Working Cord Switchboard

[michaelman2]

Does anyone know of a business where they still operate a cord switchboard?

 

[rp2813]

This link may provide a better venue for your query.

http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php

 

[michaelman2]

Ralph...thank you!

 

[jeffg]

I'd be amazed if anyone is still using one, at least in the Western world. Electronic switching (introduced in the 1960s!) made cords not only unnecessary but incompatible.

 

[michaelman2]

Yeah Jeff, you are right, but I do know that in the Atlanta area they were still in use up into the late 1980's...believe it or not. I have heard that some obscure ones are still out there. I know one of our members has one in his home that is operational.

 

[rp2813]

Yes, just fyi, the site I linked to has a thread with a post that indicates the standard "500" model rotary phones were still being produced by Cortelco in 2006. Why? Who knows.

 

[ronhic]

Not electronic.....

....but Geelong in Victoria was our first AUTOMATIC exchange...in 1912.

 

[sudsman]

Yes there is

a old Motel about 15 miles from here that still has one. Just like Lilly Tomlin had on Laugh In. Same model Western Electric. There is also a motel in Cleburne that has one of the 60S automatic cord boards but very large. Not sure who made it. but does the automatic ring and if you dont push the realese button you let everyone hear everything.

 

[launderess]

Have I Reached The Party To Whom I Am Speaking?

'Fair'? Sir, we don't have to be fair. We're the phone company.").

 

[hooverwheelaway]

*snort*

 

[hooverwheelaway]

Fred Nelson has one...

Here I am *working it* a few years ago.

 

[rp2813]

Well Michael, it looks like you're getting more responses here than on the Rotary Phone Forum.

Is there any particular motivation behind your inquiry?

Ralph

 

[JerseyMike]

I worked at my local "Y" when I was in college. (I graduated in 1979). They had a manual switchboard when I worked there. You had to dial "O" and ask for an outside line when you wanted to make a call from the rotary phone in boss' office.

Mike

 

[mpatoray]

Here is my version of the picture, I have it posted on my desk at work, I work for AT&T Mobility

Matt

 

[westingman123]

My Mama worked for a truck line in St. Louis during the great war, until 1964. She had to work the switchboard to cover for the girls when they had lunches & breaks. I showed this to her, and if you could have seen her face...BTW, I have picures of her with that very hairstyle. Ernestine would be proud.

 

[irishwashguy]

Take a look at this

I just Love it~!

 

[rp2813]

AT&T Mobility

Hey Matt,

Gee whiz, you must have the most stress-free job of anybody on the board here!

I'm kidding of course. That's the last place I worked before they started slashing and burning management positions last year, and it was nothing but fire drills all day long.

 

[rinso]

When I managed a three-city Telephone Answering Service in 1989, they were still using cord boards. 557A or 557B I believe.

 

[washerboy]

fyi

if anyone is wanting one like lilly used..I saw on last Friday at a flea market..it was either 200 or 250 dollars I can get more info if anyone is instrested.

 

[spiceman1957]

I remember staying

at a hotel in Fort Lauderdale many years ago where they had a PBX switchboard ( think that was what they called it) like the one HooverWheelAway is using. With this system, you had to remember to have the phone away from you ear because when they pulled out a plug out of the jack to connect you to another party, it would make a horrible "popping sound" that wasn't pleasant to the ears.