Customers Premises

Up until the early 1960's the external wiring to a house would have been by overhead open wire.  The open wires would terminate at the eaves of the house and connect to a two wire cable that ran down the wall and into the premises.  This cable was originally, like all cables, lead sheaved, but was later plastic covered.

Once in the house the cable would be terminated on a protector unit, which had fuses and lightning protectors in it.  The protector unit would be earthed to either a water pipe or most probably a spike in the ground.  These were not used after the early 1960's when protection was discontinued due to the high cost and little reward.

From the Protector unit a cloth covered cable would have been run to the telephone terminal block.  PVC covered wire superseded cloth covered cable.

Two types of protectors.  To the right the earlier version and the smaller, later
version to the left.  The rods in both units are fuses and the protectors are
the white oblong items to the left of the smaller unit.  On the larger model the
protectors  are the oblong black items in the middle.  Either side of these
you can see smaller items behind each fuse - these are heat coils.

 

Installation well under way.  The engineer on the steps is fitting the protector unit.
Note the box for the phone

External wiring completed, in goes the phone and directories.
 

The four volumes of the London Area telephone directories (1960's)
 

Last revised: February 06, 2011