Posted by John Wilson on May 10, 2003 at 04:22:24 from 203.96.58.8 user hugo.
In Reply to: Re: Beckfoot Bells, batteries posted by Ed Kiser on May 10, 2003 at 02:00:53:
Those large Carbon-Zinc dry cells of 1˝ volts each were known as “No 6” cells. Two were used in magneto (ie hand-crank) manual telephones where the telephone had its own battery for speech instead of using power fed down the telephone line. They would last for years. I don’t think Eveready make them any more; going by their website they are all “energiser” now!
The hand-crank produced AC power to ring the exchange, and the other bells on the party line.
While Fellside is a manual exchange, it does not use magneto telephones, as in PP Captain Flint joggles the cradle hook to call the exchange.
NB: a Battery is made up of several single cells.