top of page
The Ferrymead Post and Telegraph Historical Society, Christchurch, New Zealand has on display a very rare 7A Rotary dial telephone switching system.
It’s a small scale, 5-digit, exchange from the 1920s. Visitors may view the switching actions while dialing a call.
​
The sections below, “peel the onion” of the 7A. Each peel goes a layer deeper to explain the calling process.
​
Don't miss the fully interactive demo at the end to explore the 7A's essential elements.
Next, are the individual elements that bring the 7A to life. Click on any component or ID# for a short explainer video. The top 5 switches make the talking path. The other elements support the calling process. Because of size, interactivity is not well supported on some tablets. Desktop is the best experience to explore the 7A.
Abstract: This page introduces the Western Electric 7A Rotary Switching telephone exchange, first used in 1914. Using ~20 short videos, it breaks down how the 7A functions during calls. Each video focuses on a specific component, highlighting how the parts contribute to the impressive overall design of the 7A system.
bottom of page