Telephone and signalling systems on S.S. "Normandie"

This is probably the most elaborate and complete set of telephone and signalling installations yet seen on board an ocean-going liner. It consists of (1) the telephone installation; (2) the manual fire-alarm system; (3) the watchmen's patrol-signalling system, and (4) the service-call system. Manual telephone switching has been chosen in preference to automatic and over 600 telephones are in service throughout the ship. The manual signalling system consists of a number of alarm boxes directly connected to the main fire station which are instantly available to any person on board whether passenger, officer or member of the crew. The watchman's patrol service is similar to that in use in large factories and public buildings and the watchmen signal their progress during their rounds to a display switchboard at the main fire station permanently in charge of a responsible "Security Officer." This officer can see at a glance where his watchmen are at any time throughout all the decks of the entire ship. The service call system enables passengers to call stewards and stewardesses directly without using the telephone. The operation of the various signalling systems is fully described with the aid of circuit diagrams.