OL (overline) stop was used for very early key systems to stop multi-lines (overlines in Bell parlance) form hunting when an answering machine was in use after hours. The customer leased a cable pair from the carrier that controlled the feature and connected a simple rocker/toggle/SPST switch to it, and when the switch was thrown, calls to the main number would busy out when line 1 as in use. It became obsolete after voicemail came into common usage.


Brian Dunne
ETC Telecom
www.etctele.com