1101 Avenue R
Brooklyn, New York
This Central Office building is an example of the Bell System using a modern architectural style for an addition housing new ESS equipment. Notice the murals depicting the History of Communications (as of 1970):
- Smoke signals
- Drums
- Signal flags
- Tin cans and a string
- Public telephones
- Switchboards
- Satellite communications and PicturePhones
The Western Electric #1 ESS was the first electronic switching system used by the Bell System. It was NOT digital, and still used relays to establish connections, but it sounded completely different than older electromechanical switching systems. Most noticeably, it sounds nearly silent as calls are dialed, and the call progress tones were precisely synthesized to what became the new standard heard everywhere.
Historic Area Code: 212
Local Exchange – Class 5 Central Office
Exchange Names:
Explore the Virtual Phone Trips map to discover more vintage electromechanical switching sounds from other historic central offices: