Switchboard UC 6

Switchboard U.C. 6
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The Switchboard U.C. 6 is a 6-line Second World War era switchboard used to terminate tactical phone lines. The switchboard (U.C. standing for ‘Universal Call’) was designed for local office use or at Divisional Signals level and were used throughout the war and as late as the 1980’s in cadet corps.

The unit is housed in an aluminum case that has a hinged panel on the front that protects the switchboard controls and acts as a tray that organizes the plugs and pulleys. Another panel on the rear allows access to the wire post connections as well as the internal parts and battery box. The switchboard itself is made up of modular, replaceable sections that have a B jack on the bottom, an A jack at the top, a numbered lamp to indicate an incoming call (and for testing the unit) as well as a white plastic panel where the operator can write down who is at the other end of that particular wire.^[1]

The operator uses a handset or alternatively a breast plate with an attached microphone. A night alarm bell is available to allow the board to be monitored from some distance away…like a cot. The system has a noise limiter to help with incoming line crackle and switching spikes.