The Making of Information Age: Enfield Telephone Exchange

This film explores the story of the Enfield telephone exchange and the role of female operators in the development of telephone networks. The Enfield exchange was one of the last to be converted from manual to automatic switching. After closure, the Science Museum preserved a section of the switchboard which is now on display in the new Information Age gallery along with stories of the women who worked on the exchange.
Information Age tells the story of how our lives have been transformed by information and communication technologies over the last 200 years. Visit www.sciencemuse... or follow the conversation online via #smInfoAge to find out more.
#ScienceMuseum #History #InformationAge

[@Luis-xr6ec]

I was hoping to see a demonstration ._.

[@kernow9324]

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.

[@mintmikemickeygaming7457]

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.

[@elainethomson4911]

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.❤

[@adelgado75]

I am fascinated by this job.

[@janetarrand4900]

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.

[@lordred4116]

Would that have been bowman sheriff exchange on bath street?

[@LINESTELECOMCORDEDTELEPHONES]

with regards from linestelecom India

[@zakgrigerek1530]

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.

[@matthewlivermanne4441]

What incredible amount of talent

[@loistaylor2352]

I worked at Temple Bar exchange from 1966..best job ever

[@ginaloverofangels]

I did something very similar to this back in the late 60's. And he was right, our manager didn't tolerate any nonsense.

[@petemcintire4339]

Did your manager live at thwee thwee thwee thickamore thweet?

[@Morningglory7513]

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.

[@StephSancia]

My Mum worked at the Home Office in London as a PBX OPERATOR so this is pretty Cool

[@jamforall]

I used to love to call the operator and play on the phone.

[@roachtoasties]

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." ;)

[@ComputerHistoryArchivesProject]

Really excellent video, great quality too! Thanks for sharing it! ~ CHAP

[@roberthboyd6073]

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.

[@jamforall]

There was a name place operator. The function of which is to locate where a phone number is located geographically.

[@msmedved_]

Wonderful !

[@accessdenied3350]

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?

[@North95]

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.

[@jd8986]

My teacher made me watch this for a see think wonder chart 😎👍

[@flyguille]

The red paint around some holes is that for some VIP lines or services?

[@PilotVBall]

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.

[@jamesbeemer7855]

Yeah , I have tryed to make dates of the operators . When they were still human 😂 . I very neerly got one too . Damn superviser

[@ucheucheuche]

This job looks hella hard. Look at all those holes.

[@spike9000000]

would like to see some videos from the cross

[@aidanafshar8744]

We went from having a "human" feeling to "the number you've dilaed has ben disconnected or is no longer in service"

[@Schrijver112]

nice

[@80PercentAshamedOfU]

*Raises hand: “Sir, I really need to take a big steamy urgent.”

[@karenpff2010]

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.

[@cynthiacassel9201]

Always remember that. Behind that jack is a human being. Easy to forget apparently.

[@yeaho7935]

Just plug in them all and leave it it's called wireless system

[@vancerain100]

I really wonder that you is dumb or a idiot

[@RohitKanaujiya-z8c]

Rohit 📐✒️📇🧲🛠️💽🤩🧠👣👂🧠👂👄👀👁️🦿🦵🦶🫀💿📡⚙️📡📡🤝📼🗿🗾📼📹🛣️🗽🛸💤📠📠