Pye Telecom

System Control in the 1940/50s

PTC400/PTC401

1946

PTC400/PTC401 were the first generation of operator control units designed to support the original Pye fixed station transmitter-receiver types PTC104/PTC105/PTC106.

Both types of controller were small desk-top units constructed in veneered wood cabinets, containing a loudspeaker, volume control and transmit/receive switch.

A suitable control interface panel was fitted to the fixed station cabinet to receive commands from the remote-control unit if local control was not being used.

The remote-control panels were designated PTC255/256/265.

PTC406/408 Control Units & PTC255/407 Control Panels

1950

PTC406/408 Control Units & PTC255/407 Control Panels were second-generation units designed to work with the second generation PTC703/PTC704 15-Watt fixed stations or the higher power PTC300 100-Watt transmitter.

As with the first-generation equipment, extension control or remote control of both simplex or duplex fixed stations was possible.

The operator control instrument was either a telephone handset or a separate desk-top stand microphone.

The desk-top control unit construction was borrowed from a Pye Ltd domestic receiver which was finished in a gold spray paint finish for some markets and silver/red for others.

Early examples of the PTC406/408 equipment were also finished in gold but production later changed to Dimenso blue.

PTC408/411 Control Units & PTC407/255 Control Panels

1952

PTC408/411 Control Units & PTC407/255 Control Panels

An electrically improved version of the second generation PTC406/408 operator control units using miniature all-glass thermionic valves instead of the older International Octal valves.

This series of controllers was in production from 1952 until about 1963 and was designed by Don Delanoy.

PTC455 Extension Control Unit & PTC456 Control Panel


1954

PTC455 Extension Control Unit & PTC456 Control Panel

The PTC455 was a simple and low-cost radiotelephone extension controller constructed from a standard telephone handset and base, which also contained a small loudspeaker.

The PTC456 was the matching 19-inch extension control panel fitted into the fixed station transmitter-receiver cabinet.

Equipment type PTC455Z was a later version of the above suitable to operate with the PTC723, PTC753, and PTC8701/2, PTC2701/2, PTC8701/2 Ranger based fixed stations.

A wide range of variants of this simple telephone handset and base type controller were used until the early 1960s. The example illustrated above and at right is from the radio system for U.A.R. in 1962.

PTC411/A/B/B-4 Remote Control Units & PTC457/A/B/B-4 Control Panels


1956

PTC411/A/B/B-4 Remote Control Units & PTC457/A/B/B-4 Control Panels

This was a further development of the existing PTC411 & PTC457 remote control equipment and was available with either a telephone handset or a high quality Lustraphone desk microphone as the operator control instrument.

The Lustraphone microphones were available with either a short or long stand.

The equipment was suitable for either simplex or duplex (2 wire or 4 wire circuits) operation.

PTC411X Remote Control Unit & PTC457/8 Remote Control Panel


1958

PTC411X Remote Control Unit & PTC457/8 Remote Control Panel

This is a version of the existing PTC411 & PTC457/8 remote control equipment which used the new Pye PTC4000 series desk microphone.

From December 1958 the use of the Lustraphone desk microphones was discontinued and the new PTC4000 Pye stand microphones (universally known as the Tulip Mic) were supplied with all systems.