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[Ronski]

I have a friend who clears houses, he's  got a house and two 40 foot containers to clear in the Manchester area, and from what he understands the two forty foot containers contain an entire BT Telephone exchange which was acquired in the early 90's. There's possibly other bits of kit as well. This was all owned by an ex telephone engineer who was obviously dedicated to his job when he retired.

Would anyone be interested, or know somewhere that would be interested, otherwise this will probably all end end up at the scrap yard?

[Black Sheep]

Interesting ??

The switch from Strowger, Crossbar and some TXE2 Exchanges over to Digital (Sys X and Sys Y), took place from the late 80's to early 90's. So the time-frame absolutely fits.

I do know a couple of the newly defunct ones in Manchester went to Africa to be installed and utilised, as I was part of the Exchange construction teams that stripped them out. I wonder if this was one that was loaded into containers but was found not to be required ??

 

[Ronski]

I'll see if I can get some pictures at some point later in the week and I'll post them on here. Unless there is any documents or names on the gear we'll probably never know exactly why he had it.

[burakkucat]

Perhaps the Telecommunications Heritage Group might be able to assist your friend with finding a good, new, home for the contents of those containers?

[Ronski]

Thanks burakkucat, I'll pass on the details

Unfortunately the landlord of the site where the containers were stored has disposed of them and their contents 

There's two of these at the house.

[Black Sheep]

That does resemble a piece of testing equipment, but not one I've seen before nor for that matter ... ever in bright red.

Maybe it was Commissioner Gordon's own personal, line tester ??

[dee.jay]

Thanks burakkucat, I'll pass on the details

Unfortunately the landlord of the site where the containers were stored has disposed of them and their contents 

There's two of these at the house.

That is a shame they got disposed of. Surely there's some telephony museum that could have taken advantage? Too late and moot point now, I know.

[4candles]

That does resemble a piece of testing equipment, but not one I've seen before nor for that matter ... ever in bright red.

Maybe it was Commissioner Gordon's own personal, line tester ??

It's a CB873 PMBX 5+20 Switchboard, a Mk 8 going by the illustrations here: https://www.britishtelephones.com/swcb873.htm

[Ronski]

That is a shame they got disposed of. Surely there's some telephony museum that could have taken advantage? Too late and moot point now, I know.

It is, and they shouldn't have been, but the land owner where the containers were stored decided to get rid of them for whatever reason. My friend was supposed to clear them

I suspect the there will be some interesting stuff at the house.

It's a CB873 PMBX 5+20 Switchboard, a Mk 8 going by the illustrations here: https://www.britishtelephones.com/swcb873.htm

Certainly looks like it.

[Black Sheep]

It's a CB873 PMBX 5+20 Switchboard, a Mk 8 going by the illustrations here: https://www.britishtelephones.com/swcb873.htm

Wow - no wonder I've never sen one, that's waaaaaay before my time !! Great find, 4candles.

[licquorice]

Yep, used to look after a few of those back in the day.

[Ronski]

Perhaps the Telecommunications Heritage Group might be able to assist your friend with finding a good, new, home for the contents of those containers?

Just heard that THG are interested in some of the gear, good shout there burakkucat

[Alex Atkin UK]

Shame they lost out on some of it, but at least some will get rescued.

[burakkucat]

. . . the land owner where the containers were stored decided to get rid of them for whatever reason. . . .

b*cat, in suspicious mode, wonders if the land owner realised that he could sell the contents of the containers on eBay. Hmm . . . 

[Ronski]

Its quite possible, it was some time ago I was first told about it (possible before Christmas), and I know my friend visited the site where they were stored and spoke to the land owner, so they would have been aware that the owner of the containers was no longer alive. The containers themselves were quite rusty, and wouldn't have been easy to get out.