ll
boards, however, where the multiple is short, this system has proven
reliable. A multiple magneto switchboard employing the form of circuits
just described is shown in Fig. 341. This switchboard consists of three
sections of two positions each. The combined answering jacks and drops
may be seen at the lower part of the face of the switchboard and
occupying somewhat over one-half of the jack and drop space. The
multiple jacks are above the answering jacks and drops and it may be
noted that the same arrangement and number of these jacks is repeated in
each section. This switchboard may be extended by adding more sections
and increasing the multiple in those already installed to serve 1,600
lines.

_Assembly._ In connection with the assembly of these magneto multiple
switchboards, as installed by the Monarch Company, Fig. 342 shows the
details of the cord rack at the back of the board. It shows how the ends
of the switchboard cords opposite to the ends that are fastened to the
plugs are connected permanently to terminals on the cord rack, at which
point the flexible conductors are brought out to terminal clips or
binding posts, to which the wires leading from the other portions of the
cord circuit are led. In order to relieve the conductors in the cords
from strain, the outer braiding of the cord at the rack end is usually
extended to form what is called a _strain cord_, and this attached to an
eyelet under the cord rack, so that the weight of the cord and the cord
weights will be borne by the braiding rather than by the conductors.
This leaves the insulated conductors extending from the ends of the
cords free to hang loose without strain and be connected to the
terminals as shown. This method of connecting cords, with variations in
form and detail, is practically universal in all types of switchboards.

[Illustration: Fig. 342. Cord-Rack Connectors]

A detail of the assembly of the drops and jacks in such a switchboard
is shown in Fig. 343. The single pair of clearing-out drops is mounted
in the lower part of the vertical face of the switchboard just above the
space occupied by the plug shelf. Vertical stile strips extend above the
clearing-out drop space for supporting the drops and jacks. A single row
of 10 answering jacks and the corresponding line drops are shown in
place. Above these there would be placed, in the completely assembled
board, the other answering jacks and line signals that were to occupy
this pan