Haarlem Toll (telefooncentrale)

Beschrijving

Haarlem, [Haarlem Toll], [1930?], oblong, 21.5×28 cm, collection of five photographs bound togerther with split pins in a brown paper cover, five full page photographs plus list of photographs, excellent condition. Scarce. The Haarlem Toll seems to be a company to do with telephony making use of telephone switchboards to connect calls. The photographs are titled:

A: general view – operating room

B: Toll recording, Information and Distributing Tables

C: Toll chief operator's position

D: Toll wire chief

E: Terminal room

On photograph D the technical installation clearly shows the name of the prodcution company: Weston Electrical Instruments Company. This company was founded in 1888 by Edward Weston. He was a chemist born in England who moved to the United States where he worked in the fields of electroplating, power generation, and electric light. In 1888 he formed The Weston Electrical Instrument Company and developed an instrument to accurately measure current. From there, Weston Electrical Instruments went on to manufacture precision voltmeters, ammeters, watt meters, light meters, and many other instruments for laboratory, industrial, and commercial use.