Communicating worldwide

The collection at Amberley includes many artefacts collected by members of The Communications Network (formerly the Institution of British Telecommunications Engineers or IBTE) over the past 35 years, so a number of them were in use locally.

The focus of the exhibition is on the "public face" of telecommunications, covering the development of the telephone itself, along with the work of the telephone operators and the various engineers. There are 3 internet terminals giving access to the Connected Earth website, more details of which can be found by clicking here, covering all aspects of telecommunications and details of other partner museums.

The street scene contains a variety of telephone poles connected by a variety of types of overhead wire, an underground cable cabinet and pillar used for cross connection of cable pairs and other familiar street furniture used in telecommunications. On the road there are 6 engineering vehicles, ranging from the simple handcart to the 1936 Albion Linesman's lorry with its body built by the local coach-builders, Harringtons of Hove.

In the Post Office, visitors can see the link between the postal service and telecommunications through the Telegram. Hand written messages pass from the Post Office to the Telegraph Room via the pneumatic tube system, and in the Telegraph Room the written messages are turned into the finished telegram. Early telegraph and telex machines are displayed around the room, whilst visitors can use an interactive display to change words into Morse Code, and hear the result.

Within the Telephone Room, the development of the telephone is traced through the decades right up to the present day. There is a range of period pieces on display including a "candlestick". Wallboards display a range of bells designed for specific situations, such as calling out firemen, fire alarms and for telephones used in noisy conditions.

The Exchange Room shows a 50's style office switchboard and equipment showing how telephone calls were connected using both automatic and manual exchanges. Alongside the public manual board positions is an audio visual amateur film taken in 1964 for the retirement of the then Chief Supervisor of Worthing Telephone Exchange, Miss Brice. The film gives an insight into one of the largest manual exchanges in the country.

The Cable Room traces the changes in cable from the beginning of the 20th century through to modern day fibre optics. The cable test desk, which dates from the 1920's, was used to locate faults in the underground trunk network and a skilled engineer could pinpoint a fault to with a few feet over a distance of more than 100 miles! An audio visual monitor in this room shows archive footage of how both underground and overhead cables were installed and maintained along with examples of how telephone exchanges were changed over to new technology.

Other exhibits at Amberley Working Museum relating to telecommunications include the Vintage Wireless Exhibition and the Rural Telephone Exchange, both of which can be viewed online via the menu to the left.