German Empire 197 



described in connection with Mix & Genest's board, in addition 

 to a test battery at the exchange. A calling current (fig. 67) 

 passes by a b, K/., plug L.S. to earth. When the plug is lifted the 

 phone K/. is cut in via c d e k /, J.R., key TV., test key CT, test 

 battery, and earth. Test is made by applying L.S. to the socket h ; 

 line being free, connection is established by pushing L.S. home in 

 the desired jack. The calling battery W.B. is divided into two 

 parts for short and long line ringing. To ring on a short line the 

 key u. is depressed, bringing / in contact with g and the cord of 

 the plug L.S. For a long line the key G.B.T. is depressed 

 simultaneously, and the whole battery brought in. After con- 

 nection is ascertained to be satisfactorily through by the presence 

 on the line of a current from one or both of the subscribers' test 

 cells, the phone is cut out by pushing down u., and so separating 

 the contacts i and k. Key CT is used to cut out the exchange 

 test cell momentarily when currents from the subscribers' cells 

 are being tested for. In addition to the single cords, there are a 

 few double cords with ring-off drops and keys kept in reserve. 

 These are shown at SK/., u., T.', T". Each pair of double cords 

 has a jack ;// to receive connections from the next table when 

 necessary, n is in connection with the calling battery, and the 

 key K.B.T. is used for ringing through the plug c.s. 



The multiple boards in the remaining six Berlin switch-rooms 

 are of Western Electric Company's manufacture. One of them 

 is, for want of room for lateral extension, arranged in two tiers or 

 stories, the operators of the upper tier sitting some six feet above 

 the level of the heads of those below. This is ingenious, and 

 saves space, but is not conducive to health. The lady superin- 

 tendents, familiar in other countries, are dispensed with ; the 

 girl operators, who, as German State officials, are of course in 

 uniform, being kept up to the mark by mature gentlemen of 

 severe and martial aspect. Should the British Post Office take 

 over the telephone exchanges in 1897, a new field for employ- 

 ment would be open to the army reserve men were Parliament 

 to sanction the adoption of the Prussian corporal plan. When 

 located in old buildings, the German switch-rooms sometimes 

 lack cubic content and ventilation ; but when opportunity offers, 



