1. Derby Selector Racks
10_exchanges/B19_lms_derby.jpgB19 LMS Derby Selector Racks. There's no date on this picture but the pre-2000 selectors would suggest it's 1930s
2. Manchester Operators
10_exchanges/B153a-1_manchester_operators.jpgB153a-1 Switchboard operators at Manchester Victoria switchboard. It appears to be a PABX 3 board. Paul Darlington has written to say that his wife's aunt appears in this photo. Ethel Spencer (married name Edwards) was a switchboard operator at Manchester Victoria in the 1940s. She is the girl in white on the far right hand side of the picture, just in front of the supervisor. She says that the supervisor was a Mrs Crump. Ethel worked in Manchester until she was married in 1946, so the photos is before this date. She married William (Bill) Edwards, who worked in the telegraph at Crewe. They met when he helped out on the Crewe switchboard! Bill's brother was Arthur Edwards (Paul's father in-law) who was the TO at Crewe Exchange until retiring in 1989. Ethel moved to Esher a few years ago to live near her son. Ethel also appears in another picture - see R58 under Manchester Control.
3. Manchester Battery Room
10_exchanges/B153a-2_manchester_battery_room.jpgB153a-2 Battery room at Manchester. The large open lead-acid cells are typical of the period.
4.Manchester Selector Racks
10_exchanges/B153b-1_manchester_racks.jpgB153b-1 Selector racks at Manchester. 2000-type selectors here. The technician at the front appears to be working a routiner. The one at the back is holding his butt-phone.
5. Manchester Test Desk
10_exchanges/B153b-2_manchester_test_desk.jpgB153b-2 Test desk at Manchester. The MDF can be seen in the background.
6. Crewe Switchboard 1960
10_exchanges/w198e_crewe_switchboard.jpgW198E Crewe PABX cord switchboard pictured in 1960. All rather clinical looking with the vinyl floor tiles.
7. Crewe Switchboard Supervisor
10_exchanges/w198a_crewe_switchboard_supervisor.jpgW198A This gives a better view of the operators. You can see that they're using the newly-introduced Headset No1 which replaced the bulky headset & breast plate.
8. Crewe PABX Equipment Room 1960
10_exchanges/w198f_crewe_equipment_room.jpgW198F Part of the equipment room showing the line relay rack on the left, part of the MDF at the back. There's what looks like a small PAX on the right and some unidentified equipment, possibly power related.
9. Crewe PABX Uniselector Rack 1960
10_exchanges/w198g_crewe_uniselector_rack.jpgW198G Subscribers' uniselector racks 1 to 3 and a travelling ladder.
10. Crewe PABX Power Cubicle 1960
10_exchanges/w198h_crewe_power_cubicle.jpgW198H Close up of the GEC power cubicle.
11. Crewe PABX Selector Racks 1960
10_exchanges/w198k_crewe_selector_racks.jpgW198K First selectors in the foreground. Note the butt in phones, Tele 180 hanging on the rack end. Evidently GEC installed 4000 type selectors here before they learned better.
12. Crewe PABX Test Desk 1960
10_exchanges/w198l_crewe_test_desk.jpgW198L Typical test desk of the time. Dial speed tester in the top centre. The handset plugged in looks like a military style.
12. Crewe PABX Carrier Bay 1960
10_exchanges/w198n_crewe_carrier_bay.jpgW198N Carrier equipment bay, probably 12-channel systems.
