Early office switchboard. by danapommet
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Description
Found this old office telephone switchboard in the back of a garage. The operator would take all incoming telephone calls and using the cords that you see, connect the incoming calls to the requested office telephone. If I count correctly, this unit could handle 10 incoming calls (gray cables) and eight outgoing calls (red cables). It looks like the switchboard could handle 36 office telephones. To make an outgoing call, you had to give the operator the telephone number and she dialed it using the rotary device on the right. She used the headset, on the upper left, to handle the calls.
In 1877, construction of the first regular telephone line from Boston to Somerville, Massachusetts was completed. By the end of 1880, there were 47,900 telephones in the United States. The following year telephone service between Boston and Providence had been established. Service between New York and Chicago started in 1892, and between New York and Boston in 1894. Info from the ‘inventors’ website.
Thanks for stopping by my gallery, taking a look and for all your previous favs and comments. They are very much appreciated.
Dana
Comments (29)
Faemike55
one ringy dingy two ringy dingy is the party to whom I'm speaking? Great capture, Dana
T.Rex
I remember seeing some like this even as late as the 1950s. And today, it's all computerized. Imagine what would happen if we get hit with a solar flare? Electro-magnetic pulse will wipe out all communications. The only switchboards that would continue functioning are this type. Nice photo. Keep up the good work! :-)
durleybeachbum
I have seen them like this in the department stores when I was a child. Fascinting.
jendellas
How things have changed :o)
moochagoo
Excellent find :)
jayfar
Don't make em like that anymore Dana. Lovely bit of history.
blinkings
Yep I'm old enough to remember the 'rotary device on the right'! And when you got really got at it, you could stick the end of a biro in for more stylish moves!!!!!!! Great.
kbrog
Remember when we used to have wires running to our Telephones? ;D LOL! Wonderful find and capture!
Katraz
Neat shot, my wife used to work one of this type of exchange..
Bossie_Boots
Blimey how confusing that would be lol if i ever had to use something like that i wouldnt last five minutes thanks for sharing this dana its fascinating !!
beachzz
Ok, I am totally dating myself here, but I used to operate one of those-- And I never once crossed calls!! Nice find!!
gonzojr
Wonderful shot and explanation of it history!! I'm also old enough to remember the 'rotary phone'
goodoleboy
Terrific photo and excellent history narrative of this old standby, Dana. I always wondered about that dial at the lower right. They used to show banks of these with busy operators rapidly pulling out and pushing in the plugs in the old black and white films of the nineteen-thirties, forties and fifties.
flavia49
great capture!
eekdog
amazing how tech has advanced since then, thanks for sharing Dana, remnds me of minnie pearl. steve
clbsmiley
Thought about one of these the other day when I was watching a wireless commercial on TV. :)
jocko500
If I work there i would get the wires crossed all the time. lol. cool shot
bobrgallegos
Awesome Photo!! Thanks for the information.
MrsRatbag
Wow, how confusing that must have been! Great find and capture!
mariogiannecchini
Wonderful capture and photo , Dana ! Very interesting info ! I would not ever call! From crazy! Often I do not answer to mine!
dakotabluemoon
Wow that is really old we will never see this ever again in our lives.
adrie
Great and interesting info and photo shot Dana.
sandra46
GREAT FIND
mickeyrony
The time when the gossip has started on one and another lol ...... Good catch my friend makes me smile a little. Thank you so much for sharing ((5 + +)) Le temps où les commérages ont commencer sur l'un et sur l'autre lol...... Bonne prise mon ami Cela me fait sourire un peu . Merci beaucoup de partager ((5++))
mgtcs
Excellent shot Dana, thank you for sharing!
Chipka
I see this and I can't help but recall Lilly Tomlin's telephone operator character asking: "Is this the party to whom I am speaking?" Needless to say seeing this image now reminds me of that character's voice! All of that aside: you saw this in a garage? You hang out in some rather interesting garages! I'm impressed (and jealous!) This is a super, wonderful slice of history and photographic art! Really nice.
MagikUnicorn Online Now!
The good old time
myrrhluz
This made me remember scenes from movies, where there would be a line of attractive women facing a long switchboard and talking into them, "Yes, Mr. Blenkinsop. I'll connect you." Then the heroine would get overwhelmed and start connecting at random, and hilarity would ensue. I never saw a rotary device. Very interesting. Great find, information, and capture!
Osper
This is a neat find!!!!