Directory information bureau, Shanghai

Unusual problems were encountered owing to the difference in the languages involved, Chinese and English. Separate directories are printed, Chinese directories being issued to Chinese subscribers and English ones to subscribers of other nationalities. Bureau enquiries largely come from foreigners (non-Chinese) using a telephone belonging to a Chinese subscriber with only a Chinese directory available, or vice versa. The bureau operators sit at desks carrying rotary files each containing 450 frames 12frac18times6 in., the 5 double-sided desks comprising 10 operating positions and 6 complete directory information units in name order, 3 English and 3 Chinese, each unit consisting of 2 drums one above the other. Other possible layouts are indicated and briefly discussed.