The Bell System's Best Sellers

Home , Bell System Practices, Western Electric

Special Group Is Busy Writing and Revising "Bell System Practices," Operating Handbooks of which the Associated Companies Acquired a Million Copies Last Year

A. B. Covey

THERE IS a small office building in cables, open wire lines, radio systems, lower New York City whose en- carrier systems, and the many types trance is so inconspicuous that a of central office equipment. The in- chance observer might pass by with- stallers use them as instructions for out even noticing it. Should he enter installing telephones, private branch the building, however, and proceed exchanges, and Teletypewriter equip- to the third and fourth floors, he ment. The construction forces use would find himself in a beehive of them in the construction of cables and telephone activity. For the two open wire lines. The maintenance floors house a group of men from forces use them in the maintenance the Engineering and Plant Depart- of all forms of central office and ments of the Bell System's Associated private branch exchange equipment, Companies who have accepted tem- subscribers' station equipment, cables, porary assignment with the Opera- and open wire lines. PRACTICES are tion and Engineering Department of also used for training purposes both the A. T. and T. Company. These on the job and in training schools. men are engaged in the preparation They are used not only in every and revision of urgently needed Bell Operating Company but also in the System PRACTICES. Western Electric Company and the Bell System PRACTICES are the in- Bell Telephone Laboratories. structions which describe the best During I 9 5 1 these Companies ac- methods of engineering, installing, quired over one million copies of the constructing, and maintaining the tele- PRACTICES. phone plant. The engineers use the Bell System PRACTICES are, obvi- PRACTICES as guides in the design of ously, an integral part of telephone 88 Bell Telephone Magazine SUMMER operations. They are as important in their preparation, and now the working tools as any the operating situation has arisen again. The forces use. Thus, they play an im- Companies have responded with the portant part in providing the public largest group of PRACTICE writers with the best and the most telephone in history, organized since the mid- service at the lowest possible cost. dle of last year in the separate estab- The preparation of such informa- lishment already referred to. tion * has been one of the major In preparing PRACTICES, those functions of the Bell System head- writers are following a plan estab- quarters organization for almost lished over 20 years ago. Let's take three-quarters of a century. Dur- a look at some of the developments ing that time, these instructions have which resulted in the creation of the grown from a few circular letters Bell System PRACTICES Plan, the to a library of over 9,ooo separate events leading up to the organization pamphlets or sections. Many times of the present special writing group, it has been necessary to call on the and also a brief look at a typicial Operating Companies for assistance writer's job.

*While the discussion here is limited to Bell System PRACTICES, information of many other Early Forms of "Practices" types is issued by the General Departments of the A. T. & T. Company as part of the con- IN I 879, The National Bell Tele- stant process of furnishing advice and assistance to the Operating Companies. phone Company was already established, with headquarters at 95 Milk Street in Boston. W. H. Forbes was president, Alexander Graham Bell was electrician, Theodore N. Vail, general manager, and Thomas A. Watson, general superintendent. There were approximately 16,ooo telephones in the country at that period, and Mr. Watson was spend- ing most of his time trying to make them work. The subscribers of that day were not very critical of the fail- ures of the telephone apparatus; they were amazed that it worked at all. But the difficulties experienced by the licensees, or agents, as they were called, resulted in a continual stream of questions to the National Bell in Boston on the design and maintenance of the telephone apparatus. Answers to such questions were The book-case contains about a third of the provided by means of circular letters, present active sections of Bell System Prac- tices. They are kept in binders for con- and a number of these are still pre- venient use served. It is interesting to note the The Bell System's Best Sellers ------general similarity between those early letters and the drawings, descriptions, and data incorporated i n the present-day Bell Sys- tem PRACTICES. Many years later, Mr. Watson was con- sulted on the histori- cal facts about the A group of "Practice" writers at work in their special information furnished quarters the "Operating Com- panies" in those early days of the telephone. The need ard procedures were not always fol- for this kind of information could lowed. One tale relates to an op- best be explained, he responded, by erator who undertook to clean the a trip he made through the West in switchboard plugs with steel wool. 1878 to inspect the telephones that It seemed like a good idea-espe- were then in use. cially as the plugs were thoroughly "My route took in Chicago, Mil- cleaned. The "out" was that fine waukee, Pittsburgh, Washington, and steel slivers adhered to the plugs, all of the larger cities on route," he so that when they were inserted in said. "I found our telephones giving the switchboard jacks they "shorted fairly good satisfaction to the users, out" the jack contacts. The plug although to me, when I tested them, cleaning was necessarily followed by they seemed to work badly. I was a thorough job of jack cleaning. especially dissatisfied with my call Another "off the record" yarn tells bells. Both telephones and bells had of an equipment attendant who was evidently been neglected since they having trouble with a bay of equip- had been put into use; apparently ment which contained a good many nothing had been done to them in the relays. Each morning, when he came way of cleaning or adjustment since to work, he found an accumulation they left the shop. My time on this trip was largely spent in showing our of trouble reports which past ex- men how to adjust the instruments perience told him were caused by and impressing them with the need of "sticky" relays in the bay. Finally, constant inspection to keep them he resolved to take drastic action; working at their best." Thus, from and each morning thereafter he hit the start there was a real need to get the bay a wallop with a short length into the field people's hands the nec- of two-by-four. The method was essary information on the proper temporarily effective, but ultimately maintenance of the equipment. it was recognized as not a standard While not a matter of record, method of clearing the trouble. stories handed down from the "good Such incidents, however apocry- old days" make it appear that stand- phal they may be, do emphasize the Bell Telephone Magazine SUMMER ------.. still preserved on .. crofilm at the Bell phone Laboratories. The numbered fications made possible the construction of the . early open wire and ble lines. Viewed in the light of present-day standards, the methods were crude, but they filled the needs well, as is evidenced by the long periods of satisfactory service the lines dered.

World War I

IN THE DECADE ing World War I, there were more ments in the PRACTICE situation than in any An early "Practice," covering the No. 7 subscriber's set other similar period in Bell System history. In place of PRACTICES in Bell System practically all of these, the Operating operations. Companies played an important part. Two important PRACTICE devel- The developments were a direct re- opments stand out in the period up sult of concerted efforts to provide to the end of World War I. information in pamphlet form for use in the field. Those of particular in- I. The inauguration of standard terest were : drawings as a means of furnishing information to the Operat- I. Numbered Bulletins ing Companies on new circuits 2. Transmission Maintenance and equipment. This method Practices is still in use. 3· Handbooks of Outside Plant 2. The introduction of the num- Engineering Practices bered specifications, covering 4· Transmission Practices principally outside plant con- 5· Bell System Maintenance Prac- struction items such as cables tices and open wire lines. 6. Building Practices

Copies of some of the early draw- By I 930, PRACTICES were being ings, dating back to the I 88os, are issued to the Operating Companies The Bell System's Best Sellers covering a major part of the operations carried on by the Plant and En- BELL SYSTEM PRACTICES gineering Departments. The trans- I. Central office maintenance, cover- mission people had their method of ing methods and procedures for main- distribution, the outside plant another taining central office equipment. method, the maintenance people still another. There was a real and obvi- 2. Private branch exchange installa- ous need for a coordinated plan of tion and maintenance. distribution. Again the Bell System 3· Station installation and mainte- team went into action: a new Bell nance, which covered both telephone System PRACTICES Plan was evolved. and telegraph stations. This provided for the inclusion, in one comprehensive scheme, of all 4· Toll test room operation, describ- instructions used by the Plant and ing the operation of toll test boards Engineering people. and the service maintenance of all types of toll telephone and telegraph circuits and systems. The Beginning of" Bell System Practices" 5· Transmission testing, relating to transmission tests generally made by THE PLAN involved the establish- traveling testing crews. ment of a number of series of PRAC- 6. Recovery and repair, describing TICES, each carrying the common title methods of handling and recondition- BELL SYSTEM PRACTICES. In addi- ing used apparatus, equipment, and ma- tion, a supplementary title was as- terial which has been removed from signed to each series to describe the the plant. particular type of plant and charac- ter of work involved. These titles 7· Exchange test room, covering the are listed in the adjoining column. work associated with the local test To simplify distribution of the desk, the duties of the repair service PRACTICES, a method was devised clerk, and associated routines. whereby the Western Electric Com- 8. Building and grounds mainten- pany made bulk shipments to the ance. Operating Companies in accordance with established routines, while at g. Motor vehicle maintenance, cov- the same time A. T. & T. forwarded ering the care of both motor vehicles advance copies to Company Head- and garages. quarters. This general scheme is 10. Outside plant construction and still in effect today. maintenance, covering both aerial and The addition of PRACTICES on underground outside plant. plant assignment, Teletypewriter, for- eign wire relations, equipment engi- I I. Outside plant engineering, deal- neering, transmission engineering, ing with the structural design of pole lines, cables, and underground conduit. and radio systems followed during the next few years. The buildings (Supplies, planned but finally omit- and grounds maintenance series was ted.) changed and enlarged. By I 940, the Bell Telephone Magazine SUMMER

Large number of important developments in the period prior to and following World War II. System operations had undergone many changes in the years since I93O. The changes, plus the need for other instructions, raised the question as to whether the current arrangements of Bell System PRACTICES were meet- ing the requirements of the Operat- ing Companies in the best possible way. To find the answer to this question, a Joint Committee, consist- ing of representatives of the Bell Telephone Laboratories and the Op- erating and Engineering Depart- ment of the A. T. and T. Company, An example of terminal pole construction was formed early in 1950 to review in the I89os the entire matter of the preparation and distribution of Bell System Bell System PRACTICES Plan was in PRACTICES. full swing, with instructions being The Joint Committee established issued on practically every operation a full time "working group" to is- carried on in the Plant and Engineer- semble the facts about the situation. ing Departments. The group consisted of two men The PRACTICE activity was much from the A. T. & T. Co., one man reduced during World War II and from the Bell Telephone Labora- in the early post-war period because tories, and eight men borrowed from of the demands on manpower occa- sioned by the war effort. the Operating Companies. Each of the field men was selected from a Present "Practice" Activity different Company: four from the Plant Departments and four from THE year 1949 saw Bell System the Engineering Departments. One PRACTICES little changed from their of the important requirements was original form of 1930. There were that each man should have several many indications that they had con- years' experience in some phase of tributed largely to improved engi- System operations which is covered neering, construction, and mainte- by one or more of the various series nance procedures and to reduced of PRACTICES. costs. good many more, however, A The "working group" circulated a were urgently needed. This was questionnaire designed to bring out brought about by two factors: the present uses and the extent of dis- Shortage of manpower for this tribution of Bell System PRACTICES work during and immediately fol- in each of the Operating Companies. lowing World War If. Members of the group also made The Bell System's Best Sellers 93 mittee recommended certain steps as RECOMMENDATIONS OF THE a means of making the PRACTICES ]oiNT CoMMITTEE more useful to the Companies. These I. Organization of the PRACTICE- are given in the adjacent box. writing work, to bring the PRACTICES reasonably up to date and to keep pace Organization of"Practice" with the developmental effort. Writing Group.r 2. Reduction in the number of se- AcTIVE WORK to carry out the Joint ries, to increase effectiveness, avoid du- Committee's recommendations began plication, and reduce preparation effort. in the middle of I 9 5 I. The PRAC- TICE-writing activity at the Bell Tele- 3· Changes in the style of presenta- phone Laboratories was substantially tion, to make increased use of charts increased. To expedite the work, I 5 and other condensed and simplified people from the Operating Compa- methods of covering the necessary in- nies and a considerable number of formation. technical assistants were added to the 4· Inclusion in practice form ini- development force. tially of much of the material now cov- A force of 6 5 men was borrowed ered in general letters. from the Operating Companies to as- s. Changes in organization, number- sist the Operation and Engineering ing plan, and indexing of the PRAC- Department of the A. T. & T. Co. to TICES.

VISits to all Companies, to get first- hand information on the adequacy of these instructions, and suggestions for improvement. Based on the facts assembled by the "working group," the Joint Com-

An "improved method" of pole raising,jor which there probably was no "Practice" 94 Bell Telephone Magazine SUMMER bring the PRACTICES up to date. The preparation of the first draft begins. men were selected as specially quali- At this time the writer lays plans for fied from the standpoint of field ex- any illustrations required. He may perience. decide to use only pencil sketches in The present PRACTICE writers the early stages, or he may feel that have had experience in almost every it is advantageous to have the Draft- operation of the Plant and Engineer- ing Department prepare the draw- ing Departments. The average Bell ings in final form. System service of the group is over When the writer finishes the draft 22 years. Practically every one of of his text, copies are sent out for the Operating Companies is repre- comments to members of the A. T. sented. History repeats itself-two & T. Headquarters staff, the Bell of the men who were on loan to the Telephone Laboratories, and, in some A. T. & T. Co. as practice writers cases, a few of the Operating Com- about 20 years ago are back on loan pames. agam, servmg in a supervisory ca- Comments are generally received pacity in the group. from most of the people to whom copies of the PRACTICE have been sent. If the comments are minor, "Practtce . " P reparatton:. H ar. d the writer can proceed at once to Work, Perseverance, Patience incorporate them in his draft. If major comments are involved, he THE WRITER's JOB starts with the must hold up the revision pending the need for a PRACTICE : a new develop- results of a conference among the ment, perhaps, an improvement or persons concerned. In the revision change in an existing circuit, or an un- process, the writer usually finds that usual operating condition arising in a pair of scissors and a tube of rub. one of the Companies. her cement are important tools. Co- Upon receipt of his assignment, incident with the incorporation of the writer proceeds to gather his comments, any changes required in basic material for the particular the illustrations are made. PRACTICE. He consults drawings, In reviewing the comments, the ' old issues of PRACTICES, general let- writer sometimes finds that one com- ters, posted comments from the Op- ment may be diametrically opposite erating Companies in the form of another in its apparent intent. He engineering complaints, letters, and must reconcile these, keeping con- locally issued practices; Bell Tele- stantly in mind that when the PRAC- phone Laboratories notes; members TICE is issued, it must represent the of the A. T. & T. Headquarters staff, best views of the A. T. and T. Com- the Bell Telephone Laboratories, and pany, the Bell Telephone Labora- in some cases one or more of the tories, and the Operating Companies. Operating Companies. He may also Accuracy also the writer must al- go out on a field trial of a new de- ways have before him. He realizes velopment, to secure first hand in- that a transposition of digits in the formation. code number of a piece part may Once the information is available, mean the difference between a very The Bell System's Best Sellers 95

This is the group of writers borrowed from the Associated Companies-less four who were unable to be present small motor and a large motor-gen- log. Furthermore, many new ideas erator set. A misplaced decimal and improvements, in line with the point in a Transmission PRACTICE Joint Committee recommendations, may result in the design of a circuit have been introduced. Already many which is inoperative. The writer of the instructions prepared by the knows that with the wide distribution present groups of writers are in use of this material, the impact of an in the Operating Companies, and the error will be great. comments concerning them demon- After all comments have been in- strate that the authors are equipped corporated and the copy retyped, the with the "know-how" of PRACTICE writer may feel that he is ready to writing. The writers themselves are submit the revised copy for approval. of the unanimous belief that the ex- However, if some of the comments perience they have obtained will be were major, he may decide to submit of great help to them upon return to the copy for further check by the in- their home Companies. terested persons. In such cases, fur- The value of PRACTICES to the ther revisions may be necessary. Bell System, and indirectly to tele- Once approval is obtained, the re- phone users, has been demonstrated maining work of the writer is largely time and again: in normal day-to-day that of making sure that no errors operations and during emergencies. creep in during the reproduction proc- Bell System PRACTICES have played ess. an important part in holding costs As may be surmised, the writers down and in helping to meet the Sys- have had to overcome many difficul- tem's objective of constant improve- ties. But their efforts have resulted ment in service. They are a direct in an appreciable increase in the pro- result of the efforts of the entire Bell duction of PRACTICES; a real dent System team : design, manufacture, has been made in the "urgent" back- and operation.