and hand make one complete revolution in an hour; the left-hand +dial and hand, one in five minutes. In making the records, the dials are +printed at the beginning and the hands at the end of the conversation. +Therefore, the hands will have moved forward during the +conversation--still pointing to zero in both cases--but when printed the +hands will point to some other place than they were pointing when the +dials were printed. In this way, their angular distances truly indicate +the lapse of time. Fig. 454 shows the relative position of the hands and +dials within the machine at all times. It will be noted that the arrow +of the left-hand dial does not point exactly to zero. This is due to the +fact that the dials and hands are printed by separate operations and +cannot be printed simultaneously. + +[Illustration: WESTERN ELECTRIC RINGING MACHINE] + +Another method of timing toll connections has been developed by the +Monarch Telephone Manufacturing Company. This employs a master clock of +great accuracy, which may be mounted on the wall anywhere in the +building or another building if desired. A circuit leads from this clock +to a time-stamp device on the operator's key shelf, and the clock closes +this circuit every quarter minute. The impulses thus sent over the +circuit energize the magnet of the time stamp, which steps a train of +printing wheels around so as always to keep them set in such position as +to properly print the correct time on a ticket whenever the head of the +stamp is moved by the operator into contact with the ticket. A large +number of such stamps may be operated from the same master clock. By +printing the starting time of a connection below the finishing time the +computation of lapsed time becomes a matter of subtraction. A typical +toll ticket with the beginning and ending time printed by the time stamp +in the upper left-hand corner and the elapsed time recorded by hand in +the upper right-hand corner is shown in Fig. 455. It is seen that this +stamp records in the order mentioned the month, the day, the hour, the +minute and quarter minute, the A.M. and P.M. division of the day, and +the year. + +[Illustration: Fig. 455. Toll Ticket Used with Monarch System] + +An interesting feature of this system is that the same master clock may +be made in a similar manner to actuate secondary clocks placed at +subscribers' stations, the impulses being sent over wires in the same +cables as those containing the subscribers' lines. This system, +therefore, serves not only as a means for timing the toll tickets and +operating time stamps wherever they are required in the business of the +telephone company, but also to supply a general clock and time-stamp +service to the patrons of the telephone company as a "by-product" of the +general telephone business. + +Exchange service is measured in terms of conversations without much +regard to their length. The payment for the service may be made at the +time it is received, as in public stations and at telephones equipped +with coin prepayment devices; or the calls from a telephone may be +recorded and collection for them made at agreed intervals. In the +prepayment method the price per call is uniform. In the deferred payment +method the calls are recorded as they are made, their number summed up +at intervals, and the amount due determined by the price per call. The +price per call may vary with the number of calls sold. A large user may +have a lower rate per call than a small user. + +=Local Service.= _Ticket Method._ Measured local service sometimes is +recorded by means of tickets, similarly to the described method of +charging long-distance calls, except that the time of day and the +duration of conversation are not so important. Where local ticketing is +practiced, it is usual to write on the ticket only the number of the +calling telephone and the date, and to pass into the records only those +tickets which represent actual conversations, keeping out tickets +representing calls for busy lines and calls which were not answered. + +_Meter Method._ The requirements of speed in good local service are +opposed to the ticketing method. Where measured service is supplied to a +substantial proportion of the lines of a large exchange, +electro-mechanical service meters are attached to the lines. These +service meters register as a consequence of some act on the part of the +switchboard operator, or may be caused to register by the answering of +the called subscriber. + +[Illustration: Fig. 456. Connection Meter] + +In manual practice, meters of the type shown in Fig. 456 are associated +with the lines as in Fig. 457. The meters are mounted separately from +the switchboard, needing only to be connected to the test-strand of the +line by cabled wires. If desired, the meter may be mounted on racks in +quarters especially devoted to them, and the cases in which the racks +are mounted may be kept locked. In such an arrangement the meters are +read from time to time through the glass doors of the cases. + +The meters are caused to operate by pressure on the meter key _MK_, +associated with the answering cord as in Fig. 458. This increases the +normal potential to 30 volts. When the armature of the meter has made a +part of its stroke, it closes a contact which places its 40-ohm winding +in shunt with its 500-ohm winding, thus furnishing ample power for +turning the meter wheels. + +[Illustration: Fig. 457. Western Electric Line Circuit and Service +Meter] + +Such meters are in common use in large exchanges, notable examples being +the cities of New York and London. In London, there is a zone within +which the price per call is one penny and between which and other zones +the price is twopence. Calls within the zone either are completed by the +answering operator directly in the multiple before her or are trunked to +other offices in that zone. Calls for points outside of that zone are +trunked to other offices and in giving the order the operator finds that +the call circuit key lights a special signal lamp before her. This +reminds her that the call is at a twopence price, so in recording it she +presses the meter key twice. This counts two units on the meter and the +units are billed at a penny each. + +In automatic systems it is not possible to operate a meter system in +which the operator will press a key for each call to be charged, because +there is no operator. In such systems--a notable example being the +measured-service automatic system in San Francisco--the meter registers +only upon the answering of the called subscriber. Calls for lines found +busy and calls which are not answered do not register. Calls for +long-distance recording operators, two-number ticket operators, +information, complaint, and other company departments are not +registered. In the Chinatown quarter of San Francisco, where most calls +begin and end in the neighborhood, service is sold at an unlimited flat +rate for neighborhood calls and at a message rate for other calls. The +meter system recognizes this condition and does not register calls +_from_ Chinese subscribers _for_ Chinese subscribers, though it does +register calls from Chinese subscribers to Caucasian subscribers. The +nature of the system is such as to enable it to discriminate as to +races, localities, or other peculiarities as may be desired. + +[Illustration: Fig. 458. Western Electric Cord Circuit and Service Meter +Key] + +In the manual meter circuits of Figs. 457 and 458, the meter windings +have no relation to the line conductors. In the automatic arrangement +just described, there are meter windings in the line during times of +calling, but none in the line during times of conversation. The balance +of the line, therefore, is undisturbed at all times wherein balance is +of any importance. + +In both systems just described, the meters of all lines are in their +respective central offices. Meters for use at subscribers' stations have +been devised and there is no fundamental reason why the record might not +be made at the subscriber's station instead of, or in addition to, a +central-office record. Experience has shown that confidence in a meter +system can be secured if the meters be positive, accurate, and reliable. +The labor of reading the meters is much less when they are kept in +central offices. Subscribers may have access to them if they wish. + +_Prepayment Method._ Prepayment measured-service mechanisms permit a +coin or token to be dropped into a machine at the subscriber's telephone +at the time the conversation is held. A variety of forms of telephone +coin collectors are in use, their operations being fundamentally either +electrical or mechanical. + +Electrically operated coin collectors require either that the coin be +dropped into the machine in order to enable the central office to be +signaled in manual systems, or the switches to be operated in automatic +systems, or they require that the coin be dropped into the machine after +calling, but before the conversation is permitted. + +Western Electric Company coin collectors, shown in Fig. 459, may be +operated in either way in connection with manual systems. The usual way +is to require the coin to be dropped before the central-office line lamp +can glow. The operator then rings the called subscriber and upon his +answering places a sufficient potential upon the calling line to operate +the polarized relay and to drop the coin into the cash box. If the +called subscriber does not answer or his line is busy, potential is +placed on the calling line, moving the polarized relay in the other +direction and dropping the coin into a return chute so that the +subscriber may take it. If it is preferred that the coin be paid only on +the request of the operator, the return feature need not be provided. + +In both forms of operation, the Western Electric coin collector is +adapted to bridge its polarized relay between one limb of the line and +ground during the time a coin rests on the pins, as shown in Fig. 459. +When no coin is on the pins--_i. e._, before calling and after the +called station responds--the relay is not so bridged. + +[Illustration: Fig. 459. Principle of Western Electric Coin Collector] + +The armature of the relay responds only to a high potential and this is +applied by the operator. If the coin is to be taken by the company, one +polarity is sent; if it is to be returned to the patron, the other +polarity is sent. These polarities are applied to a limb of the line +proper. It will be recalled that pressures to actuate service meters are +applied to the test-strand. If wished, keys may be arranged so as to +apply 30 volts to the test-strand and the collecting potential to the +line at the same operation. This enables the service meter to count the +tokens placed in the cash box of the coin collector, and serves as a +valuable check. + +In automatic systems, in one arrangement, coin collectors are arranged +so that no impulses can be sent unless a coin has been deposited, the +coin automatically passing to the cash box when the called subscriber +answers, or to the patron if it is not answered. In another arrangement, +calls are made exactly as in unlimited service, but a coin must be +deposited before a conversation can be held. The calling person can hear +the called party speak and may speak himself but can not be heard until +the coin is deposited. No coin-return mechanism is required in this +method. + +Coin collectors of these types usually are adapted to receive only one +kind of coin, these, in the United States, being either nickels or +dimes. For long-distance service, where the charges vary, it is +necessary to signal to an operator just what coins are paid. It is +uniformly customary to send these signals by sound, the collector being +so arranged that the coins strike gongs. In coin collectors of the Gray +Telephone Paystation Company, the coins strike these gongs by their own +weight in falling through chutes. In coin collectors of the Baird +Electric Company, the power for the signals is provided by hand power, a +lever being pulled for each coin deposited. Both methods are in wide +use. + + + + +CHAPTER XXXIX + +PHANTOM, SIMPLEX, AND COMPOSITE CIRCUITS + + +=Definitions.= Phantom circuits are arrangements of telephone wires +whereby more working, non-interfering telephone lines exist than there +are sets of actual wires. When four wires are arranged to provide three +metallic circuits for telephone purposes, two of the lines are physical +circuits and one is a phantom circuit. + +Simplex and composite circuits are arrangements of wires whereby +telephony and telegraphy can take place at the same time over the same +wires without interference. + +[Illustration: Fig. 460. Phantom Circuit] + +=Phantom.= In Fig. 460 four wires join two offices. _RR_ are repeating +coils, designed for efficient transforming of both talking and ringing +currents. The devices marked _A_ in this and the following figures are +air-gap arresters. Currents from the telephones connected to either +physical pair of wires pass, at any instant, in opposite directions in +the two wires of the pair. The phantom circuit uses one of the physical +pairs as a _wire_ of its line. It does this by tapping the middle point +of the line side of each of the repeating coils. The impedance of the +repeating-coil winding is lowered because, all the windings being on +the same core, the phantom line currents pass from the middle to the +outer connections so as to neutralize each other's influence. The +currents of the phantom circuit, unlike those of the physical circuits, +are _in the same direction_ in both wires of a pair at any instant. +Their potentials, therefore, are equal and simultaneous. + +A phantom circuit is formed most simply when both physical lines end in +the same two offices. If one physical line is longer than the other, a +phantom circuit may be formed as in Fig. 461, wherein the repeating coil +is inserted in the longer line where it passes through a terminal +station of the shorter. + +[Illustration: Fig. 461. Phantom from Two Physical Circuits of Unequal +Length] + +[Illustration: Fig. 463. Two Phantoms Joined by Physical Circuit] + +A circuit may be built up by adding a physical circuit to a phantom. A +circuit may be made up of two or more phantom circuits, joined by +physical ones. In Fig. 462 a phantom circuit is extended by the use of a +physical circuit, while in Fig. 463, two phantom circuits are joined by +placing between them a physical circuit. + +[Illustration: Fig. 462. Phantom Extended by Physical Circuit] + +_Transpositions._ In phantom circuits formed merely by inserting +repeating coils in physical circuits and doing nothing else, an exact +balance of the sides of the phantom circuit is lacking. The resistances, +insulations, and capacities to earth of the sides may be equal, but the +exposures to adjacent telephone and telegraph circuits and to power +circuits will not be equal unless the phantom circuits are transposed. + +To transpose a set of lines of two physical wires each, is not +complicated, though it must be done with care and in accordance with a +definite, foreknown plan. Transposing phantom circuits is less simple, +however, as four wires per circuit have to be transposed, instead of +two. + +[Illustration: Fig. 464. Transposition of Phantom Circuits] + +In Fig. 464, the general spacing of transposition sections is the usual +one, 1,300 feet, of the _ABCB_ system widely in use. The pole circuit, +on pins _5_ and _6_ of the upper arm, is transposed once each two miles. +The pole circuit of the second arm transposes either once or twice a +mile. But neither pole circuit differs in transposition from any other +regular scheme except in the frequency of transposition. All the other +wires of each arm, however, are so arranged that each wire on either +side of the pole circuit moves from pin to pin at section-ends, till it +has completed a cycle of changes over all four of the pins on its side. +In doing so, each phantom circuit is transposed with proper regard to +each of the other three on that twenty-wire line. + +The "new transposition" lettering in Fig. 464 is for the purpose of +identifying the exact scheme of wiring each transposition pole. The +complication of wiring at each transposition pole is increased by the +adoption of phantom circuits. Maintenance of all the circuits is made +more costly and less easy unless the work at points of transposition is +done with care and skill. Phantom circuits, to be always successful, +require that the physical circuits be balanced and kept so. + +_Transmission over Phantom Circuits._ Under proper conditions phantom +circuits are better than physical circuits, and in this respect it may +be noted that some long-distance operating companies instruct their +operators always to give preference to phantom circuits, because of the +better transmission over them. The use of phantom circuits is confined +almost wholly to open-wire circuits; and while the capacity of the +phantom circuit is somewhat greater than that of the physical circuit, +its resistance is considerably smaller. In the actual wire the phantom +loop is only half the resistance of either of the physical lines from +which it is made, for it contains twice as much copper. The resistance +of the repeating coils, however, is to be added. + +=Simplex.= Simplex telegraph circuits are made from metallic circuit +telephone lines, as shown in Fig. 465. The principle is identical with +that of phantom telephone circuits. The potentials placed on the +telephone line by the telegraph operations are equal and simultaneous. +They cause no current to flow _around_ the telephone loop, only _along_ +it. If all qualities of the loop are balanced, the telephones will not +overhear the telegraph impulses. In the figure, _AA_ are arresters, as +before, _GG_ are Morse relays; a 2-microfarad condenser is shunted +around the contact of each Morse key _F_ to quench the noises due to the +sudden changes on opening the keys between dots and dashes. + +[Illustration: Fig. 465. Simplex Telegraph Circuit] + +A simplex arrangement even more simple substitutes impedance coils for +the repeating coils of Fig. 465. The operation of the Morse circuit is +the same. An advantage of such a circuit, as shown in Fig. 466, is that +the telephone circuit does not suffer from the two repeating-coil losses +in series. A disadvantage is, that in ringing on such a line with a +grounded generator, the Morse relays are caused to chatter. + +[Illustration: Fig. 466. Simplex Telegraph Circuit] + +The circuit of Fig. 465 may be made to fit the condition of a through +telephone line and a way telegraph station. The midway Morse apparatus +of Fig. 467 is looped in by a combination of impedance coils and +condensers. The plans of Figs. 465 and 466 here are combined, with the +further idea of stopping direct and passing alternating currents, as is +so well accomplished by the use of condensers. + +[Illustration: Fig. 467. Simplex Circuit with Waystation] + +[Illustration: Fig. 468. Composite Circuit] + +=Composite.= Composite circuits depend on another principle than that of +producing equal and simultaneous potentials on the two wires of the +telephone loop. The opposition of impedance coils to alternating +currents and of condensers to direct currents are the fundamentals. The +early work in this art was done by Van Rysselberghe, of Belgium. In Fig. +468, one telephone circuit forms two Morse circuits, two wires carrying +three services. Each Morse circuit will be seen to include, serially, +two 50-ohm impedance coils, and to have shunts through condensers to +ground. The 50-ohm coils are connected differentially, offering low +consequent impedance to Morse impulses, whose frequency of interruption +is not great. As the impedance coils are large, have cores of +considerable length, and are wound with two separate though serially +connected windings each, their impedance to voice currents is great. +They act as though they were not connected differentially, so far as +voice currents are concerned. + +Because of the condensers serially in the telephone line, voice currents +can pass through it, but direct currents can not. Impulses due to +discharges of cores, coils, and capacities in the Morse circuit _could_ +make sounds in the telephones, but these are choked out, or led to earth +by the 30-ohm impedance coils and the heavy Morse condensers. + +=Ringing.= Ringing over simplex circuits is done in the way usual where +no telegraph service is added. Both telegraphy and telephony over +simplex circuits follow their usual practice in the way of calling and +conversing. In composite working, however, ringing by usual methods +either is impossible because of heavy grounds and shunts, or if it is +possible to get ringing signals through at all, the relays of the Morse +apparatus will chatter, interfering with the proper use of the telegraph +portion of the service. + +It is customary, therefore, either to equip composite circuits with +special signaling devices by which high-frequency currents pass over the +telephone circuits, operating relays which in turn operate local ringing +signals; or to refrain from ringing on composite circuits and to +transmit orders for connections by telegraph. The latter is wholly +satisfactory over composite lines between points having heavy telegraph +traffic, and it is between such points as these that composite practice +is most general. + +=Phantoms from Simplex and Composite Circuits.= Phantom and simplex +principles are identical, and by adding the composite principle, two +simplex circuits may have a phantom superadded, as in Fig. 469. +Similarly, as in Fig. 470, two composite circuits can be phantomed. This +case gives seven distinct services over four wires: three telephone +loops--two physical and one phantom--and four Morse lines. + +[Illustration: Fig. 469. Phantom of Two Simplex Circuits] + +[Illustration: Fig. 470. Phantom of Two Composite Circuits] + +=Railway Composite.= The foregoing are problems of making telegraphy a +by-product of telephony. With so many telegraph wires on poles over the +country, it has seemed a pity not to turn the thing around and provide +for telephony as a by-product of telegraphy. This has been accomplished, +and the result is called a railway composite system. For the reason that +the telegraph circuits are not in pairs, accurately matched one wire +against another, and are not always uniform as to material, it has not +been possible to secure as good telephone circuits from telegraph wires +as telegraph circuits from telephone wires. + +Practical results are secured by adaptation of the original principle of +different frequencies. A study of Fig. 468 shows that over such a +composite circuit the usual method of ringing from station to station +over the telephone circuit by an alternating current of a frequency of +about sixteen per second is practically impossible. This is because of +the heavy short-circuit provided by the two 30-ohm choke coils at each +of the stations, the heavy shunt of the large condensers, and the +grounding through the 50-ohm choke coils. If high-frequency speech +currents can pass over these circuits with a very small loss, other +high-frequency circuits should find a good path. There are many easy +ways of making such currents, but formerly none very simple for +receiving them. Fig. 471 shows one simple observer of such +high-frequency currents, it being merely an adaptation of the familiar +polarized ringer used in every subscriber's telephone. In either +position of the armature it makes contact with one or the other of two +studs connected to the battery, so that in all times of rest the relay +_A_ is energized. When a high-frequency current passes through this +polarized relay, however, there is enough time in which the armature is +out of contact with either stud to reduce the total energy through the +relay _A_ and allow its armature to fall away, ringing a vibrating bell +or giving some other signal. + +[Illustration: Fig. 471. Ringing Device for Composite Circuits] + +Fig. 472 shows a form of apparatus for producing the high-frequency +current necessary for signaling. It is evident that if a magneto +generator, such as is used in ordinary magneto telephones, could be made +to drive its armature fast enough, it also might furnish the +high-frequency current necessary for signaling through condensers and +past heavy impedances. + +[Illustration: Fig. 472. Ringing Current Device] + +Applying these principles of high-frequency signals sent and received to +a single-wire telegraph circuit, the arrangement shown in Fig. 473 +results, this being a type of railway composite circuit. The principal +points of interest herein are the insertion of impedances in series with +the telegraph lines, the shunting of the telegraph relays by small +condensers, the further shunting of the whole telegraph mechanism of a +station by another condenser, and thus keeping out of the line circuit +changes in current values which would be heard in the telephones if +violent, and might be inaudible if otherwise. + +[Illustration: Fig. 473. Railway Composite Circuit] + +[Illustration: FRONT OF LONG-DISTANCE POWER BOARD U.S. Telephone +Company, Cleveland, Ohio. _The Dean Electric Co._] + +A further interesting element is the very heavy shunting of the +telephone receiver by means of an inductive coil. This shunt is applied +for by-path purposes so that heavy disturbing currents may be kept out +of the receiver while a sufficient amount of voice current is diverted +through the receiver. It is well to have the inductance of this shunt +made adjustable by providing a movable iron core for the shunt winding. +When the core is drawn out of the coil, its impedance is diminished +because the inductance is diminished. This reduces the amount of +disturbing noise in the receiver. The core should be withdrawn as little +as the amount of disturbance permits, as this also diminishes the +loudness of the received speech. + +Because the signaling over lines equipped with this form of composite +working results in the ringing of a bell by means of local current, it +is of particular advantage in cases where the bell needs to ring loudly. +Switch stations, crossings, and similar places where the attendant is +not constantly near the telephone can be equipped with this type of +composite apparatus and it so offers a valuable substitute for regular +railway telegraph equipment, with which the attendant may not be +familiar. The success of the local bell-ringing arrangement, however, +depends on accurate relay adjustment and on the maintenance of a primary +battery. The drain on the ringing battery is greater than on the talking +battery. + +A good substitute for the bell signal on railway composite circuits is a +telephone receiver responding directly to high-frequency currents over +the line. The receiver is designed specially for the purpose and is +known as a "howler." Its signal can be easily heard through a large +room. The condenser in series with it is of small capacity, limiting the +drain upon the line. Usually the howler is detached by the switch hook +during conversation from a station. + +_Railway Composite Set._ The circuit of a set utilizing such an +arrangement together with other details of a complete railway composite +set is shown in Fig. 474. The drawing is arranged thus, in the hope of +simplifying the understanding of its principles. It will be seen that +the induction coil serves as an interrupter as well as for transmission. +All of the contacts are shown in the position they have during +conversation. The letters _Hc1_, _Hc2_, etc., and _Kc1_, _Kc2_, etc., +refer to hook contacts and key contacts, respectively, of the numbers +given. The arrangements of the hook and key springs are shown at the +right of the figure. _RR_ represent impedance coils connected serially +in the line and placed at terminal stations. The composite telephone +sets are bridged from the line to ground at any points between the +terminal impedance coils. + +The direct currents of telegraphy are prevented from passing to ground +through the telephone set during conversation by the 2-microfarad +condenser which is in series with the receiver. They are prevented from +passing to ground through the telephone set when the receiver is on the +hook by a .05 microfarad condenser in series with the howler. The +alternating currents of speech and interrupter signaling are kept from +passing to ground at terminals by the impedance coils. + +Signals are sent from the set by pressing the key _K_. This operates the +vibrator by closing contacts _Kc6_ and _Kc7_. The howler is cut off and +the receiver is short-circuited by the same operation of the key. The +impedance of the coil _I_ is changed by moving its adjustable core. + +[Illustration: Fig. 474. Railway Composite Set] + +=Applications.= A chief use of composite and simplex circuits is for +ticket wire purposes. These are circuits over which long-distance +operators instruct each other as to connecting and disconnecting lines, +the routing of calls, and the making of appointments. One such wire will +care for all the business of many long-distance trunks. The public also +absorbs the telegraph product of telephone lines. Such telegraph service +is leased to brokers, manufacturers, merchants, and newspapers. Railway +companies use portable telephone adjuncts to telegraph circuits on +trains for service from stations not able to support telegraph +attendants, and in a limited degree for the dispatching of trains. +Telephone train dispatching, however, merits better equipment than a +railway composite system affords. + + + + +CHAPTER XL + +TELEPHONE TRAIN DISPATCHING[A] + + +It has been only within the past three few that the telephone has begun +to replace the telegraph for handling train movements. The telegraph and +the railroads have grown up together in this country since 1850, and in +view of the excellent results that the telegraph has given in train +dispatching and of the close alliance that has always naturally existed +between the railway and the telegraph, it has been difficult for the +telephone, which came much later, to enter the field. + +=Rapid Growth.= The telephone has been in general use among the +railroads for many years, but only on a few short lines has it been used +for dispatching trains. In these cases the ordinary magneto circuit and +instruments have been employed, differing in no respect from those used +in commercial service at the present time. Code ringing was used and the +number of stations on a circuit was limited by the same causes that +limit the telephones on commercial party lines at present. + +The present type of telephone dispatching systems, however, differs +essentially from the systems used in commercial work, and is, in fact, a +highly specialized party-line system, arranged for selective ringing and +_many stations_. The first of the present type was installed by the New +York Central and Hudson River Railroad in October, 1907, between Albany +and Fonda, New York, a distance of 40 miles. This section of the road is +on the main line and has four tracks controlled by block signals. + +The Chicago, Burlington, and Quincy Railroad was the second to install +train-dispatching circuits. In December, 1907, a portion of the main +line from Aurora to Mendota, Illinois, a distance of 46 miles, was +equipped. This was followed in quick succession by various other +circuits ranging, in general, in lengths over 100 miles. At the present +time there are over 20 train-dispatching circuits on the Chicago, +Burlington, and Quincy Railroad covering 125 miles of double track, 28 +miles of multi-track, and 1,381 miles of single track, and connecting +with 286 stations. + +Other railroads entered this field in quick order after the initial +installations, and at the present time nearly every large railroad +system in the United States is equipped with several telephone +train-dispatching circuits and all of these seem to be extending their +systems. + +In 1910, several railroads, including the Delaware, Lackawanna, and +Western, had their total mileage equipped with telephone dispatching +circuits. The Atchison, Topeka, and Santa Fe Railroad is equipping its +whole system as rapidly as possible and already is the largest user of +this equipment in this country. From latest information, over 55 +railroads have entered this field, with the result that the telephone is +now in use in railroad service on over 29,000 miles of line. + +=Causes of Its Introduction.= The reasons leading to the introduction of +the telephone into the dispatching field were of this nature: First, and +most important, was the enactment of State and Federal Laws limiting to +nine hours the working day of railroad employes transmitting or +receiving orders pertaining to the movement of trains. The second, which +is directly dependent upon the first, was the inability of the railroads +to obtain the additional number of telegraph operators which were +required under the provisions of the new laws. It was estimated that +15,000 additional operators would be required to maintain service in the +same fashion after the new laws went into effect in 1907. The increased +annual expense occasioned by the employment of these additional +operators was roughly estimated at $10,000,000. A third reason is found +in the decreased efficiency of the average railway and commercial +telegraph operator. There is a very general complaint among the +railroads today regarding this particular point, and many of them +welcome the telephone, because, if for no other reason, it renders them +independent of the telegrapher. What has occasioned this decrease in +efficiency it is not easy to say, but there is a strong tendency to lay +it, in part, to the attitude of the telegraphers' organization toward +the student operator. It is a fact, too, that the limits which these +organizations have placed on student operators were directly +responsible for the lack of available men when they were needed. + +=Advantages.= In making this radical change, railroad officials were +most cautious, and yet we know of no case where the introduction of the +telephone has been followed by its abandonment, the tendency having been +in all cases toward further installations and more equipment of the +modern type. The reasons for this are clear, for where the telephone is +used it does not require a highly specialized man as station operator +and consequently a much broader field is open to the railroads from +which to draw operators. This, we think, is the most far-reaching +advantage. + +The telephone method also is faster. On an ordinary train-dispatching +circuit it now requires from 0.1 of a second to 5 seconds to call any +station. In case a plurality of calls is desired, the dispatcher calls +one station after another, getting the answer from one while the next is +being called, and so on. By speaking into a telephone many more words +may be transmitted in a given time than by Morse telegraphy. It is +possible to send fifty words a minute by Morse, but such speed is +exceptional. Less than half that is the rule. The gain in high speed, +therefore, which is obtained is obvious and it has been found that this +is a most important feature on busy divisions. It is true that in the +issuance of "orders," the speed, in telephonic train dispatching, is +limited to that required to write the words in longhand. But all +directions of a collateral character, the receipt of important +information, and the instantaneous descriptions of emergency situations +can be given and received at a speed limited only by that of human +speech. + +The dispatcher is also brought into a closer personal relation with the +station men and trainmen, and this feature of direct personal +communication has been found to be of importance in bringing about a +higher degree of co-operation and better discipline in the service. + +Telephone dispatching has features peculiar to itself which are +important in improving the class of service. One of these is the +"answer-back" automatically given to the dispatcher by the waystation +bell. This informs the dispatcher whether or not the bell at the station +rang, and excuses by the operators that it did not, are eliminated. + +Anyone can answer a telephone call in an emergency. The station +operator is frequently agent also, and his duties often take him out of +hearing of the telegraph sounder. The selector bell used with the +telephone can be heard for a distance of several hundred feet. In +addition, it is quite likely that anyone in the neighborhood would +recognize that the station was wanted and either notify the operator or +answer the call. + +In cases of emergency the train crews can get into direct communication +with the dispatcher immediately, by means of portable telephone sets +which are carried on the trains. It is a well-known fact that every +minute a main line is blocked by a wreck can be reckoned as great loss +to the railroad. + +It is also possible to install siding telephone sets located either in +booths or on poles along the right-of-way. These are in general service +today at sidings, crossings, drawbridges, water tanks, and such places, +where it may be essential for a train crew to reach the nearest +waystation to give or receive information. + +The advantage of these siding sets is coming more and more to be +realized. With the telegraph method of dispatching, a train is ordered +to pass another train at a certain siding, let us say. It reaches this +point, and to use a railroad expression, "goes into the hole." Now, if +anything happens to the second train whereby it is delayed, the first +train remains tied up at that siding without the possibility of either +reaching the dispatcher or being reached by him. With the telephone +station at the siding, which requires no operator, this is avoided. If a +train finds itself waiting too long, the conductor goes to the siding +telephone and talks to the dispatcher, possibly getting orders which +will advance him many miles that would otherwise have been lost. + +It is no longer necessary for a waystation operator to call the +dispatcher. When one of these operators wishes to talk to the +dispatcher, he merely takes his telephone receiver off the hook, presses +a button, and speaks to the dispatcher. + +With the telephone it is a simple matter to arrange for provision so +that the chief dispatcher, the superintendent, or any other official may +listen in at will upon a train circuit to observe the character of the +service. The fact that this can be done and that the operators know it +can be done has a very strong tendency to improve the discipline. + +The dispatchers are so relieved, by the elimination of the strain of +continuous telegraphing, and can handle their work so much more quickly +with the telephone, that in many cases it has been found possible to +increase the length of their divisions from 30 to 50 per cent. + +=Railroad Conditions.= One of the main reasons that delayed the +telephone for so many years in its entrance to the dispatching field is +that the conditions in this field are like nothing which has yet been +met with in commercial telephony. There was no system developed for +meeting them, although the elements were at hand. A railroad is divided +up into a number of divisions or dispatchers' districts of varying +lengths. These lengths are dependent on the density of the traffic over +the division. In some cases a dispatcher will handle not more than 25 +miles of line. In other cases this district may be 300 miles long. Over +the length of one of these divisions the telephone circuit extends, and +this circuit may have upon it 5 or 50 stations, _all of which may be +required to listen upon the line at the same time_. + +It will be seen from this that the telephone dispatching circuit +partakes somewhat of the nature of a long-distance commercial circuit in +its length, and it also resembles a rural line in that it has a large +number of telephones upon it. Regarding three other characteristics, +namely, that many of these stations may be required to be in on the +circuit simultaneously, that they must all be signaled selectively, and +that it must also be possible to talk and signal on the circuit +simultaneously, a telephone train-dispatching circuit resembles nothing +in the commercial field. These requirements are the ones which have +necessitated the development of special equipment. + +=Transmitting Orders.= The method of giving orders is the same as that +followed with the telegraph, with one important exception. When the +dispatcher transmits a train order by telephone, he writes out the order +as he speaks it into his transmitter. In this way the speed at which the +order is given is regulated so that everyone receiving it can easily get +it all down, and a copy of the transmitted order is retained by the +dispatcher. All figures and proper names are spelled out. Then after an +order has been given, it is repeated to the dispatcher by each man +receiving it, and he underlines each word as it comes in. This is now +done so rapidly that a man can repeat an order more quickly than the +dispatcher can underline. The doubt as to the accuracy with which it is +possible to transmit information by telephone has been dispelled by this +method of procedure, and the safety of telephone dispatching has been +fully established. + +=Apparatus.= The apparatus which is employed at waystations may be +divided into two groups--the selector equipment and the telephone +equipment. The selector is an electro-mechanical device for ringing a +bell at a waystation when the dispatcher operates a key corresponding to +that station. At first, as in telegraphy, the selector magnets were +connected in series in the line, but today all systems bridge the +selectors across the telephone circuit in the same way and for the same +reasons that it is done in bridging party-line work. There are at the +present time three types of selectors in general use, and the mileage +operated by means of these is probably considerably over 95 per cent of +the total mileage so operated in the country. + +[Illustration: Fig. 475. Western Electric Selector] + +[Illustration: Fig. 476. Western Electric Selector] + +_The Western Electric Selector._ This selector is the latest and perhaps +the simplest. Fig. 475 shows it with its glass dust-proof cover on, and +Fig. 476 shows it with the cover removed. This selector is adapted for +operating at high speed, stations being called at the rate of ten per +second. + +The operating mechanism, which is mounted on the front of the selector +so as to be readily accessible, works on the central-energy +principle--the battery for its operation, as well as for the operation +of the bell used in connection with it, both being located at the +dispatcher's office. The bell battery may, however, be placed at the +waystation if this is desired. + +The selector consists of two electromagnets which are bridged in series +across the telephone circuit and are of very high impedance. It is +possible to place as many of these selectors as may be desired across a +circuit without seriously affecting the telephonic transmission. +Direct-current impulses sent out by the dispatcher operate these +magnets, one of which is slow and the other quick-acting. The first +impulse sent out is a long impulse and pulls up both armatures, thereby +causing the pawls above and below the small ratchet wheel, shown in Fig. +476, to engage with this wheel. The remaining impulses operate the +quick-acting magnet and step the wheel around the proper number of +teeth, but do not affect the slow-acting magnet which remains held up by +them. The pawl connected to the slow-acting magnet merely serves to +prevent the ratchet wheel from turning back. Attached to the ratchet +wheel is a contact whose position can be varied in relation to the +stationary contact on the left of the selector with which this engages. +This contact is set so that when the wheel has been rotated the desired +number of teeth, the two contacts will make and the bell be rung. Any +selector may thus be adjusted for any station, and the selectors are +thus interchangeable. When the current is removed from the line at the +dispatcher's office, the armatures fall back and everything is restored +to normal. An "answer-back" signal is provided with this selector +dependent upon the operation of the bell. When the selector at a station +operates, the bell normally rings for a few seconds. The dispatcher, +however, can hold this ring for any length of time desired. + +The keys employed at the dispatcher's office for operating selectors are +shown in Fig. 477. There is one key for each waystation on the line and +the dispatcher calls any station by merely giving the corresponding key +a quarter turn to the right. Fig. 478 shows the mechanism of one of +these keys and the means employed for sending out current impulses over +the circuit. The key is adjustable and may be arranged for any station +desired by means of the movable cams shown on the rear in Fig. 478, +these cams, when occupying different positions, serving to cover +different numbers of the teeth of the impulse wheel which operate the +impulse contacts. + +[Illustration: Fig. 477. Dispatcher's Keys] + +[Illustration: Fig. 478. Dispatcher's Key Mechanism] + +_The Gill Selector._ The second type of selector in extensive use +throughout the country today is known as the Gill, after its inventor. +It is manufactured for both local-battery and central-energy types, the +latter being the latest development of this selector. With the +local-battery type, the waystation bell rings until stopped by the +dispatcher. With the central-energy type it rings a definite length of +time and can be held for a longer period as is the case with the Western +Electric selector. The selector is operated by combinations of +direct-current impulses which are sent out over the line by keys in the +dispatcher's office. + +[Illustration: Fig. 479. Gill Selector] + +The dispatcher has a key cabinet, and calls in the same way as already +described, but these keys instead of sending a series of quick impulses, +send a succession of impulses with intervals between corresponding to +the particular arrangement of teeth in the corresponding waystation +selector wheel. Each key, therefore, belongs definitely with a certain +selector and can be used in connection with no other. + +A concrete example may make this clearer. The dispatcher may operate key +No. 1421. This key starts a clockwork mechanism which impresses at +regular intervals, on the telephone line, direct-current impulses, with +intervals between as follows: 1-4-2-1. There is on the line one selector +corresponding to this combination and it alone, of all the selectors on +the circuit, will step its wheel clear around so that contact is made +and the bell is rung. In all the others, the pawls will have slipped out +at some point of the revolution and the wheels will have returned to +their normal positions. + +The Gill selector is shown in Fig. 479. It contains a double-wound relay +which is bridged across the telephone circuit and operates the selector. +This relay has a resistance of 4,500 ohms and a high impedance, and +operates the selector mechanism which is a special modification of the +ratchet and pawl principle. The essential features of this selector are +the "step-up" selector wheel and a time wheel, normally held at the +bottom of an inclined track. + +The operation of the selector magnet pushes the time wheel up the track +and allows it to roll down. If the magnet is operated rapidly, the wheel +does not get clear down before being pushed back again. A small pin on +the side of the pawl, engaging the selector wheel normally, opposes the +selector wheel teeth near their outer points. When the time wheel rolls +to the bottom of the track, however, the pawl is allowed to drop to the +bottom of the tooth. Some of the teeth on the selector wheel are formed +so that they will effectually engage with the pawl only when the latter +is in normal position, while others will engage only while the pawl is +at the bottom position; thus innumerable combinations can be made which +will respond to certain combinations of rapid impulses with intervals +between. The correct combination of impulses and intervals steps the +selector wheel clear around so that a contact is made. The selector +wheels at all other stations fail to reach their contact position +because at some point or points in their revolution the pawls have +slipped out, allowing the selector wheels to return "home." + +The "answer-back" is provided in this selector by means of a few +inductive turns of the bell circuit which are wound on the selector +relay. The operation of the bell through these turns induces an +alternating current in the selector winding which flows out on the line +and is heard as a distinctive buzzing noise by the dispatcher. + +[Illustration: Fig. 480. Cummings-Wray Dispatcher's Sender] + +_The Cummings-Wray Selector._ Both of the selectors already described +are of a type known as the _individual-call_ selectors, meaning that +only one station at a time can be called. If a plurality of calls is +desired, the dispatcher calls one station after another. The third type +of selector in use today is of a type known as the _multiple-call_, in +which the dispatcher can call simultaneously as many stations as he +desires. + +The Cummings-Wray selector and that of the Kellogg Switchboard and +Supply Company are of this type and operate on the principle of +synchronous clocks. When the dispatcher wishes to put through a call, he +throws the keys of all the stations that he desires and then operates a +starting key. The bells at all these stations are rung by one operation. + +The dispatcher's sending equipment of the Cummings-Wray system is shown +in Fig. 480, and the waystation selector in Fig. 481. It is necessary +with this system for the clocks at all stations to be wound every eight +days. + +[Illustration: Fig. 481. Cummings-Wray Selector] + +In the dispatcher's master sender the clock-work mechanism operates a +contact arm which shows on the face of the sender in Fig. 480. There is +one contact for every station on the line. The clock at this office and +the clocks at all the waystation offices start together, and it is by +this means that the stations are signaled, as will be described later, +when the detailed operation of the circuits is taken up. + +=Telephone Equipment.= Of no less importance than the selective devices +is the telephone apparatus. That which is here illustrated is the +product of the Western Electric Company, to whom we are indebted for all +the illustrations in this chapter. + +_Dispatcher's Transmitter._ The dispatcher, in most cases, uses the +chest transmitter similar to that employed by switchboard operators in +every-day service. He is connected at all times to the telephone +circuit, and for this reason equipment easy for him to wear is +essential. In very noisy locations he is equipped with a double head +receiver. On account of the dispatcher being connected across the line +permanently and of his being required to talk a large part of the time, +there is a severe drain on the transmitter battery. For this reason +storage batteries are generally used. + +[Illustration: Fig. 482. Waystation Desk Telephone] + +_Waystation Telephones._ At the waystations various types of telephone +equipment may be used. Perhaps the most common is the familiar desk +stand shown in Fig. 482, which, for railroad service, is arranged with a +special hook-switch lever for use with a head receiver. + +Often some of the familiar swinging-arm telephone supports are used, in +connection with head receivers, but certain special types developed +particularly for railway use are advantageous, because in many cases the +operator who handles train orders is located in a tower where he must +also attend to the interlocking signals, and for such service it is +necessary for him to be able to get away from the telephone and back to +it quickly. The Western Electric telephone arm developed for this use is +shown in Fig. 483. In this the transmitter and the receiver are so +disposed as to conform approximately to the shape of the operator's +head. When the arm is thrown back out of the way it opens the +transmitter circuit by means of a commutator in its base. + +[Illustration: Fig. 483. Telephone Arm] + +_Siding Telephones._ Two types of sets are employed for siding +purposes. The first is an ordinary magneto wall instrument, which +embodies the special apparatus and circuit features employed in the +standard waystation sets. These are used only where it is possible to +locate them indoors or in booths along the line. These sets are +permanently connected to the train wire, and since the chances are small +that more than one of them will be in use at a time, they are rung by +the dispatcher, by means of a regular hand generator, when it is +necessary for him to signal a switching. + +[Illustration: Fig. 484. Weather-Proof Telephone Set] + +In certain cases it is not feasible to locate these siding telephone +sets indoors, and to meet these conditions an iron weather-proof set is +employed, as shown in Figs. 484 and 485. The apparatus in this set is +treated with a moisture-proofing compound, and the casing itself is +impervious to weather conditions. + +[Illustration: Fig. 485. Weather-Proof Telephone Set] + +_Portable Train Sets._ Portable telephone sets are being carried +regularly on wrecking trains and their use is coming into more and more +general acceptance on freight and passenger trains. Fig. 486 shows one +of these sets equipped with a five-bar generator for calling the +dispatcher. Fig. 487 shows a small set without generator for conductors' +and inspectors' use on lines where the dispatcher is at all times +connected in the circuit. + +[Illustration: Fig. 486. Portable Telephone Set] + +[Illustration: Fig. 487. Portable Telephone Set] + +These sets are connected to the telephone circuit at any point on the +line by means of a light portable pole arranged with terminals at its +outer extremity for hooking over the line wires, and with flexible +conducting cords leading to the portable set. The use of these sets +among officials on their private cars, among construction and bridge +gangs working on the line, and among telephone inspectors and repairmen +for reporting trouble, is becoming more and more general. + +=Western Electric Circuits.= As already stated, a telephone +train-dispatching circuit may be from 25 to 300 miles in length, and +upon this may be as many stations as can be handled by one dispatcher. +The largest known number of stations upon an existing circuit of this +character is 65. + +[Illustration: Fig. 488. Dispatcher's Station--Western Electric System] + +_Dispatcher's Circuit Arrangement._ The circuits of the dispatcher's +station in the Western Electric system are shown in Fig. 488, the +operation of which is briefly as follows: When the dispatcher wishes to +call any particular station, he gives the key corresponding to that +station a quarter turn. This sends out a series of rapid direct-current +impulses on the telephone line through the contact of a special +telegraph relay which is operated by the key in a local circuit. The +telegraph relay is equipped with spark-eliminating condensers around its +contacts and is of heavy construction throughout in order to carry +properly the sending current. + +_Voltage._ The voltage of the sending battery is dependent on the length +of the line and the number of stations upon it. It ranges from 100 to +300 volts in most cases. When higher voltages are required in order +successfully to operate the circuit, it is generally customary to +install a telegraph repeater circuit at the center of the line, in order +to keep the voltage within safe limits. One reason for limiting the +voltage employed is that the condensers used in the circuit will not +stand much higher potentials without danger of burning out. It is also +possible to halve the voltage by placing the dispatcher in the center of +the line, from which position he may signal in two directions instead of +from one end. + +_Simultaneous Talking and Signaling._ Retardation coils and condensers +will be noticed in series with the circuit through which the signaling +current must pass before going out on the line. These are for the +purpose of absorbing the noise which is caused by high-voltage battery, +thus enabling the dispatcher to talk and signal simultaneously. The +250-ohm resistance connected across the circuit through one back contact +of the telegraph relay absorbs the discharge of the 6-microfarad +condenser. + +[Illustration: Fig. 489. Selector Set--Western Electric System] + +=Waystation Circuit.= The complete selector set for the waystations is +shown in Fig. 489, and the wiring diagram of its apparatus in Fig. 490. +The first impulse sent out by the key in the dispatcher's office is a +long direct-current impulse, the first tooth being three or four times +as wide as the other teeth. This impulse operates both magnets of the +selector and attracts their armatures, which, in turn, cause two pawls +to engage with the ratchet wheel, while the remaining quick impulses +operate the "stepping-up" pawl and rotate the wheel the requisite number +of teeth. Retardation coils are placed in series with the selector in +order to choke back any lightning discharges which might come in over +the line. The selector contact, when operated, closes a bell circuit, +and it will be noted that both the selector and the bell are operated +from battery current coming over the main line through variable +resistances. There are, of course, a number of selectors bridged across +the circuit, and the variable resistance at each station is so adjusted +as to give each approximately 10 milliamperes, which allows a large +factor of safety for line leakage in wet weather. The drop across the +coils at 10 milliamperes is 38 volts. If these coils were not employed, +it is clear that the selectors nearer the dispatcher would get most of +the current and those further away very little. + +[Illustration: Fig. 490. Selector Set--Western Electric System] + +A time-signal contact is also indicated on the selector-circuit diagram +of Fig. 490. This is common to all offices and may be operated by a +special key in the dispatcher's office, thereby enabling him to send out +time signals over the telephone circuit. + +[Illustration: Fig. 491. Gill Dispatcher's Station] + +=Gill Circuits.= The circuit arrangement for the dispatcher's outfit of +the Gill system is shown in Fig. 491. This is similar to that of the +Western Electric system just described. The method of operation also is +similar, the mechanical means of accomplishing the selection being the +main point of difference. In Fig. 492 the wiring of the Gill selector at +a waystation for local-battery service is shown. The selector contact +closes the bell circuit in the station and a few windings of this +circuit are located on the selector magnets, as shown. These provide the +"answer-back" by inductive means. + +[Illustration: Fig. 492. Gill Selector--Local Battery] + +Fig. 493 shows the wiring of the waystation, central-energy Gill +selector. In this case, the local battery for the operation of the bell +is omitted and the bell is rung, as is the case of the Western Electric +selector, by the main sending battery in the dispatcher's office. + +[Illustration: Fig. 493. Gill Selector--Central Energy] + +The sending keys of these two types of circuits differ, in that with the +local-battery selector the key contact is open after the selector has +operated, and the ringing of the bell must be stopped by the dispatcher +pressing a button or calling another station. Either of these operations +sends out a new current impulse which releases the selector and opens +its circuit. + +With the central-energy selector, however, the contacts of the sending +key at the dispatcher's office remain closed after operation for a +definite length of time. This is obviously necessary in order that +battery may be kept on the line for the operation of the bell. In this +case the contacts remain closed during a certain portion of the +revolution of the key, and the bell stops ringing when that portion of +the revolution is completed. If, however, the dispatcher desires to give +any station a longer ring, he may do so by keeping the key contacts +closed through an auxiliary strap key as soon as he hears the +"answer-back" signal from the called station. + +=Cummings-Wray Circuits.= The Cummings-Wray system, as previously +stated, is of the multiple-call type, operating with synchronous clocks. +Instead of operating one key after another in order to call a number of +stations, all the keys are operated at once and a starting key sets the +mechanism in motion which calls all these stations with one operation. +Fig. 494 shows the circuit arrangement of this system. + +[Illustration: Fig. 494. Cummings-Wray System] + +In order to ring one or more stations, the dispatcher presses the +corresponding key or keys and then operates the starting key. This +starting key maintains its contact for an appreciable length of time to +allow the clock mechanism to get under way and get clear of the +releasing magnet clutch. Closing the starting key operates the +clock-releasing magnet and also operates the two telegraph-line relays. +These send out an impulse of battery on the line operating the bridged +2,500-ohm line relays and, in turn, the selector releasing magnets; +thus, all the waystation clocks start in unison with the master clock. +The second hand arbor of each clock carries an arm, which at each +waystation is set at a different angle with the normal position than +that at any other station. Each of these arms makes contact precisely at +the moment the master-clock arm is passing over the contact +corresponding to that station. + +If, now, a given station key is pressed in the master sender, the +telegraph-line relays will again operate when the master-clock arm +reaches that point, sending out another impulse of battery over the +line. The selector contact at the waystation is closed at this moment; +therefore, the closing of the relay contact operates the ringing relay +through a local circuit, as shown. The ringing relay is immediately +locked through its own contact, thus maintaining the bell circuit closed +until it is opened by the key and the ringing is stopped. + +As the master-clock arm passes the last point on the contact dial, the +current flows through the restoring relay operating the restoring magnet +which releases all the keys. A push button is provided by means of which +the keys may be manually released, if desired. This is used in case the +dispatcher presses a key by mistake. Retardation coils and variable +resistances are provided at the waystation just as with the other +selector systems which have been described and for the same reasons. + +The circuits of the operator's telephone equipment shown in Fig. 495, +are also bridged across the line. This apparatus is of high impedance +and of a special design adapted to railroad service. There may be any +number of telephones listening in upon a railroad train wire at the same +time, and often a dispatcher calls in five or six at once to give +orders. These conditions have necessitated the special circuit +arrangement shown in Fig. 495. + +[Illustration: Fig. 495. Telephone Circuits] + +The receivers used at the waystations are of high impedance and are +normally connected, through the hook switch, directly across the line in +series with a condenser. When the operator, at a waystation wishes to +talk, however, he presses the key shown. This puts the receiver across +the line in series with the retardation coil and in parallel with the +secondary of the induction coil. It closes the transmitter battery +circuit at the same time through the primary of the induction coil. + +The retardation coil is for the purpose of preventing excessive side +tone, and it also increases the impedance of the receiver circuit, which +is a shunt on the induction coil. This latter coil, however, is of a +special design which permits just enough current to flow through the +receiver to allow the dispatcher to interrupt a waystation operator when +he is talking. + +The key used to close the transmitter battery is operated by hand and is +of a non-locking type. In some cases, where the operators are very busy, +a foot switch is used in place of this key. The use of such a key or +switch in practical operation has been found perfectly satisfactory, and +it takes the operators but a short time to become used to it. + +The circuits of the dispatcher's office are similarly arranged, Fig. +495, being designed especially to facilitate their operation. In other +words, as the dispatcher is doing most of the work on the circuit, his +receiver is of a low-impedance type, which gives him slightly better +transmission than the waystations obtain. The key in his transmitter +circuit is of the locking type, so that he does not have to hold it in +while talking. This is for the reason that the dispatcher does most of +the talking on this circuit. Foot switches are also employed in some +cases by the dispatchers. + +=Test Boards.= It is becoming quite a general practice among the +railroads to install more than one telephone circuit along their +rights-of-way. In many cases in addition to the train wire, a message +circuit is also equipped, and quite frequently a block wire also +operated by telephone, parallels these two. It is desirable on these +circuits to be able to make simple tests and also to be able to patch +one circuit with another in cases of emergency. + +[Illustration: Fig. 496. Test Board] + +Test boards have been designed for facilitating this work. These consist +of simple plug and jack boxes, the general appearance of which is shown +in Fig. 496. The circuit arrangement of one of these is shown in Fig. +497. Each wire comes into an individual jack as will be noted on one +side of the board, and passes through the inside contact of this jack, +out through a similar jack on the opposite side. The selector and +telephone set at an office are taken off these inside contacts through a +key, as shown. The outside contacts of this key are wired across two +pairs of cords. Now, assume the train wire comes in on jacks _1_ and +_3_, and the message wire on jacks _9_ and _11_. In case of an accident +to the train wire between two stations, it is desirable to patch this +connection with a message wire in order to keep the all-important train +wire working. The dispatcher instructs the operator at the last station +which he can obtain, to insert plugs _1_ and _2_ in jacks _1_ and _10_, +and plugs _3_ and _4_ in jacks _3_ and _12_, at the same time throwing +the left-hand key. Then, obtaining an operator beyond the break by any +available means, he instructs him likewise to insert plugs _1_ and _2_ +in jacks _9_ and _2_, and plugs _3_ and _4_ in jacks _11_ and _4_, +similarly throwing the left-hand key. By tracing this out, it will be +observed that the train wire is patched over the disabled section by +means of the message circuit, and that the selector and the telephone +equipment are cut over on to the patched connections; in other words, +bridged across the patching cords. + +[Illustration: Fig. 497. Circuits of Test Board] + +It will also be seen that with this board it is possible to open any +circuit merely by plugging into a jack. Two wires can be short-circuited +or a loop made by plugging two cords of corresponding colors into the +two jacks. A ground jack is provided for grounding any wire. In this +way, a very flexible arrangement of circuits is obtained, and it is +possible to make any of the simple tests which are all that are usually +required on this type of circuit. + +=Blocking Sets.= As was just mentioned, quite frequently in addition to +train wires and message circuits, block wires are also operated by +telephone. In some cases separate telephone instruments are used for the +blocking service, but in others the same man handles all three circuits +over the same telephone. The block wire is generally a converted +telegraph wire between stations, usually of iron and usually grounded. +It seldom ranges in length over six miles. + +[Illustration: Fig. 498. Blocking Set] + +Where the block wires are operated as individual units with their own +instruments, it is unnecessary to have any auxiliary apparatus to be +used in connection with them. Where, however, they are operated as part +of a system and the same telephone is used on these that is used on the +train wire and message wire, additional apparatus, called a blocking +set, is required. This blocking set, shown in Figs. 498 and 499, was +developed especially for this service by the Western Electric Company. +As will be noted, a repeating coil at the top and a key on the front of +the set are wired in connection with a pair of train wire cords. This +repeating coil is for use in connecting a grounded circuit to a metallic +circuit, as, for instance, connecting a block wire to the train wire, +and is, of course, for the purpose of eliminating noise. Below the key +are three combined jacks and signals. One block wire comes into each of +these and a private line may be brought into the middle one. When the +next block rings up, a visual signal is displayed which operates a bell +in the office by means of a local circuit. The operator answers by +plugging the telephone cord extending from the bottom of the set into +the proper jack. This automatically restores the signal and stops the +bell. + +[Illustration: Fig. 499. Blocking Set] + +Below these signals appear four jacks. One is wired across the train +wire; one across the message wire; and the other two are bridged across +the two pairs of patching cords on each side of the set. The operator +answers a call on any circuit by plugging his telephone cord into the +proper jack. + +If a waystation is not kept open in the evening, or the operator leaves +it for any reason and locks up, he can connect two blocks together by +means of the block-wire cords. These are arranged simply for connecting +two grounded circuits together and serve to join two adjacent blocks, +thereby eliminating one station. A jack is wired across these cords, so +that the waystation operator can listen in on the connection if he so +desires. + +In some cases not only are the telephone circuits brought into the test +board, but also two telegraph wires are looped through this board before +going to the peg switchboard. This is becoming quite a frequent practice +and, in times of great emergency, enables patches to be made to the +telegraph wires as well as to the telephone wires. + +=Dispatching on Electric Railways.= As interurban electric railways are +becoming more extended, and as their traffic is becoming heavier, they +approximate more closely to steam methods of operation. It is not +unusual for an electric railway to dispatch its cars exactly as in the +case of a steam road. There is a tendency, however, in this class of +work, toward slightly different methods, and these will be briefly +outlined. + +On those electric railways where the traffic is not especially heavy, an +ordinary magneto telephone line is frequently employed with standard +magneto instruments. In some cases the telephone sets are placed in +waiting rooms or booths along the line of the road. In other cases it is +not feasible to locate the telephone indoors and then iron weather-proof +sets, such as are shown in Figs. 484 and 485, are mounted directly on +the poles along the line of railway. With a line of this character there +is usually some central point from which orders are issued and the +trainmen call this number when arriving at sidings or wherever they may +need to do so. + +Another method of installing a telephone system upon electric railways +is as follows: Instead of instruments being mounted in booths or on +poles along the line, portable telephone sets are carried on the cars +and jacks are located at regular intervals along the right-of-way on the +poles. The crew of the car wishing to get in touch with the central +office or the dispatcher, plugs into one of these jacks and uses the +portable telephone set. At indoor stations, in offices or buildings +belonging to the railroad, the regular magneto sets may be employed, as +in the first case outlined. + +On electric railway systems where the traffic is heavy, the train or car +movements may be handled by a dispatcher just as on the steam railroad. +There is usually one difference, however. On a steam road, the operators +who give the train crews their orders and manipulate the semaphore +signals are located at regular intervals in the different waystations. +No such operators are usually found on electric railways, except, +perhaps, at very important points, and, therefore, it is necessary for +the dispatcher to be able to signal cars at any point and to get into +communication with the crews of these cars. He does this by means of +semaphores operated by telephone selectors over the telephone line. The +telephone circuit may be equipped with any number of selectors desired, +and the dispatcher can operate any particular one without operating any +other one on the circuit. Each selector, when operated, closes a pair of +contacts. This completes a local circuit which throws the semaphore arm +to the "danger" position, at the same time giving the dispatcher a +distinctive buzz in his ear, which informs him that the arm has actually +moved to this position. He can get this signal only by the operation of +the arm. + +Each semaphore is located adjacent to a telephone booth in which is also +placed the restoring lever, by means of which the semaphore is set in +the "clear" position by the crew of the car which has been signaled. The +wall-type telephone set is usually employed for this class of service, +but if desired, desk stands or any of the various transmitter arms may +be used. + +It is necessary for the crew of the car which first approaches a +semaphore set at "danger," to get out, communicate with the dispatcher, +and restore the signal to the "clear" position. The dispatcher can not +restore the signal. The signal is set only in order that the train crew +may get into telephonic communication with the dispatcher, and in order +to do this, it is necessary for them to go into the booth in any case. + +[Footnote A: We wish particularly to acknowledge the courtesy of the +Western Electric Company in their generous assistance in the preparation +of this chapter.] + + + + +REVIEW QUESTIONS + + +REVIEW QUESTIONS + +ON THE SUBJECT OF TELEPHONY + +PAGES 11--68 + + * * * * * + +1. What are the advantages of a common-battery system? + +2. When is the local battery to be preferred to the common-battery? + +3. Enumerate the different kinds of line signals. + +4. Make a diagram of the arrangement of a direct line lamp signal. + +5. What is a direct line lamp with ballast? Give sketch. + +6. Describe a line lamp with relay. + +7. What is a pilot lamp and what are its functions? + +8. Sketch three different kinds of batteries applied to cord circuits. + +9. What is a supervisory signal? + +10. Make diagram of a complete simple common-battery switchboard +circuit. + +11. When will the supervisory signal become operative? + +12. What is the candle-power of incandescent lamps used for line and +supervisory signals? + +13. At what voltages do they operate? + +14. What are visual signals? + +15. Describe the mechanical signal of the Western Electric Company. + +16. Give a short description of the general assembly of the parts of a +simple common-battery switchboard. + +17. What is a transfer switchboard? + +18. Outline the limitations of a simple switchboard. + +19. Describe and sketch a plug-ended transfer line. + +20. Why is the plug-seat switch not more widely adopted for use? + +21. Make diagram of an order-wire arrangement. + +22. What are the limitations of the transfer system? + +23. What are the fundamental features of the multiple switchboard? + +24. What is a multiple jack? + +25. What is an answering jack? + +26. Make a diagram showing the principle of multiple switchboards. + +27. What is the busy signal? + +28. What determines the size of a multiple switchboard? + +29. What is the use of the intermediate distributing frame? + +30. Make diagram of the series magneto multiple switchboard and describe +its operation. + +31. What are the defects of this system? + +32. Give a diagram of the branch terminal magneto multiple switchboard. + +33. Give a diagram and a short description of the Monarch magneto +multiple switchboard. + + + + +REVIEW QUESTIONS + +ON THE SUBJECT OF TELEPHONY + +PAGES 69--134 + + * * * * * + +1. Sketch and describe the line circuit of the common-battery multiple +switchboard of the Bell companies. + +2. Make a diagram of the cord circuit of the Western Electric standard +multiple common-battery switchboard. + +3. Describe the busy test in this system. + +4. What is the function of the order-wire circuits? + +5. What is jumper wire? + +6. Give a short description of the relay mounting in the standard No. 1 +relay board of the Western Electric Company. + +7. What is the ultimate capacity of the No. 1 Western Electric +switchboard? + +8. What is the capacity of the No. 10 Western Electric switchboard? + +9. How does this switchboard No. 10 differ from No. 1? + +10. Give a diagram of the two-wire line circuit of the Kellogg Company. + +11. What is the capacity of the condenser of the cord circuit in the +foregoing system? + +12. Give a complete diagram of the Kellogg two-wire board. + +13. Describe the busy test in this system. + +14. Give diagram of the Stromberg-Carlson multiple-board circuit. + +15. What is the most important piece of apparatus in a multiple +switchboard? + +16. What is the spacing of the multiple jacks in the No. 1 Western +Electric switchboard? + +17. How do the relays of the Western Electric Company differ from those +of other companies? + +18. Describe the relay construction of the Monarch Telephone Company. + +19. What is meant by inter-office trunking? + +20. What is the present practice in America as to the capacity of +multiple hoards? + +21. What is the tendency in Europe regarding the capacity of multiple +boards? + +22. Discuss the preferences in American practice. + +23. State the different methods of trunking between exchanges. + +24. When are two-way trunks employed? + +25. Make diagram of the Western Electric inter-office connection system. + +26. Describe the standard four-party line trunk ringing key of the +Western Electric Company. + +27. Sketch and describe a keyless trunk. + +28. Give diagram of the inter-office connection of the Kellogg system. + +29. How does this system differ from the Western Electric in regard to +the ringing? + +30. Why are the A and B switchboards in large exchanges entirely +separated? + + + + +REVIEW QUESTIONS + +ON THE SUBJECT OF TELEPHONY + +PAGES 135--226 + + * * * * * + +1. What is the general object of automatic telephone systems? + +2. What are the common arguments against these systems and how are they +met? + +3. Give the operations that the calling subscriber has to go through in +any one of the successful systems. + +4. During calling what is happening at the central office? + +5. Describe the action of the Strowger or Automatic Electric Company +selecting switch. + +6. What is the function of a line switch? + +7. Describe the Strowger scheme of trunking and illustrate its action by +diagram. + +8. Make a diagram of the sub-station apparatus and connections. + +9. Make a diagram of the line switch unit. + +10. Describe the action of the various guarding features necessary to +protect a busy line. + +11. Make a simple diagram of the circuits of the first selector. + +12. Give the functions and operations of the connector. + +13. Give a diagram of connecting circuits. + +14. Tell all you can regarding the battery supply to the connected +subscriber. + +15. How are subscribers disconnected after they are through talking? + +16. Describe a multi-office system. + +17. Give a diagram of circuits of the trunk repeater. + +18. Make a complete diagram of the connections between a calling and a +called subscriber in an automatic system. + +19. What is the rotary connector? + +20. Describe the sub-station equipment of the Lorimer automatic system. + +21. Describe the Lorimer central-office apparatus. + +22. Give a description of the progress of a call from its institution to +the final disconnection in the Lorimer system. + +23. What is the automanual system? + +24. Give general features of the operation in the automanual system. + +25. Describe the automanual system subscribers' apparatus. + +26. Give a description of the automanual central-office equipment. + + + + +REVIEW QUESTIONS + +ON SUBJECT OF TELEPHONY + +PAGES 227--270 + + * * * * * + +1. What kinds of currents are employed? + +2. What types of power plants are used? + +3. Describe the sources of current supplied for the operator's +transmitter current and ringing current. + +4. Make a diagram of the Warner pole changer. + +5. Make a diagram of pole changers for harmonic ringing. + +6. What is a multi-cyclic generator set? + +7. Make a diagram of governor for harmonic ringing generators. + +8. Describe the various primary sources of power. + +9. Make a diagram of the mercury-arc-rectifier circuits. + +10. What provision against breakdown is made? + +11. Tell all you can about the storage battery--its construction and its +operation. + +12. What is a pilot cell? + +13. Describe the switches, meters, and protective devices used on the +power switchboard. + +14. Give a diagram showing a typical example of a common-battery manual +switchboard equipment and circuits. + +15. Give the main points concerning the construction of a central-office +building. + +16. What provision should be made for cable runways? + +17. Make a sketch of a small central-office floor plan. + +18. Describe the Western Electric main and intermediate frames. Give +diagrams. + +19. Give principal points regarding small office terminal apparatus. + +20. Give types of line circuits. + +21. Describe the typical equipment of a large manual office. Give floor +plans. + +22. Give floor plan of an automatic office. + + + + +REVIEW QUESTIONS + +ON THE SUBJECT OF TELEPHONY + +PAGES 271--320 + + * * * * * + +1. What is a private-branch exchange? + +2. What does "P. B. X." mean? + +3. What is the function of the private-branch exchange operator? + +4. Describe the key type of a small private-branch exchange switchboard. + +5. Describe the different methods of supervision of private-branch +connections. + +6. Describe the automatic equipment of the common-battery type in +private-branch exchanges. + +7. How is secrecy of individual lines obtained in a private-exchange +equipment? + +8. What is an intercommunicating system? + +9. Sketch a magneto intercommunicating system. + +10. Sketch and describe a plug type common-battery intercommunicating +system. + +11. Sketch and describe the action of the push button in the Monarch +system and in the Western Electric system. + +12. Sketch and describe the Monarch intercommunicating system. + +13. What is the office of the junction box in this system? + +14. What is a long-distance message? + +15. What is the function of the repeating coil in the long-distance +line? + +16. Which is the simplest form of long-distance switch? + +17. What is a phantom circuit? + +18. Under what control is the ringing of the subscriber in +long-distance calls? + +19. What is meant by ticket passing? + +20. What particular advantage has a common-battery set on long-distance +lines? + +21. Give a typical load curve for telephone traffic. + +22. Why is traffic a study of importance? + +23. State the function of the intermediate distributing frame. + +24. State the different methods of traffic study. + +25. What is the trunking factor? + +26. Define _trunking efficiency_. + +27. Enumerate some of the elements upon which the quality of service in +a manual system depends. + +28. What is team work? + +29. How does the cost of telephone service vary? + +30. What two general methods of charging for telephone service are in +use? + +31. Describe a calculagraph and how is it used? + +32. How are toll connections timed by the Monarch Telephone Company? + +33. Sketch and describe the Western Electric Company line circuit and +service meter. + + + + +REVIEW QUESTIONS + +ON THE SUBJECT OF TELEPHONY + +PAGES 321--358 + + * * * * * + +1. Describe a phantom circuit with diagram. + +2. Explain how two phantoms may be joined by a physical circuit. + +3. Which are the better, phantom or physical circuits, and why? + +4. Explain how the simplex circuit differs from the phantom telephone +circuit. + +5. Why are not telegraph wires as serviceable for telephone work as +telephone wires are for telegraph work? + +6. Give the names of the different parts of a railway composite set and +explain method of operating. + +7. State the causes of the introduction of the telephone into the train +dispatching field and explain the advantages it has over the telegraph +for this work. + +8. In transmitting orders for train dispatching, how are mistakes +avoided? + +9. Describe the Western Electric selector and explain its use. + +10. In what way does the Gill selector differ from the Western Electric? + +11. What special feature does the multiple coil selector possess? + +12. What special arrangement is provided for the train dispatcher in +noisy locations? + +13. How can a man on a wrecking train get connection with the train +dispatcher? + +14. What is the usual limit in length of a telephone train dispatching +circuit and what is the largest number of stations at present existing +on such a circuit? + +15. What is the voltage of the sending battery for a train dispatcher's +circuit and upon what is it dependent? + +16. For what purpose is a repeater circuit used? + +17. How is the noise caused by a high voltage battery absorbed so that +the dispatcher may talk and signal simultaneously? + +18. Draw a diagram showing the circuit arrangement for the dispatcher's +outfit of the Gill system. + +19. Explain fully the purpose of the retardation coil in connection with +a waystation set. + +20. In case of accident to a train wire between two stations, how can +the connection be patched if the road is also equipped with a message +circuit in addition to the train wire? + +21. Why do some railroads have block wires in addition to train wires +and message circuits? + +22. If a waystation on a block wire is to be cut out for any length of +time, by what method can the two adjacent blocks be connected, +eliminating the station between? + +23. What are some of the methods used for dispatching on electric +railways where the traffic is not especially heavy? + +24. On an electric road in case a car approaches a semaphore set at +"danger," what must the crew of the car do? + + + + +INDEX + + +_The page numbers of this volume will be found at the bottom of the +pages; the numbers at the top refer only to the section._ + +A + +Automanual system 218 + automatic distribution of calls 223 + automatic switching equipment 222 + building up a connection 224 + characteristics of 218 + operation 219 + operator's equipment 220 + setting up a connection 224 + speed in handling calls 224 + subscriber's apparatus 219 + +Automatic desk stand 158 + +Automatic Electric Company's telephone system 149 + automatic sub-offices 201 + connector 185 + function of 185 + location of 186 + operation of 186 + first selector operation 179 + function of line switch 152 + line switch 153, 163 + bridge cut-off 173 + circuit operations 167 + guarding functions 173 + line and trunk contacts 164 + locking segment 172 + master switch 171 + relation of, to connectors 174 + structure of 166 + summary of operation 174 + trunk ratio 165 + trunk selection 165 + multi-office system 196 + party lines 202 + release after conversation 196 + rotary connector 202 + second selector operation 182 + selecting switches 153, 175 + release mechanism 178 + side switch 175 + subdivision of subscribers' lines 152 + subscribers' station apparatus 158 + operation 160 + bell and transmitter springs 160 + ground springs 160 + impulse springs 161 + release springs 163 + ringing springs 163 + salient points 163 + trunking 154 + connector action 157 + first selector action 156 + line switch action 154 + second selector action 156 + two-wire automatic systems 203 + two-wire and three-wire systems 157 + underlying feature of trunking system 153 + +Automatic telephone systems 135 + arguments against 135 + attitude of public 141 + complexity 136 + expense 140 + flexibility 140 + subscriber's station equipment 142 + automatic vs. manual 143 + comparative costs 142 + definition 135 + methods of operation 143 + fundamental idea 147 + grouping of subscribers 145 + local and inter-office trunks 148 + Lorimer system 144 + magnet vs. power-driven switches 144 + +Automatic telephone systems + methods of operation + multiple vs. trunking 145 + outline of action 146 + Strowger system 143 + testing 148 + trunking between groups 145 + +Automatic wall set 158 + + +B + +Blocking sets 355 + +Busy test 48 + busy-test faults 50 + potential of test thimbles 49 + principle 49 + + +C + +Circuits 321 + applications 322 + composite 326 + phantom 321 + transmission over 324 + transpositions 323 + railway composite 327 + ringing 327 + simplex 324 + +Common-battery multiple switchboard 69 + assembly 106 + Dean multiple board 93 + cord circuit 94 + line circuit 93 + listening key 94 + ringing keys 94 + test 94 + Kellogg two-wire multiple board 84 + battery feed 88 + busy test 90 + complete cord and line circuit 88 + cord circuit 86 + line circuit 85 + summary of operation 91 + supervisory signals 87 + wiring of line circuit 92 + multiple switchboard apparatus 97 + jacks 99 + lamp jacks 100 + relays 101 + Stromberg-Carlson multiple board 96 + cord circuit 96 + supervisory signals 97 + test 97 + Western Electric No. 1 relay board 69 + capacity range 80 + cord circuit 71 + functions of distributing frames 77 + line circuit 69 + modified relay windings 79 + operation 72 + operator's circuit detail 75 + order-wire circuits 78 + pilot signals 79 + relay mounting 80 + testing--called line busy 75 + testing--called line idle 74 + wiring of line circuit 76 + Western Electric No. 10 board 80 + circuits 81 + economy 84 + operation 83 + test 83 + +Common-battery switchboard 11 + advantages of operation 11 + common battery vs. magneto 12 + cord circuit 20 + battery supply 20 + complete circuit 21 + supervisory signals 21 + cycle of operations 23 + jacks 30 + lamps 24 + mounting 25 + line signals 14 + direct-line lamp 14 + direct-line lamp with ballast 15 + line lamp with relay 17 + pilot signals 17 + mechanical signals 27 + Kellogg 28 + Monarch 28 + Western Electric 27 + relays 28 + switchboard assembly 31 + +Composite circuits 326 + +Connector 185 + +Cord circuit 20 + +Cord circuit + battery supply 20 + complete circuit 21 + supervisory signals 21 + +Cord-rack connectors 66 + +Cummings-Wray selector 342 + + +D + +Dean multiple board 93 + +Dispatchers' keys 339 + +Dispatching on electric railways 356 + + +G + +Gill selector 341 + + +H + +Housing central-office equipment 249 + arrangement of apparatus in small manual offices 252 + combined main and intermediate frames 253 + floor plans for 252 + types of line circuits 255 + automatic offices 267 + typical automatic office 270 + central-office building 249 + fire hazard 249 + provision for cable runways 251 + provision for employes 251 + size of building 250 + strength of building 250 + large manual office 256 + + +I + +Intercommunicating systems 282 + common-battery systems 283 + Kellogg plug type 284 + Kellogg push-button type 285 + Monarch system 287 + Western Electric system 285 + definition 282 + limitations 282 + for private-branch exchanges 290 + simple magneto system 282 + + +J + +Jacks 30 + + +K + +Kellogg mechanical signal 28 + +Kellogg trunk circuits 125 + +Kellogg two-wire multiple board 84 + +Keyboard wiring 67 + + +L + +Lamp mounting 25 + +Lamps 24 + +Line signals 14 + direct-line lamp 14 + direct-line lamp with ballast 15 + line lamp with relay 17 + pilot signals 17 + +Line switch 163 + +Long-distance switching 293 + definitions 293 + center-checking 297 + operators' orders 294 + by call circuits 294 + by telegraph 294 + particular party calls 295 + switching through local board 293 + ticket passing 296 + trunking 295 + high-voltage toll trunks 295 + through ringing 295 + two-number calls 294 + use of repeating coil 293 + waystations 297 + +Lorimer automatic system 144, 205 + central-office apparatus 208 + connective division 210 + sectional apparatus 209 + switches 213 + interconnector 214 + interconnector selector 214 + primary connector 213 + rotary switch 213 + secondary connector 214 + signal transmitter controller 214 + operation 215 + subscriber's station equipment 206 + + +M + +Magneto multiple switchboard 53 + branch-terminal multiple board 58 + arrangement of apparatus 61 + magnet windings 61 + operation 60 + field of utility 53 + modern magneto multiple board 63 + assembly 66 + cord circuit 64 + test 62 + +Magneto multiple switchboard + series-multiple board 54 + defects 57 + operation 56 + +Measured service 310 + local service 316 + meter method 316 + prepayment method 318 + ticket method 316 + rates 310 + toll service 311 + long haul 311 + short haul 311 + timing toll connections 312 + units of charging 311 + +Mechanical signals 27 + Kellogg 28 + Monarch 28 + Western Electric 27 + +Mercury-arc rectifier circuits 237 + +Monarch visual signal 28 + +Multi-office exchanges, necessity for 109 + +Multiple switchboard 43 + busy test 48 + cord circuits 46 + diagram showing principle of 47 + double connections 46 + field of each operator 51 + field of utility 43 + influence of traffic 52 + line signals 45 + multiple feature 43 + + +P + +Phantom circuit 321 + +Pilot signals 17 + +Plug-seat switch 38 + +Pole changers for harmonic ringing 231 + +Power plants 227 + auxiliary signaling currents 233 + currents employed 227 + alternating current 227 + direct current 227 + operator's transmitter supply 228 + power plant circuit 248 + power switchboard 246 + meters 246 + protective devices 248 + switches 246 + primary sources 234 + charging from direct-current mains 234 + charging dynamos 235 + mercury-arc rectifiers 236 + rotary converters 234 + provision against breakdown 237 + capacity of power units 238 + duplicate charging machines 238 + duplicate primary sources 238 + duplicate ringing machines 238 + ringing-current supply 229 + magneto generators 229 + pole changers 229 + ringing dynamos 232 + storage battery 239 + initial charge 241 + installation 240 + low cells 244 + operation 242 + overcharge 243 + pilot cell 243 + regular charge 244 + replacing batteries 245 + sediment 245 + types 227 + common-battery systems 228 + magneto systems 228 + +Power switchboard 246 + +Private-branch exchanges 271 + with automatic offices 278 + secrecy 279 + battery supply 279 + circuits, key-type board 276 + definitions 271 + desirable features 281 + functions of the private-branch exchange operator 272 + marking of apparatus 281 + private-branch switchboards 273 + common-battery type 273 + cord type 275 + key type 275 + magneto type 273 + ringing current 280 + supervision of private-branch connections 277 + + +R + +Relays 28 + +Rotary connector 202 + + +S + +Selecting switches 175 + +Selector 175 + +Simplex circuits 324 + +Storage battery 239 + +Storage cell 240 + +Stromberg-Carlson multiple board 96 + +Strowger automatic system 143 + +Subscribers' board 259-261 + +Switchboard assembly 31 + + +T + +Table + automanual system time data 225 + automatic systems, messages per trunk in 305 + calling rates 302 + long-distance groups, messages per trunk in 305 + manual system, messages per trunk in 304 + out-trunking, effect of, on operator's capacity 303 + subscribers' waiting time 226 + +Telephone traffic 298 + importance of traffic study 300 + methods of traffic study 301 + observation of service 308 + quality of service 305 + accuracy and promptness 307 + answering time 306 + busy and don't answer calls 307 + courtesy and form 307 + disconnecting time 306 + enunciation 308 + team work 308 + rates of calling 300 + representative traffic data 302 + calling rates 302 + operators' loads 302 + toll traffic 304 + trunk efficiency 303 + trunking factor 303 + traffic variations 298 + busy hour ratio 299 + unit of traffic 298 + +Telephone train dispatching 333 + advantages 335 + apparatus 338 + Cummings-Wray selector 342 + dispatcher's transmitter 343 + Gill selector 341 + portable train sets 345 + siding telephones 345 + waystation telephones 344 + Western Electric selector 338 + blocking sets 355 + causes of its introduction 334 + Cummings-Wray circuits 350 + on electric railways 356 + Gill circuits 349 + railroad conditions 337 + rapid growth 333 + test boards 353 + transmitting orders 337 + waystation circuits 348 + Western Electric circuits 347 + +Telephone train-dispatching circuit + Cummings-Wray 350 + Gill 349 + waystation 348 + Western Electric 347 + +Test boards 353 + +Transfer switchboard 34 + field of usefulness 41 + handling transfers 38 + limitations 40 + plug-seat switch 38 + transfer lines 35 + jack-ended trunk 35 + plug-ended trunk 37 + +Trunking in multi-office systems 109 + classification 112 + one-way trunks 103 + two-way trunks 112 + Kellogg trunk circuits 125 + necessity for exchanges 109 + Western Electric trunk circuits 116 + + +W + +Warner pole changer 230 + +Waystation telephones 344 + +Western Electric + mechanical signal 27 + selector 338 + trunk circuits 116 + + + + +Transcriber's Notes. + +Spelling variants where it wasn't possible to determine the author's +intent were left as is. These include: "clockwork" and "clock-work;" +"doorkeeper" and "door-keeper;" "interrelation" and "inter-relation;" +"multicyclic" and "multi-cyclic;" "redesign" and "re-design," along with +derivatives. + +Added closing double quote in Steinmetz entry in list of authorities: +"Theoretical Elements of Electrical Engineering." + +Changed "switch-hook" to "switch hook" on page 88: "the subscriber's +switch hook." + +Page 107 says there is room for 300 banks of 100 multiple jacks, but +then says this allows for 3,000 multiple jacks in all, rather than +30,000. Based on the figure, 300 banks should be 30 banks, which would +correct the arithmetic. However, I did not change this. + +Changed "bi-paths" to "by-paths" on page 185: "circuits or by-paths." + +Changed "appararus" to "apparatus" on page 209: "The sectional +apparatus." + +Changed "two number" to "two-number" on page 312: "the two-number calls +are ticketed." + +On page 333, a paragraph begins with "It has been only within the past +three few." Perhaps the author meant "It has been only within the past +three years" or "It has been only within the past few years." But since +I didn't know, I left is as is. + +Changed "them ain" to "the main" on page 333: "on the main line." + +Changed "weatherproof" to "weather-proof" on page 357: "iron +weather-proof sets." + +Changed "interoffice" to "inter-office" three times on page 364, to +match the spelling in the body of the document: "meant by inter-office +trunking;" "inter-office connection system;" "of the inter-office +connection." + +Changed "break-down" to "breakdown" on page 367: "provision against +breakdown." + +Changed "way-station" to "waystation" twice on page 372: "with a +waystation set;" and "a waystation on a block wire." + +Changed "way stations" to "waystations" on page 375, in the entry for +Long-distance switching. + +Each page of the Index repeated this text: "Note.--For page numbers see +foot of pages." They were removed. + + + + + +End of the Project Gutenberg EBook of Cyclopedia of Telephony and +Telegraphy, Vol. 2, by Kempster Miller and George Patterson and Charles Thom and Robert Millikan and Samuel McMeen + +*** END OF THIS PROJECT GUTENBERG EBOOK TELEPHONY AND TELEGRAPHY, VOL 2 *** + +***** This file should be named 33437-8.txt or 33437-8.zip ***** +This and all associated files of various formats will be found in: + https://www.gutenberg.org/3/3/4/3/33437/ + +Produced by Ronald Holder, Stephen H. Sentoff and the +Online Distributed Proofreading Team at https://www.pgdp.net + + +Updated editions will replace the previous one--the old editions +will be renamed. + +Creating the works from public domain print editions means that no +one owns a United States copyright in these works, so the Foundation +(and you!) can copy and distribute it in the United States without +permission and without paying copyright royalties. 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