“Number, please?”
With the rapid expansion of the telephone network in early 20th century UK, The Post Office needed a workforce of operators to connect calls at central telephone exchanges.
Women were favoured for these positions over the original messenger boys as it required reliability, concentration, quick hands and good interpersonal skills. Becoming a switchboard operator enabled women to have an identity outside the home as well as some economic independence.
The caller would pick up the telephone, immediately connecting to the switchboard operator hearing “number, please?” and then “hold the line please” as the operator expertly juggled jack plugs to connect the call.
Hundreds of operators worked on switchboards connecting calls right across the country and regular callers got to know the voices of some of the operators. This often led to trouble with the switchboard supervisors as there was a strict etiquette to be observed which did not include having conversations with callers!
In rural areas, the switchboard might only be operated by a single person and while the national service was largely confidential the individually working operator did have the ability to listen in on private conversations. Although this practice was strictly forbidden it did teach callers to be careful what they discussed.
The introduction of automatic telephone exchanges from 1960 onwards allowed callers to dial numbers themselves and this ultimately led to the disappearance of one of Britain’s first female workforces.
Did you work in a telephone exchange? Were you a telephone operator? We would love to hear your memories.
Melina - Assistant Editor
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