Telephone Changes in the Late 1800's

The invention of the telephone has been one of the most technological advances in our history and continued to grow into the end of the ninetieth century. In 1878, the first switching board (at left) was introduced in New Haven, Connecticut which allowed phones to be connected with a single exchange. The first switchboard operators, believe it or not, were teenage boys. Within a few years the boys were replaced, due to their rude behavior, with females who were more patient and polite. Men would not return as operators until the 1960’s. Switchboards opened up exchanges throughout the country. By the 1880’s, an upgrade from one-wire to two-wire circuits, also called “metallic” circuits was developed and provided less noise over the one-wire ground circuits. In the 1890’s with Bell’s patents running out, smaller companies were formed mostly in smaller towns and rural areas where Bell Company was not interested in. The twentieth century would continue to see new developments.
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