Stromberg-Carlson XY

These are examples of the sounds generated by tone plant equipment by Stromberg-Carlson XY (a variant of the Step by Step) switching systems.

Fonda, Iowa

These recordings were made in the summer of 1998 as the last XY equipment was being phased out in GTE territory (now Windstream) in Fonda, Iowa. This switch was converted to digital in the fall of 1998.

Ringback Signal

Busy Signal

Reorder (fast busy)

North Hopkins, Iowa

These recordings were made in the spring of 1998 as the last XY equipment was being phased out in Sprint/United Telephone territory (now CenturyLink) in North Hopkins, Iowa (served out of the CO in Hopkins, MO). This switch was converted to digital on September 15, 1999. Notice the strange cadences on the reorder signal.

Ringback

Busy Signal

Reorder

Intercept Recording & Reorder

Pickering, Missouri

These recordings were made in the spring of 1999 as the last XY equipment was being phased out in Sprint/United Telephone territory (now CenturyLink) in Pickering, Missouri. This switch was converted to digital in the summer of 1999.

Ringback Signal

Busy Signal

Harris G. Allen Telecommunications Museum (Tomah, WI)

These recordings are from the Harris G. Allen Telecommunications Historical Museum in Tomah, WI. These recordings are courtesy of Joe Molter. Recorded in the summer of 1998.

XY Dial Tone

XY Busy Signal

XY Ringback Signal

XY Switching Sounds

Recording made inside the building where the XY office was. You can hear the very noisy sounds of calls in progress.

XY Toll Ticketing System Sounds

Carroll Lambert, a retired telephone company employee, has graciously given us several recordings of a Stromberg XY Toll Ticketing System that he recorded on a cassette tape around 1970. These were from a system that was in service at the Shenandoah Telephone Company (now Shentel) in Edinburg Va. during the 1950s to the 1970s. He retired from Shenadoah Telephone after 40 years of service. Warren B. French Jr. was President and General Manager of the company when all this took place. The Stromberg XY was removed when a North Electric computer controlled NX1E switch was installed in 1974.

The following is a picture of the device from a catalog.