Re: Bell System History Book

The Bell System History book that Lisa referred to is: A History of
> Science & Engineering in the Bell System: Communications Sciences, > 1925-1980. The ISBN is 0-932764-06-1. It is available > from
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numerous others) starting at > $32.28. I have a copy. Google the ISBN for other sources.

Sorry to nitpick, but the title citation I have is: "A History of engineering and science in the Bell System vol. 3. Switching technology (1925-1975)". [Not 'communication sciences'.]

Note there are a number of volumes in this series. You may be referring to a later volume.

The ISBN on my copy "... Eng & Sci Switching Technology 1925-1975" is

0-932764-02-9, Lib Cong is 82-072517 and copyright is 1982.

Among other topics, this book covers the evolution of toll service from operator relay to operator dialing and customer dialing. It also covers the "service and feature" era. That is significant because many critics of the Bell System fail to realize how many services and technologies were indeed available.

By the way, the earlier volume covering 1875-1925 has some switching fundamentals in it as well.

Charles Gray wrote:

The Bell System History book that Lisa referred to is: A History of > Science & Engineering in the Bell System: Communications Sciences, > 1925-1980. The ISBN is 0-932764-06-1. It is available from >
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(and numerous others) starting at $32.28. I > have a copy. Google the ISBN for other sources. > Regards, > Charles G. Gray > Senior Lecturer, Telecommunications > Oklahoma State University - Tulsa > (918) 594-8433