The Lincolnshire Heritage Exchange

HES 4 (House Exchange System)

We have a number of these telephones and have wired two as part of our display

There are two main components of the HES 4 are the telephone and the relay unit.  Each telephone has a a switch unit built in that allows you to connect to the exchange lines or to call another station.  The relay unit provides the flash timing for the lamps on the telephones.  Visual signals are given by lamp when an exchange line is on hold or engaged.

When an incoming exchange call arrives then the associated lamp flashes and the call can be answered from one of the stations.  The exchange lines run through all the stations and the line is cut off from telephones lower down in the chain, the order of priority would have been planned on installation.

To call an extension the appropriate button is pressed which activates a buzzer on the other station and the speech path is established.  If the extension is busy your own buzzer will sound so that you know to try later.

Click on the HES4 telephone for more information.

HES 2 (House Exchange System)

The HES 2 is almost identical to the HES 4, the main difference being the bakelite body bassed on the 300 telephone series, the lack of visual indication.

Operation of the instrument is the same

The buzzer is located in the block terminal not in the phone and the block terminal splits apart so that a faulty phone can be replaced without any trouble.

We have three of these telephones in our collection and a transfer unit but have not tried at this point.  I have not had a goo at wiring them together.

Click on the HES2 telephone for more information.