Coin Telephone Operator Calls

How would an operator in pontypool connect a coin box call in the early 60s

How would they tell the call was from a coin telephone ?

How would they tell how to route the call ?

Example 1 from a pontypool phone box to an Aberbeeg number.

The operator would plug into a trunk to Newport(NE) and dial 936 followed by the subs 3 digit number

under the PP column header they would note the "1u" charge

It looks like if youhad a dial phone you could dial aberbeeg from pontypool using 8585.

which looks like breaks down into 85 for abertillery then 85 to get from abertillery to aberbeeg ?

If you were calling from little mill it looks like 9 to get to pontypool then 85 for abertillery then 85 to get from abertillery to aberbeeg

A5294(k)

How would they know how to charge for the call ?

They would look is up on A5294(k) on the VIF !

under "CHARGES - INLAND COINBOX"

Using the "PP" Charge letter they got from the routing card and using the current time, they could look up the charge.

between 8am and 6pm monday to friday, this time it looks like calls were

untimed costing 1 unit or 4 pence

F 2 shillings and sixpence for first 3 minutes

G 3 shillings and sixpence for first 3 minutes

H - Z 5 shillings for first 3 minutes

A 5665 Page 1

What do all the symbols on the card mean ?

Issue 7 A 5665 - Page 1

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS USED

No means Ask operator for exchange or code and for the required subscribers number.

- means Ask for. You should receive standard supervisory signals.

+ means Ask for. You will not receive standard supervisory signals beyond this point.

(On routing insets)

+ means To obtain a subscriber on the objective exchange named, the calling subscriber should dial the code shown and ask for the exchange and number required.

(On Subs

dialling code insets)

X means The exchange named in the "Exchange" column.

. means You can obtain an operator by dialling 01 at this point. For information from subscribers' records,

or to interrupt, obtain the operator indicated by the last full stop (except when (T) appears at the end

of the primary routing.)

: means You can obtain an operator by dialling 0001 at this

point. This operator will also give information from

subscribers' records, or will interrupt.

(T) means For terminal assistance refer to RRQ for the assistance centre.

" means (i) After this symbol the alternative routing is the same as the primary.

(ii) When the routing insets do not show alternative routings, the symbol also means "Turn to separate

insets for the alternative routing".

SYMBOLS Contd. on Page 2

A 5665 Page 2

Issue 6 A 5665 - Page 2

---------------------------------------------------------------------------

EXPLANATION OF SYMBOLS USED

Z means Maximum charges apply. When Z appears in all

charge columns on the combined routing and charging

inset, maximum charges apply from all exchanges

under your control (but see (Sep) ).

(Sep) means Although Z appears in all charge columns on the combined routing and charging inset, maximum

(After objective

exchange name) charges do not apply from all exchanges under your control. Consult the separate charging insets.

r means The charge from some exchanges in this group is 4 units, consult the reference charging insets.

(Alone)

r means The charge shown applies to the exchange after which the charge group is named; for the charge

(With a

charge letter from other exchanges in the group consult the reference charging insets.

or figure 4)

* means STD subscribers in this charging group can dial numbers on the objective exchange.

(In charge column)

* means All STD subscribers in those charging groups not shown on the routing inset can dial numbers on the

(After objective

exchange name) objective exchange.

ø means STD subscribers can dial this exchange as for *,but may not have the dialling code information.

‡ means Pre-payment coin-box users cannot dial to the exchange indicated.

(On Subs

dialling code insets)

(SF) means Straight-forward junction working.

(In routing column)