Print

Please login or register.
1 Hour 1 Day 1 Week 1 Month Forever
Login with username, password and session length

[William Grimsley]

Hello everyone,

I've always been wondering, when were PCP's installed? I remember using dial up when I was toddler and then moved over to ADSL soon after. But, did PCP's exist when dial up was around or were telephone wires all connected to the exchange?

[burakkucat]

Primary cross-connection points, secondary cross-connection points and tertiary cross-connection points were first installed into the access loop of the telephony network after the Second World War. The bulk of the conversion from direct exchange lines took place in the late 1940s to the early 1950s.

The PCPs and SCPs were cast iron cabinets (look closely and you can still see survivors from that era, today). The TCPs were pillars (constructed out of asbestos cement) and were located at the base of a pole (the pole which provided the aerial drop to the subscribers' premises).

My recollection is based upon the practice that was implemented in the London suburbs of that era.

[William Grimsley]

Primary cross-connection points, secondary cross-connection points and tertiary cross-connection points were first installed into the access loop of the telephony network after the Second World War. The bulk of the conversion from direct exchange lines took place in the late 1940s to the early 1950s.

The PCPs and SCPs were cast iron cabinets (look closely and you can still see survivors from that era, today). The TCPs were pillars (constructed out of asbestos cement) and were located at the base of a pole (the pole which provided the aerial drop to the subscribers' premises).

My recollection is based upon the practice that was implemented in the London suburbs of that era.

That's really interesting. So, the PCP that I'm connected to is nearly 80 years old? :O Also, what do the PCP's that haven't been touched since 1940's look like?

[burakkucat]

Attached are an example of a two door, cast iron, PCP and of a single door, cast iron, SCP.

[licquorice]

And a picture of a pillar (SCP)

[William Grimsley]

Attached are an example of a two door, cast iron, PCP and of a single door, cast iron, SCP.

Oh, I've seen loads of those types of PCP's around. However, I've never seen an SCP before.

[William Grimsley]

And a picture of a pillar (SCP)

WOW, now that is basic!

[burakkucat]

And a picture of a pillar (SCP)

  

(As mentioned, above, I was aware of them as TCPs in the London suburbs of the 1950s.)

[licquorice]

I use to hate faults in these, the D side connections were on one side and the E side on the other. Most of the time E sides were pinned through to the equivalent D side rather than jumpered. Unfortunately, the whole assembly often came loose so that tightening up one connection loosened another, it was a never ending nightmare of trying to get all the connections tight enough to make a good contact. Sorry, reminiscing again!!

[burakkucat]

Ah, I knew there was a fundamental flaw of the design but, until now, I didn't know of the specifics. Thank you.