86 Telephone Systems of the Continent of Europe 



their names and addresses, although furnished with numbers in 

 the list. On receiving a call from a subscriber the operator 

 always says 'I hear No. - ,' mentioning the list number of 

 the caller, who thereupon gives the number (or name and address) 

 of the person he wants, which the operator repeats. The caller 

 then hangs up his phone and awaits a ring from the exchange, 

 which in Brussels, &:c., signifies that his correspondent is there. 

 In Ghent, &c., the operator both rings and speaks to notify the 

 establishment of a connection. In all cases, the switch girl rings 

 the called subscriber. On the termination of a conversation the 

 caller rings off by giving his crank several turns. It will be seen 

 that the operators have plenty to do, and that the usual uncer- 

 tainty (although the Belgian method of using the instruments 

 reduces it to a minimum) between a ring-through and a ring-off 

 exists. 



In trunk-line switching the calling subscriber in the first place 

 asks his exchange for the town in which his prospective corre- 

 spondent is located. Thus, a Charleroy subscriber wanting one 

 in Louvain, rings the Charleroy operator and says 'give me 

 Louvain.' Charleroy rings and connects Louvain, to the operator 

 at which place the Charleroy subscriber gives his order direct. 

 On finishing a trunk conversation both subscribers are expected 

 to ring off. 



HOURS OF SERVICE 



The service is continuous day and night at all the principal' 

 towns \ the smaller ones are open from 5 A.M. till n P.M. ; 7 A.M. 

 till 1 1 P.M., and in some cases 7 A.M. till 9 P.M. 



SUBSCRIBERS' INSTRUMENTS 



The sets now fitted consist of magneto with base-board and 

 battery-box; a Runnings, or 'solid-back' transmitter modified 

 somewhat from the original American design ; and double-pole 

 receiver. The magnetos are provided with a lightning-guard con- 

 sisting of two metal plates separated by paraffined paper ; in some 

 cases this is combined with a point discharger, and mounted on a 



