404 Telephone Systems of the Continent of Europe 



and put the telephone to the ear without waiting for a ring back, 

 On hearing the operator's voice, the number and name, or (in the 

 small centres) the name only of the person wanted is given. He 

 is rung by the operator, and, taking down his telephone, replies 

 without ringing, so that the caller, who is still listening, hears his 

 voice. As soon as she finds them in touch, the operator retires 

 from the line. When finished, the caller rings off in the ordinary 

 way. This is no doubt the best form of procedure when ringing 

 through is liable to give rise to mistakes. In trunk switching the 

 caller is put through to the town wanted and asks the operator 

 there for his client. Sometimes a caller must speak to three ex- 

 changes, as in getting through from Zurich to Lausanne : Ziirich 

 gives him the Berne operator, who gives him the Lausanne 

 operator, who gives him the Lausanne subscriber. 



HOURS OF SERVICE 



All exchanges possessing two hundred or more subscribers 

 are open all night and on Sundays. The smaller ones close at 

 9 or 10 P.M., but where a caretaker resides on the premises he is 

 not prohibited from answering calls and giving connections after 

 hours. Such calls are charged extra at the rate of 2*4^. each 

 if made within one hour of closing time, and 4-8^. each after- 

 wards. These surcharges apply to all the different kinds of con- 

 nections. 



SUBSCRIBERS' INSTRUMENTS 



These consist, in all the larger centres, of magneto, base-board 

 and battery-box of Swiss manufacture ; a granular transmitter, 

 usually of Western Electric Company's type ; and a double-pole 

 receiver. In a few of the smaller towns, battery calls are still 

 employed. The instruments are solidly constructed and well 

 fixed. Sand-glasses are attached to some of the subscribers^ 

 instruments for the purpose of measuring the duration of trunk 

 talks. Lightning-guards are also supplied to the subscribers'" 

 offices. The leading- in wire is of 1-3 mm. copper, insulated with 

 vulcanised india-rubber and protected by a braided covering 

 steeped in preservative compound. From the lightning-guard to 



