1950/60s UK Manual Telephone Exchange

Experience the atmosphere in a typical 1960s manual telephone exchange. In those days, some areas had operators who answered you when you picked up your ‘phone and connected your call. Some of these areas were quite small. My local exchange in those days was in a converted semi-detached house and employed about thirteen operators - usually girls during the day and males overnight. Other manual exchanges covered a much bigger area: Northampton would be an example. Where a large, automatic exchange covered the area, they would also usually have a manual suite (operators) in the building and subscribers (for that was how customers were referred to in those days) could dial 100 for an operator-connected trunk (long-distance) call, most of which couldn’t be dialled direct - or 192 (free!!) for information about a number in another part of the country. The girls were monitored by hawk-eyed ‘supervisors’ who ensured they didn’t make personal calls or chat up any male caller they might fancy - and if they needed the loo they had to put up their hands and ask a supervisor for a ‘casual!’
Ah, how things have changed! Walk into an automatic exchange in the 1950s/60s and the noise was amazing! This was generated by the electro-mechanical switches - called selectors - which moved up and down to establish a call. In these days of electronic switching, you would be greeted with complete silence! ….

[@berks-southeast-lc-cjr]

I love the amount of mechanical noises of the dial!

[@user-oh7iv3ij5x]

I worked days at Manchester Telephone exchange lots of young girls in there but the switch room always had the same maintenance man, but plenty of engineers in the canteen. I married an electrician 50 years now Thanks for the video it’s mainly lost history all mobiles and fibre optics these days

[@Barbara-yj5tl]

I worked at Liverpool telephone exchange. I was only 15 when I started there and would blush like mad when walking into the canteen full of engineers lol

[@annroberts6007]

I also worked at Old Hall Street....much bigger switchboard than this one. Loved it!

[@Moonbeamglider]

I was sixteen and was trained and worked at Brighton exchange. The start of me growing up with lovely friends working alongside me.

[@racheter1951]

This was filmed 17 February 1971 at Trunk Control Bloomsbury Telephone Exchange, London. (North Crescent, Chenies Street W1) during a Union of Post Office Workers strike. The Union of Post Office Workers represented Postmen and Telephone Operators but not Post Office Telecoms Engineers who were not involved in the pay dispute. The film was shot for the ITV programme "This Week" and the Telephone Operators in the film are possibly strike breakers.

[@kernow9324]

I'm still in touch with an ex telst who worked at Bloomsbury AMC in the mid 1970s. Because he could speak fluent French, he moved to Faraday ICC.

[@Barbara-yj5tl]

@racheter1951 I was at Liverpool telephone exchange when they had the strike in 1971. I wasn’t in the union at the time so I went in..can’t remember how long the strike lasted.

[@bridgetcarr6884]

My first job in 1980

[@anythingbootneck]

Brought back happy days when I was a night operator in the 70’s through to the 90’s . Thanks for uploading this fascinating piece of history for me.

[@peterpreston8651]

I'm glad my short video awoke a few memories, Paul. I met my wife whilst she was working as an operator at Nottingham (Castle) exchange. Guys at the time used to fight for the position of Maintenance Engineer in the switchroom!! Even my local exchange used to be controlled by operators. Hate all this "Press this - Press That" stuff these days! Best wishes - Pete

[@mooredogfather]

I was the first male PBX operator at my high school, then local hospital and Stuttgart Military. Later back home, I was a Long Distance operator in Oklahoma. I am confused about the title on the video, it looks to me to be a long distance board not a local. Or maybe it is a difference in the way the U.S. names offices? I supervised operators in the OKC cord office as it was being converted to computer, sad to see our board over 1/4 th filled at best. We continued for a long time with conference, verification and a few independent company lines. The fun times was gone. Thanks for the video. I have still pictures, wish I had video of those days.

[@kernow9324]

I would love to see your pictures.

[@Barbara-yj5tl]

Thanks for this brought back so many memories.

[@Moonbeamglider]

Anyone have Brighton exchange video our boards were very high

[@BermondseyBoy]

must be a fault on the line