Inside a Crossbar Office

  
 

Automatic Message Accounting (AMA)

  
     
 
These are the paper tape punch machines used for all subscriber billing in a crossbar office. 

Reels of pre-oiled, yellow, paper tape was punched on these machines and recording all call details. 

These reels of paper were routinely packed up into black boxes and carted off to the central billing center for processing.

 

click images for better views


Paper tape machine. Take-up wheel for oiled yellow paper tape.

 


Guide over which the paper billing tape ran for punching.

 


Actual AMA machine punch solenoids.

 

 

 
  BACK TO MUSEUM PAGE