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GPO 5 + 20 Switchboard.


GPO 5 + 20 Switchboard. Called that as it had 5 incoming exchange lines and 20 internal extensions. It was often called a "Doll's Eye" switchboard because when a line or extension was in use the large black discs (shown in a array between the notices) would rotate to reveal a white background.
Some large houses would have a switchboard like this and employ an operator, mostly they were in small telephone exchanges or businesses.
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  1. Paula MooreSeptember 12, 2017 at 8:56 PM

    "one ringy-dingy, two ringy-dingies..."

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  2. Margaret Siemers (Siemers Rafter Room)September 12, 2017 at 10:02 PM

    And a Gracious Good Afternoon to you Paula Moore ; )

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  3. Margaret Siemers (Siemers Rafter Room)September 12, 2017 at 10:03 PM

    David Bennett Fantastic! Love old Phones.

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  4. David BennettSeptember 13, 2017 at 1:14 AM

    Thank you +Margaret Siemers (Siemers so do I. I used to install & maintain them, not quite as old as this one tho' !! 😁

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  5. Margaret Siemers (Siemers Rafter Room)September 13, 2017 at 11:01 AM

    David Bennett No, we just feel that old sometimes. : )

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  6. Ann KennedySeptember 14, 2017 at 5:43 PM

    Wow! It's been awhile since I've seen a switchboard. I remember "party" lines as a kid, and in my grandparents' small town we used to ask the operator to reach someone, and you could hear her connecting others at the same time. We could also listen in to others' conversations:-) Now you've reminded me to look for a picture I took of one of the early switchboards for the railroad.

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  7. David BennettSeptember 15, 2017 at 2:55 AM

    Ann Kennedy Hi Ann, although these sw/boards were before my time (by many years too!) I did I install many "party lines". We called them " shared service" lines; I'll look forward to seeing your photo of the railroad switch. 😁

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  8. Ann KennedySeptember 15, 2017 at 4:41 AM

    Here is the picture, and I regret that I couldn't get the whole thing. It was many times this size. photos.google.com - New photo by Ann Kennedy

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  9. Margaret Siemers (Siemers Rafter Room)September 15, 2017 at 7:27 AM

    Ann Kennedy Very cool to see. Interesting to click on it and enlarge to read the instructions of how to operate it. Looks complicated to say the least.

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  10. Ann KennedySeptember 15, 2017 at 7:36 AM

    Margaret Siemers I liked reading all that info too! Glad you could enlarge enough to see it. I can't imagine having a job like that! I wonder if David Bennett caught Paula's comment and knows this great clip: youtube.com - Rowan and Martin's Laugh-In: Lily Tomlin Phone Operator

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  11. David BennettSeptember 15, 2017 at 3:26 PM

    Ann Kennedy It looks like qhjitd a large switchboard, thanks for posting it.

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