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LCC-MFB Firemen in switchboard & control room
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LCC-MFB Firemen in switchboard & control room
Watchroom at Metropolitan Fire Brigade headquarters in Southwark Bridge Road, with men manning the switchboard and monitoring the fire alarm control board where calls for assistance were received
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Media ID 7640285
© London Fire Brigade / Mary Evans Picture Library
Alarm Assistance Cabinet Cabinets Calls Communication Control Headquarters Metropolitan Monitoring Operator Operators Phone Phones Southwark Stations Switchboard Switchboards Technology Telephone Telephones Watchroom 1902 Firefighter Firefighters Firefighting Fireman Firemen
EDITORS COMMENTS
This evocative photograph captures the bustling atmosphere of the Watchroom at the Metropolitan Fire Brigade headquarters in Southwark Bridge Road, London, circa 1902. The room is filled with firemen intently manning the switchboard and monitoring the fire alarm control board, ready to respond to calls for assistance. The fire alarm system was a crucial component of the fire brigade's communication network, allowing the rapid deployment of fire engines and firefighters to emergencies across the city. The men in this photograph are focused on their tasks, their expressions serious and determined. Each man is positioned in front of a telephone or a row of telephones, their hands poised to answer the next call. The telephones, with their distinctive curved handsets and large dials, are arranged in neat rows in the telephone cabinets, ready to be used. The switchboard, with its complex array of wires and switches, is a testament to the advanced technology of the time. The operators, dressed in their fire brigade uniforms, expertly manipulate the switches to connect calls and relay vital information to the fire stations. The room is filled with the hum of voices and the clatter of telephones, as the firemen work together to keep London safe. The Watchroom was a vital part of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade's operations, and this photograph offers a fascinating glimpse into the communication and technology that underpinned the firefighting efforts of the early 20th century. The Edwardian era firemen in this image are a reminder of the dedication and professionalism of the fire brigade, and the essential role they played in protecting the people and property of London.
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