Book Review

Number Please

By Dave Occomore.

Review by Peter Cowley.

This 90 page book is a gem for those interested in the early years of the telephone system and exchange development in London.

The book takes the reader from the first Bell and Edison exchanges, through their development into the various National Telephone Company exchanges, and up to the Post Office take over of the system in 1912.

Written in an easy to read manner the book explores exchange building and maintenance, as well as chapters on operator training; switchboard operation; and the problems of early overhead wires and exchange gantries. Also, there is a full and informative chapter on the Victorian Electrophone system.

The author has provided many period images of buildings; switchboards; engineers; and operators to complement the text.

 

Available direct from the author, details in the THG Journal.