DICTATION USING THE TELEPHONE
Large businesses and Government departments in the UK recognised there was a need for centralised diction machines.  Police Officers and hospital doctors would constantly write reports which were typed up by a typing pool.

Because of the numbers involved it was not cost effective to purchase a diction machine for each individual who required one.

So dictation machine firms saw a niche market for a centralised dictation system that could be accessed by telephone.

Dictation today is made much simpler as telephone now send tones and therefore no intermediate apparatus is required.

The Post Office allowed DC connections via the following means:-

  • Use of a dial to control the dictation (PABX).
  • Use of a single press button to start and stop the dictation machine, with all other operations controlled by the dial.
  • PMBX connection.
  • By use of a local switch or switching unit.

The dial only option would allow the user to firstly dial an access code (e.g. 7) to gain access to the dictation equipment and then once connected they could control the machine by using the dial.  See pictures below.

Click here for an article from the A.T.E Journal, Volume 16 dated 1960.  This shows terminal equipment and explains how the administration side operates.

The dictation company has supplied an adhesive dial that surrounds the dial

 

Close up of the control numbers

Supporting documents

EI Telephones, PBX's C1900 - Using of dictation equipment on PABX's 1, 2, 3 and 4.
EI Telephones, Stations G3101 - Connections of exchange lines and extensions to recording machines.

Specification S662 - PABX connection.
Specification S666 - PABX 3 connection.
Specification S667 - PABX 3 connection with dial and press button dial control.
Specification S668 - PABX 3 connection with dial and 2 press button control.
Specification S744 - PMBX 1A connection.

Diagram - SA6 (connection to exchange lines).
Diagram - N4401 (Using a Telephone No. 710).
Diagram - N4403 (Handset No. 6A-2 connection).

 

 
 
BACK Home page BT/GPO Telephones Search the Site Glossary of Telecom Terminology Quick Find All Telephone Systems
Last revised: January 18, 2026

FM