Working Cord Switchboard

[michaelman2]

Hey Rp2813, To answer your question I have always been fascinated with these boards. Years ago I worked on a large hospital board that was in existance until tbe late 1980s. The cord board still had capabilities that the electronic boards at the time could not handle. The hospital PBX department was run very much like a telephone company central office. The switch board was a 608, so you had the automatic ringing. Sudsman, I am sure that the board that you have seen must be a 608 because that was the only cord board that had a "release" button. The board that Lilly and Hoover are using had toggle switches and other types of mechanisms to ring an extention. Below is a close up of a 608, this was the last cord board Western Electric produced. Talk about a fun job! I have two more that I will post

 

[michaelman2]

Another 608 from a distance

 

[michaelman2]

This is a close up of a older type of board where there are two toggle switches that correspond with each cord set, for ringing and answering.

 

[sudsman]

Michaelman

That is the Exact board. One of my aunts also ran one at the Sands Motel in Texakana in the mid 60s I do remember it so well. it made a beep noise instead of buzz

 

[rp2813]

In the local telco building I worked in they have some old- school wooden boards just sitting around. Nobody gave them a second glance. One small one in particular was shoved in a corner of an office full of sales people who were never there. Nobody would have noticed if one day it wasn't there anymore, but between ethics and security cameras, I was never inclined to "rescue" it.

 

[retroguy]

Switchboard

The 608 is the exact model they have at my condo. It's a hi rise and they actually have three of them lined up behind the front desk. The telephones in the condos work independently of the switchboard, of course. The desk staff simply use it to announce guests, and take messages.