I tried a few times in the late '70s to become a GPO telephonist but without success. However, I was successful in my interview and test to work at one of the international exchanges in London. It was such a lovely job and I made friends with people all over the world. "International service, which country, please?" Very happy memories.
I just want to say this, but my grandad - Terence Mcsweeny invented the telephone exchance system in Zimbabwe. So this is super cool to watch and learn how it works.
I was a GPO Telephnist at Abingdon tel exchange in the 60s, then got a job in London in 1969 as Telephonist at BBC television centre, brilliant memories and lovely job.❤
I was a GPO Telephonist in Nottingham Telephone Exchange in the late sixties. Back then you could alternate working on the 100 board to Directory Enquiries which was 192 and the 999 board. They were great times and I loved my job.
At a time that people found value in having a number, being a number meant you were now a part of a super structure bigger than you. The number is a society symbol of hope and wealth. Now days this number is disregarded and ignored; the fact that we all are connecting more and more to an infrastructure that has been several thousand years in the making.
Growing up i remember in my state we could tell where you roughly lived just by your area code and first 3 digits. Look how far we have come. My great grandparents had horse and carriages and we have automated cars now.
I worked at an exchange in the former Huntingdon now Cambridgeshire. Trained in Nottingham in 1959 - 1964. I enjoyed my job a lot, It was no nonsense and always fair to all of us. There was some team spirit as we covered for each-other in times needed. I believe the workplace In the GPS. UK. system was more about the workers, the training was excellent and focus on the quality of the efforts and not the bottom line.
For operators who worked for AT&T, using the restroom was referred to as a "special." I was just thinking they couldn't tell a customer "I need to take a dump." ;)
I worked at a large switchboard like this south central bell and Illinois bell 🛎 then TSPS CAMA AND OSPS.the Telephone company was a good job. Work everyday and be on time. I remember the SPECIALS.
i still dont understand how they know where to connect the jacks? i mean if you have someone say "can you connect me to the post office" how do they know which plug to insert the jack into?
They had telephone numbers. But you had to tell it to the operator. She usually has a keypad, but I see rotary dealers on this old switchboard. To call long distance, you reached a different operator at a different switchboard with lines to various cities.
I remember having to deal with AT&T IOC (long distance) operators back in the 1980s. They were not elegant at all. They were so low class and a few would even start flirting. Most would get angry with me when they couldn't connect my international call. Quite a distasteful group.
People today go on about how supermarket self service tills are doing people out of jobs...this is not a new phenomenon. Automation and the removal of staff from jobs have been happening for decades, just like the phone exchange, the use of ATMs to withdraw money, and bank cards to pay for things directly. You're cutting out the middle-man as such.
I was hoping to see a demonstration ._.
I tried a few times in the late '70s to become a GPO telephonist but without success. However, I was successful in my interview and test to work at one of the international exchanges in London. It was such a lovely job and I made friends with people all over the world. "International service, which country, please?" Very happy memories.
I just want to say this, but my grandad - Terence Mcsweeny invented the telephone exchance system in Zimbabwe. So this is super cool to watch and learn how it works.
I am fascinated by this job.
I was a GPO Telephnist at Abingdon tel exchange in the 60s, then got a job in London in 1969 as Telephonist at BBC television centre, brilliant memories and lovely job.❤
I was a GPO Telephonist in Nottingham Telephone Exchange in the late sixties.
Back then you could alternate working on the 100 board to Directory Enquiries which was 192 and the 999 board. They were great times and I loved my job.
Would that have been bowman sheriff exchange on bath street?
with regards from linestelecom India
I worked at Temple Bar exchange from 1966..best job ever
At a time that people found value in having a number, being a number meant you were now a part of a super structure bigger than you. The number is a society symbol of hope and wealth. Now days this number is disregarded and ignored; the fact that we all are connecting more and more to an infrastructure that has been several thousand years in the making.
Growing up i remember in my state we could tell where you roughly lived just by your area code and first 3 digits.
Look how far we have come. My great grandparents had horse and carriages and we have automated cars now.
I worked at an exchange in the former Huntingdon now Cambridgeshire. Trained in Nottingham in 1959 - 1964. I enjoyed my job a lot,
It was no nonsense and always fair to all of us. There was some team spirit as we covered for each-other in times needed. I believe the workplace
In the GPS. UK. system was more about the workers, the training was excellent and focus on the quality of the efforts and not the bottom line.
What incredible amount of talent
My Mum worked at the Home Office in London as a PBX OPERATOR so this is pretty Cool
I did something very similar to this back in the late 60's. And he was right, our manager didn't tolerate any nonsense.
Did your manager live at thwee thwee thwee thickamore thweet?
For operators who worked for AT&T, using the restroom was referred to as a "special." I was just thinking they couldn't tell a customer "I need to take a dump." ;)
There was a name place operator. The function of which is to locate where a phone number is located geographically.
I used to love to call the operator and play on the phone.
I worked at a large switchboard like this south central bell and Illinois bell 🛎 then TSPS CAMA AND OSPS.the
Telephone company was a good job. Work everyday and be on time. I remember the SPECIALS.
Really excellent video, great quality too! Thanks for sharing it! ~ CHAP
i still dont understand how they know where to connect the jacks? i mean if you have someone say "can you connect me to the post office" how do they know which plug to insert the jack into?
They had telephone numbers. But you had to tell it to the operator. She usually has a keypad, but I see rotary dealers on this old switchboard. To call long distance, you reached a different operator at a different switchboard with lines to various cities.
The red paint around some holes is that for some VIP lines or services?
Wonderful !
My teacher made me watch this for a see think wonder chart 😎👍
I remember having to deal with AT&T IOC (long distance) operators back in the 1980s. They were not elegant at all. They were so low class and a few would even start flirting. Most would get angry with me when they couldn't connect my international call. Quite a distasteful group.
would like to see some videos from the cross
This job looks hella hard. Look at all those holes.
Yeah , I have tryed to make dates of the operators . When they were still human 😂 . I very neerly got one too . Damn superviser
We went from having a "human" feeling to "the number you've dilaed has ben disconnected or is no longer in service"
People today go on about how supermarket self service tills are doing people out of jobs...this is not a new phenomenon. Automation and the removal of staff from jobs have been happening for decades, just like the phone exchange, the use of ATMs to withdraw money, and bank cards to pay for things directly. You're cutting out the middle-man as such.
*Raises hand: “Sir, I really need to take a big steamy urgent.”
Always remember that. Behind that jack is a human being. Easy to forget apparently.
nice
Just plug in them all and leave it it's called wireless system
I really wonder that you is dumb or a idiot
Rohit 📐✒️📇🧲🛠️💽🤩🧠👣👂🧠👂👄👀👁️🦿🦵🦶🫀💿📡⚙️📡📡🤝📼🗿🗾📼📹🛣️🗽🛸💤📠📠