PHONOGRAM SERVICE (UK)

A Phonogram is when a customer uses their telephone to contact the Post Office telegram office to send a telegram, instead of visiting a Post Office.

In 1932 the number TEL (835) or MES was dialled in Director areas, by the public, for telegrams but this changed as the telephone network was expanded and 95 was dialled in Non-Director areas.  In the late 1950's onwards the numbers 90, 190 or 9190 would be used.  On a manual exchange just asking for "Telegrams" got one connected.  The call would be generally answered by the local telephone switchboard and then plugged through to the Phonogram office.

Workers in Post Offices, who had no direct Telephone-telegram circuits, originally dialled the number 286 (CTO) or on a manual exchange would just ask for "Telegrams".

The call would be answered by a designated Phonogram department who would type the message and all relevant information onto a sheet and then pass this to on to other departments that will distribute and send the message.

To use the service the telephone subscriber would have to open a deposit account.  In the provinces the caller would be put through to the local head telegraph office and in London to the Central Telegraph Office.  The public could also use the service from call offices, where trunk calls are accepted.

In a large office, such as the UK CTO, the message would be sent onwards by a conveyer system to the distribution department who would forward the message to the appropriate desks for onward transmission.

The message could also be telephoned to the addressee instead of being delivered by messenger.

There was also a "Telephone letter" or "Telephone-telegram" which were an "office to office" message dictated by telephone to a post office for onward transmission and delivery by post. This was not a telegram.

On the introduction of Telex, in 1933, the Printergram service was introduced which was effectively a telex based Phonogram service.

The whole system was people led and in the large offices, like the CTO, due to the close proximity of people, there were complaints of transmission difficulties due to background noise.  In the early 1920's noiseless typewriters were considered, in the mid 1930's acoustic screens and sound proofing was investigated, but in the whole the offices just remained open plan.

In 1946 a radio link for Phonograms was opened between the islands of Guernsey and Alderney.  Click here for more information.

E.I. Telegraphs, General P1001 - Description.
E.I. Telegraphs, General P1010 - Phonograms junction and routing of calls.

Click here for pictures of the UK CTO Phonogram departments.

Click here for an article on developments in Phonogram working - POEEJ Volume 26 - April 1933.

Click here for Phonogram and Telephone-Telegram working in 1937.

Click here for Phonogram Automatic Distribution Part 1 - POEEJ Volume 42 - October 1949.

Click here for Phonogram Automatic Distribution Part 2 - POEEJ Volume 42 - October 1950.
 

Phonogram Switchboards

Switchboard Phonogram No. 1
The Switchboard, Phonogram No. 1A was an 18 inch high, wooden unit, that had provision for 16 jack and lamp strips (80 lines max) to be fitted.  The Switchboard would be fixed a Desks TL1629.  Each Switchboard would be shared by two operators, who had their own cords and dial.  A Unit, Auxiliary Apparatus PF3005 can also be fitted.

The desk is called a Desks, TL1629, which includes:-
2 x Jacks No. 20.
2 x Jacks No. 40.
2 x Keys No. 282.
2 x Potentiometers No. 8B.

Drawings - 60292 and 64113.

Drawing - CD55 (Layout).

See E.I. Telegraphs, General P1020 for more information.

Switchboard, Phonogram No. 2
This switchboard is similar to the No. 1 except that it provided for 25 jack and lamp strips.

Drawing - 8436.

Switchboard, Phonogram No. 3 and 4
The Switchboard, Phonogram No. 3 is a modular switchboard, consisting of two foot long wooden units that are joined together to make one long multiple.  Each unit is 9 inches high and comprises of two 12 inch long sections, where up to twenty four jack and lamp strips (120 lines max) could be fitted.  The Switchboard Phonogram No. 4 is similar to the No. 3 except the units are 5 foot long and comprise of five 12 inch long sections.

The switchboard units would normally be fitted on 2 inch stands.  A conveyer belt can be fitted under the desk and the 2 inch raised section would have openings to allow forms to drop onto the belt.

The desk is called a Desks, TL1612.

Drawings -  8573 (No. 3) and 63434 (No. 4).

Drawing - 9995 (Layout).

See E.I. Telegraphs, General P1030 for more information.
 

Switchboard, Phonogram No. 5 and 6
These Switchboards are of the double tier type.  They are installed when more than 16 positions are required and V belt conveyers are in use.  They are built up from from desk units which form a double sided table.  The switchboard units are fitted on the table and are pre-wired. 

Switchboard, Phonogram No. 5 is is a modular switchboard, consisting of two 12 inch long panel units whilst the Switchboard, Phonogram No. 6 consists of five 12 inch long panel units.

The switchboard units are mounted on 6 inch stands which allow access to the conveyer belt would be fitted under the desk below the switchboards.

The desk is called a Desks, TL1414.

Drawings -  9435 (No. 5) and 9436 (No. 6).

Drawing - CD174 (Layout).

See E.I. Telegraphs, General P1040 for more information.
 

Last revised: January 30, 2024