Labels for Telephones

An extract from
SUBSCRIBERS' CIRCUITS AND APPARATUS
PART 6
INSTRUCTION CARDS AND LABELS
April, 1932

Labels

13. Labels for Subscribers' Telephones
It is necessary to provide a means of permanently recording the exchange name and number and certain essential directions in regard to the use of the telephone. The provision made in this respect varies with the exchange system and the type of telephone. It comprises at present, in general, (1(a)) a circular Aluminium label clamped to the front of the transmitter on the pillar pedestal type of telephone or (1(b)) a label fitted in the dummy dial on the convertible pyramid pedestal type of table telephone (2) a label fitted to the dial on telephones in automatic Non-Director exchange areas and (3) a combination of the foregoing two methods (1(a)) and (2) in automatic Director exchange areas. The recent standardisation, however, of a modified dial label of larger dimensions than those of the dial labels hitherto used, details regarding which are given in paragraphs 15-19, will enable the method prevailing in automatic Non-Director exchange areas to he adopted in automatic Director exchange areas also and the practice of fitting transmitter labels in the latter class of area will ultimately cease.

14. The various types of label available are illustrated by Figures 1 and 1A and the use for which they are intended is shown on the appended schedule. Information is also given on Schedule N. 1462 in the Loose Leaf diagram series regarding the type of label to he fitted on subscribers' telephones in connection with each type of standard installation.

 

15. Labels Nos. 138A and 138B (and their frames) arc no longer standard and will be superseded respectively by Labels Nos. 160A and 160B which are larger and are fitted in larger frames. The latter labels will be fitted to future issues of Dials, Automatic Nos. 10 and 11.

16. Labels Nos. 138A and 138B are not interchangeable with Labels No. 160A and 160B and should be maintained on dials already in use until the dials are recovered.

17. Labels Nos. 160C, 160D, and 160E, see figure 1A, are also available. Their use is indicated in the schedule included in paragraph 14.

18. The use of Label 160A on the dial will render the fitting of Label No. 43C on the transmitter unnecessary.

19. No local marking is necessary on Labels No. 138A, but on Labels Nos. 43, 43A, 430, 78, 78C, 78E, 138B, 159A, 159B, 159C, 160A, 160B, 160C, 160D and 160E the Main exchange name and exchange line Directory number and, in the ease of extensions connected to a P.M.B.X. or a P.A.B.X., the number of the extension in addition should be recorded. Further, if direct night service is available at the P.M.B.X. or P.A.B.X. extension station, Labels Nos. 160A, 160B, 1600, 1601) and 160E should also bear the night service exchange line Directory number.

20. In automatic Director areas, exchange names, when inserted on telephone labels, should agree with the names as printed in the Telephone Directory, i.e., with the first three letters in capitals and the remaining letters in ordinary small type. The abbreviations which appear in the Directory, on account of space restrictions, should not, however, be reproduced on telephone labels. On labels which are fitted on extension telephones, the abbreviation ExTN. denoting the extension circuit number should be inserted in capitals with the initial letter larger than the remaining three letters and all the letters should be in bolder type than the letters of the exchange name.

21. In manual and automatic Non-Director areas the letters of exchange names, when inserted on labels associated with telephones fitted on exchange lines without extensions and at Main Stations on exchange lines with extensions should appear in capitals of uniform size. On labels which are fitted on extension telephones, all the letters in the exchange name and in the abbreviation ExTN. should also appear in capitals but with the initial letters larger than the remaining letters and the letters ExTN. should be in bolder type than the letters of the exchange name.

22. Typical examples of printing, as specified in paragraphs 20 and 21 for use on the paper discs used with Labels Nos. 43... and 78... and on Labels Nos. 138B, 159A, 159B, 159C, 160A, 160B, 160C, 160D and 160E are shown by Figure 2. The examples of printing should be strictly followed and the position of the circuit numbers relative to the exchange name and the abbreviation EXTN. should be strictly observed. Specimens of the arrangement of letters on paper discs and labels proper to each class of manual and automatic exchange area appear among the typical examples.

23. The name of the exchange should always be printed on Labels Nos. 138B, 159A, 159B, 159C, 160A, 160B, 160C, 160D and 160E and on the paper discs associated with Labels No. 43C, No. 78E and No. 78F. When supplies of any of these printed labels arc required quantities of not less than 500 should be demanded, any surplus over immediate requirements being retained for future use.

24. The necessary arrangements for printing will be made by the Controller, Stores Department. Information regarding the printing required should be given on an engraving schedule accompanying the requisition.

25. The insertion of exchange line numbers or exchange line and extension numbers on transmitter and dial labels should be carried out neatly and legibly, conforming in style as nearly as possible to that shown on the typical examples, and this work should, whenever possible, he done in the Sectional Engineer's Office by a competent officer. Indian ink should be used for the insertion of details in manuscript, or, if other means, e.g. an adjustable rubber stamp, a stamping machine or a stencil etc., are employed the printing medium should be of a suitable character. The insertion of the details in question should not be left to workmen as part of the job of installing apparatus.

26. Where it is the practice to use a "Machine, Small, Hand Numbering" to stamp subscribers' numbers on Discs, Paper, for Labels No. 43. . . . arrangements should be made to use it template such as is shown by Figure 3, which is a reproduction of Diagram E.C. 1224.  As the numbering machines vary in shape and it is therefore not practicable to provide a standard template, the item should be made locally to suit the machine in use. It should be cut from a piece of sheet lead and be suitably mounted on a wooden base. 'The special template is necessary in order to avoid the difficulty experienced generally of stamping the numbers in the correct position on the paper discs.

Figure 1
Telephone Labels

Figure 2
Examples of printing on Disc, Paper for Labels 43 and 78

Figure 1A
Type of Dial Labels

Last revised: June 27, 2021