“Remember using this TELEPHONE to Call The OPERATOR”

Apr 24th “Remember using this TELEPHONE to Call The OPERATOR”

“Remember this style of “TELEPHONE” – and when, you wanted to make a “LONG DISTANCE” “Call” – which was, a very long time ago?”

“Just put your finger in that spot “0” and swing it around the dial for me to answer saying,” “OPERATOR, How may I help you!”

NATIONAL TELEPHONE DAY

On April 25th, we observe National Telephone Day.

The correct answer to a trivia question like “Who invented the telephone?” is the name on the patent. In this case, the whole world knows the answer is Alexander Graham Bell. Had his attorney been delayed by foul weather or poor planning, the answer may be a different name.

It was February 14, 1876, when Marcellus Bailey, one of Bell’s attorneys rushed into the US Patent office in Boston to file the patent for what would be the telephone.

Later the same day, Elisha Gray filed a patent caveat for a similar device. A caveat is an intent to file for a patent.

There is also a third contender. Antonio Meucci filed a caveat in November of 1871 for a talking telegraph but failed to renew the caveat due to hardships.

Because Bell’s patent was submitted first, it was awarded to him on March 7, 1876. Gray contested this decision in court, but without success.

Born March 3, 1847, in Edinburgh, United Kingdom, Bell was an instructor at a boys’ boarding school. The sounds of speech were an integral part of his life. His father developed a “Visible Speech” system for deaf students to communicate. Bell would later become friend and benefactor of Helen Keller.

Three days after the patent was approved, Bell spoke the first words by telephone to his assistant. “Mr.Watson, come here! I want to see you!”

By May, Bell and his team were ready for a public demonstration, and there would be no better place than the World’s Fair in Philadelphia. On May 10, 1876, in a crowded Machinery Hall a man’s voice was transmitted from a small horn and carried out through a speaker to the audience.

One year later, the White House installed its first phone. The telephone revolution began.

Bell Telephone Company was founded on July 9, 1877, and the first public telephone lines were installed from Boston to Sommerville, Massachusetts the same year. By the end of the decade, there were nearly 50,000 phones in the United States. In May of 1967, the 1 millionth telephone was installed.

HOW TO OBSERVE

Celebrate National Telephone Day by calling someone and telling them Happy National Telephone Day! Share your vintage telephone pictures on social media using #NationalTelephoneDay to show the different phones that have been used!

Educators, visit the National Day Calendar® Classroom for lessons designed around National Telephone Day.

HISTORY

Our research was unable to find the creator of National Telephone Day.

There are over 1,500 national days. Don’t miss a single one. Celebrate Every Day® with National Day Calendar®!

In order to start working for the “Telephone Company” I did have to get a “Worker’s Permit” as I was not as yet (18″ eighteen years old!”

The two young girls that are in the middle of this PHOTO – also started working the same week as I did, and they were over eighteen years of age and also married. At that time we received four weeks of training, while receiving full pay, which may have been close to $40.00 a week. I’m guessing that TODAY – new employees would be receiving at least $600.00 per week. “How the times do change?”