I remember seeing switches like that in PBX offices but I didn't do work on those switches. I did work on Panel switches, Crossbar switches and ESS switches as well as N carrier and T1 carrier just to name a few.Hete's the story of the automatic phone line switch. No operator plugging cords needed. The Strowger switch.
https://99percentinvisible.org/episode/strowger-switch-purple-reign-redux/