How did phone operators work in the past?

Question

I love watching old movies and TV. Often times they have characters who use telephones via the old switchboard technology. Someone calls into a central system where their call is routed to the proper location.

How did those switch boards work? Especially in comparison to modern phones…

(I would also love any extra info on “party lines” where anyone could join)

In: Technology

Answer 1

**A manually patched switchboard** is simply a way of connecting one of many incoming lines to one of many outgoing lines (think of it like a freeway/roads) at a time when there was NO computers and complected switching was VERY expensive.

**To call from LA to London** – You would (1) dial the LA operator, who connects you to the (2) LA long distance operator, who connects you to the (3) New York operator, who connects you to the (4) US trans-atlantic operator, to be received by the (5) UK trans-atlantic operator, who connects you to the (6) local area London phone operator, who finally connects you with the person your wanting to talk to.

WHY?, flexibility, even today placing a call LA to London still follows the same connection flow its just done by computers,

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**RE party line/ Manual exchange**

When I was young my uncle who lived in outback Australia

He was on a party line, The operator who was 18miles/30km away

The operator served 3 or 4 party lines each with 6-9 farms, (think like wheel spokes)

My uncles line was called “Cement Mills” and each of the farms was called,
Cement Mills 2, Cement Mills 3, Cement Mills 4, 5, 6 etc (the operator was #1)

**To Make a call** you wound a little handle, that turned a generator that rang a bell at the other end for the operator to hear (Normally ONE quick turn = one ring) the operator would then dial or connect you to who ever you wanted to talk to. IF you wanted to talk to the farm next door you wound a little handle the required number of times IE: Cement Mills 2, = 2 rings

**To receive a call** the operator would wind the handle the number of times that matched your number IE: Cement Mills 4, = 4 rings an you would know that it was a call for you. YES people could/would pick up by accident, yes they could hear your conversation.

**To call my uncle from town** you would dial the number of the Cement Mills exchange,
and ask the operator for Cement Mills 3

I hope this helps