316 THE BELL SYSTEM TECHNICAL JOURNAL, MARCH 1953 



Fig. 9 — Call slips on which records are made in the throwdown machine. 

 DESCRIPTION OF POSITIONS 



The throwdown machine consists of five positions as shown in the 

 plan view of Fig. 10. A photograph showing all but one position appears 

 on Fig. 1. This division into positions results from the requirements of 

 simulating the components of the No. 5 crossbar system and equalizing 

 the work load on the attending operators. The arrangement of positions, 

 as shown, provides a continuous clockwise flow of records and other 

 items that must be passed from operator to operator. The five positions 

 are known as: originating position, gate position, marker position, match 

 position, and assignment position. Four operators attend the five posi- 



