Central Telegraph Office (CTO)
Pictures


These are pictures of different areas and departments within the CTO.  Probably some are missing.  The dates shown, are when the picture was taken.

Central Telegraph Office

 

Central Telegraph Office - 1920

 

4th floor, L and K Divisions - 1929

 

A division - 1933

 

Addressing table - 1934

 

Addressing table staffed - 1934

 

Australian Beam - 1927
Tetney, Lincolnshire, UK was the site of a Marconi Beam Station from where telegrams were sent from 1927 to Australia and India as part of the Imperial Wireless Chain.

 

Baudot instruments - 1932

 

Cable chamber - 1945
The cables are all lead covered and exit the building via wall plate

 

CTO - Basement Test Room - 1928
Showing the Chronopher Control Clock to the left

 

Cable room circulation, 2nd floor - 1932

 

Cable terminating frame - 1936

 

Canadian Beam - 1926

 

Canadian Beam - 1926

 

Central Hall - 1929

 

Central Hall - 1934

 

Central Hall Reception, pneumatic tubes - 1932

 

Centre gallery, 3rd floor - 1929

 

Circulation drop point and V conveyors - 1935

 

Control board, 3rd floor - 1935

 

Control board, 3rd floor, staffed - 1935

 

Conveyer system - 1946

 

Conveyer system - 1946

 

Conveyer system - 1946

 

Dark room - 1948

 

Distribution board - 1936

 

Distribution office, pneumatic tubes - 1932

 

Emergency office - 1945

 

Facsimile machines - 1948

 

German division - 1932

 

Hughes instrument operating keyboard - 1934

 

India Beam - 1927

 

International  telex exchange switchboard - 1947

 

International telex exchange enquiry position - 1957

 

International telex exchange general view, A Suite - 1957

 

International telex exchange general view, B Suite - 1957

 

International telex exchange general view main and directory enquiry positions - 1963

 

International telex exchange observation position - 1957

 

International telex exchange operating radio control positions showing circuit indicator board in background - 1963

 

International telex exchange radio control position for connecting  outgoing and transit calls - 1963

 

International telex exchange Teleprinter No. 11C - 1957

 

International telex radio control position - 1955

 

International telex switchboard - 1947

 

Listening-in position - 1936

 

Morse and Hughes male Telegraphist at work

 

Morse man working instrument - 1934

 

Morse woman working instrument - 1934

 

Multiplex set, Centre gallery - 1929

 

Office 3A, Creed teleprinter with Operator - 1934

 

Operating positions - 1936

 

Operators positions in large office - 1936

 

Operators positions in small office - 1936

 

Phonogram distribution position - 1936

 

Phonogram observation panels - 1936

 

Phonogram room - 1931
The light pod shows when the operator is busy on a call

 

Phonogram room general view decoder tables and board - 1936

 

Phonogram room inland - 1932

 

Phonogram room lamp switching cabinet - 1936

 

Phonogram room operators position showing unit and wiring - 1936

 

Phonogram room showing conveyor - 1935

 

Phonogram supervisors desk - 1936

 

Picture telegraphy section - 1935

 

Picture telegraphy section monochrome picture receiver - 1935

 

Picture telegraphy section monochrome control panel - 1935

 

Pneumatic tubes - 1934

 

Primary circulation table staffed - 1934

 

Printergram suite - 1954

 

Provincial test board - 1921

 

Public office counter - 1931

 

Radio-telegram sending telegram to Rugby - 1934

 

Rugby Circuit - 1929

 

Second floor - 1927

 

Special events office - 1932

 

Street tubes  terminals - 1934

 

Switching equipment and operators positions - 1936

 

Telegram drop point staffed - 1934

 

Teleprinter adjustment

 

Teleprinters, 3rd floor centre gallery - 1932

 

Teleprinter ancillary table, 2nd floor - 1937

 

Teleprinter Creed tape - 1934

 

Teleprinter section - 1934

 

Teleprinter tables and conveyor - 1932

 

Teleprinters, 3rd floor, Telegraphists at work - 1931

 

Teleprinters, 4th floor - 1931

 

Teleprinters centre gallery - 1935

 

Telex switchboard inland - 1952

 

Telex fault control - 1962

 

Telex operator on the telephone - 1939

 

Telex section - 1932

 

Test frames with operator testing, 3rd floor - 1932

 

Test room basement - 1927

 

Third floor - 1927

 

 

 
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Last revised: December 18, 2023

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