Classic Rotary Phones Forum

Telephone Switching => Carrier, Radio & Toll => Topic started by: Babybearjs on January 19, 2016, 03:06:42 AM

Title: WE #3 Toll Board
Post by: Babybearjs on January 19, 2016, 03:06:42 AM
came across this listing On Ebay. Found under 1940-69 section toward end of listings. Listed out of Georgia... seller started bidding at a whopping $25.00! local P/U Only.... anyone need a switchboard?
Title: Re: WE #3 Toll Board
Post by: Fabius on January 19, 2016, 10:37:24 AM
Quote from: Babybearjs on January 19, 2016, 03:06:42 AM
anyone need a switchboard?

I don't need one but I want one.
Title: Re: WE #3 Toll Board
Post by: HarrySmith on January 19, 2016, 09:43:04 PM
Me too! I want it! Can anyone identify it and share a short description?
Title: Re: WE #3 Toll Board
Post by: AE_Collector on January 20, 2016, 12:03:01 AM
Just a short little drive for you Harry! Do you have roof racks?

Toll calls were most often handled by operators at Toll Boards sometimes in the office with the operators who handled the local calls and sometimes in an office on their own. The local operators would route the call to the Toll Operators who would put it through on trunks heading in the right direction and they would keep track of the duration of the call. Note the Calculagraph on the left side and the slots up top on the board to keep the cards.

Even after conversion to Automatic local switching toll calls frequently landed at the Toll Operators to handle the billing.

Terry
Title: Re: WE #3 Toll Board
Post by: Weco355aman on January 20, 2016, 01:29:17 AM
This look's very much like a Automatic Electric Toll switchboard. The real question has it been gutted, Need to see photos of rear.
The next thing is it used special trunks that are IMPOSSIABLE to find. That is if you want to make it work. If it is only for display then it does not matter.
Title: Re: WE #3 Toll Board
Post by: jsowers on January 20, 2016, 09:43:03 AM
I found the auction. There are plenty of great pics of the rear, so I posted them below. Terry, the seller thinks it's AE, but that's not an AE dial. It also has a 10-button touchpad. What are those three light bulbs for? This thing looks very complete to me, not that I know anything about switchboards. It came from Pensacola and was saved from someone who was scrapping it.

http://www.ebay.com/itm/321977409499 (http://www.ebay.com/itm/321977409499)
Title: Re: WE #3 Toll Board
Post by: Fabius on January 20, 2016, 11:21:44 AM
I notice there's no wood sides. The switchboard must of been in a lineup/row of switchboards.
Title: Re: WE #3 Toll Board
Post by: Weco355aman on January 20, 2016, 11:40:18 AM
After seeing the pic. its a Stromberg Carlson switchboard.
There is some hope that the schematics might be available.
It not a gutless wonder. How ever this is only part of what's needed to make it
work. There was Trunks mounted in the switch room that would connect between
switching systems and the switchboard.
Title: Re: WE #3 Toll Board
Post by: Babybearjs on January 20, 2016, 09:01:47 PM
hopefully, Someone will grab it.... too far for me....
Title: Re: WE #3 Toll Board
Post by: Buzby on January 20, 2016, 10:27:06 PM
Quote from: Babybearjs on January 20, 2016, 09:01:47 PM
hopefully, Someone will grab it.... too far for me....

Georgia's on my mind, but not in my vicinity. Hopefully a forum member can snap up a bargain.
Title: Re: WE #3 Toll Board
Post by: Jim Stettler on January 21, 2016, 06:36:11 PM
Quote from: Fabius on January 20, 2016, 11:21:44 AM
I notice there's no wood sides. The switchboard must of been in a lineup/row of switchboards.
Quote from: Fabius on January 20, 2016, 11:21:44 AM
I notice there's no wood sides. The switchboard must of been in a lineup/row of switchboards.
The wood sides are easily removable trim. It wouldn't surprise me if someone removed them for a woodworking project. Many of the back panels suffered a woodworkers fate.
JMO,
Jim S.