Home

Episode 51 - British Switchboard U.C. 10-Line, 1940

Description

A British field switchboard from the 1940ies. U.C. stands for "universal call", as it supports incoming and outgoing buzzer (~350Hz) and magneto (~20Hz) signalling. There was also a slightly smaller but otherwise nearly identical 6 line version.

Short description from "Switchboards U.C. 10-Line and 6-Line. Signal training vol. 3. Pamphlet No. 26." [1]:

The Switchboard U.C. 10-Line and the Switchboard U.C. 6-Line are portable telephone switchboards for army use accommodating 10 lines and 6 lines respectively. Apart form their use in locality offices, the 10-line switchboard is suitable for use in divisional signals and the 6-line switchboard for battalion and artillery regiments. The equipment has been designed for mobile operations and can be set up and dismantled easily and quickly. The switchboards respond to and are provided with magneto generator and buzzer calling. The 10-line switchboard is arranged so that telegraphy or telephony may be superposed on three lines, while the 6-line switchboard has facilities for superposing on one line only. The superposing is carried out by means of additional apparatus which may be attached to the switchboards. Both switchboards are similar in construction and circuit details and are built on the unit principle, each comprising line units, common apparatus unit and operator's unit. One line unit is used for each line and the assembly associated with any line may be removed for adjustment and repair without disturbing other line circuits. Lamps are provided on the line units for use as calling and clearing indicators. The common apparatus unit includes a magneto generator and buzzer for calling purposes. The operator's telephone circuit on both instruments incorporates an anti-side-tone circuit which supresses sidetone to a low level. The operator is protected from acoustic shock, due to key clicks or other forms of transient interference, by a "crash limiter". A night alarm is provided, which may be used during quit periods, so that when a subscriber on any line calls the exchange, a bell rings, in addition to the lighting of the indicator lamp of the particular line.

Working instructions for switchboard universal call 10-line (from the label inside the main lid):

  1. To set up the switchboard:
    1. Plug head and breast set into jack marked M.R.R.M.
    2. Insert the plug of a cord into operator's jack. The other plug of this cord will be called "operator's plug" (plug "O").
    3. Switch on battery. - N.B. The set will operate only when battery is on.
    4. Apply lamp test.
  2. To reply a call:
    1. Put key switch to speak position, insert plug "O" into the "A" jack, enquire connection required; at same time insert plug of a spare cord into the "B" jack.
    2. Then insert plug "O" into the "A" jack of required subscriber. Give buzzer or magneto call. When an answer is received remove plug "O" and insert free end of second cord into the "A" jack.
    3. Supervision may be affected by inserting plug "O" into a vacant jack of connected lines.
    4. Bunching: Join the "B" jack of first subscriber to the "A" jack of second subscriber and his "B" jack to the "A" jack of next subscriber and so on. When a multiple call is to be made, call up subscribers seperately.
  3. Night alarm:
    1. Connect red and black cord to bell and insert its plug into "night alarm jack."
    2. Pull on battery key.
    3. Test (see 4).
    4. When replying to a night alarm call, first remove the plug from "night alarm jack" and proceed as above.
  4. Lamp test:
    • Pull on battery key. Take a cord and place tip of one plug on right hand bottom screw of any of the line units and touch each lamp case in turn with the tip of the other plug. Each lamp should light.
  5. To adjust the buzzer:
    1. Loosen the collars marked "lock" and then withdraw the centre knobs a few turns.
    2. With the buzzer key pressed down advance either knob until the loudest note, irrespective of quality is obtained; Lock this knob. Then advance the other knob until a clear fairly high note is obtained. Lock this knob. A buzzer does not give its maximum output when emitting the highest possible note but only when the note is clear and steady. Check adjustments ay operating the key and readjust if necessary. A buzzer call must consist of a long dash only.

Instructions on battery box:

Instructions for Replacement of Battery or use of external Battery.

Switchboard U.C. 10-line only.

Unique features

Typical switch boards from that era had mechanical call indicator flaps (typically only reacting to magneto call signalling). This switchboard uses self holding DC relays and DC lamps as call indicators. It works with buzzer or magneto signalling. The disadvantage in comparison to the "traditional" mechanical flaps is that it needs a battery for incoming call signalling.

Datasheet

Gallery

Disassembled.

Disassembled. Handset, Batteries, Night alarm bell, Manual.

Accessories box with cords and weights.

Operators unit, line unit 1, line unit 10 and common unit removed.

Disassembled, view from the back.

Battery +plug connected to external battery connection.

Spare lamps in the back.

Battery box.

Battery box, 4,5V flashlight battery inserted instead of original 3x 1,5V elements. It's a little rusty inside.

Test resistors, "Operate" = 1960 Ohms, "Not to operate" = 2960 Ohms. Used to adjust the line relays.

Night alarm bell disassembled.

Tele Hand No. 2, disassembled.

Line unit (left side) with protection paper hood taken off. Left to right (bottom to top): B jack, relay, A jack, rectifier, lamp.

Line unit rigth side. Left to right (top to bottom): Lamp, rectifier, A jack, relay, B jack.

Line unit backside. Relay adjustment screws visible.

Line unit as pictured in [1]. (Differs slightly in that A and B jack are adjacent and not on top and bottom of relay.)

Line unit as pictured in [1].

The common unit holds the magneto, buzzer, and night alarm relay circuit. Based on the capacitor this switchboard has probably been made by T.M.C. in 1940. (No other make indicators to be found)

Common unit front with buzzer removed. "Speak/Buzz" switch, night alarm socket, battery switch, magneto crank.

Common unit from the back. Night alarm relay.

Buzzer T.Mk.I. Same buzzer module as used eg. in D.Mk.V and F.Mk.I/II. The buzzer coils serve also as anti-sidetone speech circuit.

Common unit as pictured in [1].

Common unit as pictured in [1].

Operator's unit, left side. The electrolytic condenser and resistor are part of the TX circuit. The rectifier setup is used as crash limiter in the RX circuit.

Operator's unit, right side.

Operator's unit as pictured in [1].

Ready to pack.

Night alarm bell stored, battery connected.

From the back as pictured in [1].

All cords stored int accessory box.

Ready for transport.

Packed as pictured in [1].

Ready to use. Cords mounted, handset and night alarm bell connected.

Ready to use as pictured in [1].

Diagram inside backside lid. The line unit diagram is a slightly updated version (compare with below diagram from the guide).

Line unit diagram from [1].

Operator's circuit diagram from [1].

Switchboard cord label.

Red cord YA 3536.

Black cord YA 3535.

Cords with weights.

User guide inside front lid.

Reminder label to prevent breaking magento crank handle when closing lid.

Sources

Creative Commons Attribution-ShareAlike 4.0 International License

Home