Retro Houston - NUMBER, PLEASE - Prior to digital dialing and computerized communication, companies used manual telephone switchboards, and switchboard operators --"telephone operators" -- to connect calls. Below is a photo of
![Manual switchboard operators connected calls by inserting a pair of phone plugs into the appropriate jacks. 1953. Image From 4x5 inch negative Stock Photo - Alamy Manual switchboard operators connected calls by inserting a pair of phone plugs into the appropriate jacks. 1953. Image From 4x5 inch negative Stock Photo - Alamy](https://c8.alamy.com/comp/TRJ29H/manual-switchboard-operators-connected-calls-by-inserting-a-pair-of-phone-plugs-into-the-appropriate-jacks-1953-image-from-4x5-inch-negative-TRJ29H.jpg)
Manual switchboard operators connected calls by inserting a pair of phone plugs into the appropriate jacks. 1953. Image From 4x5 inch negative Stock Photo - Alamy
![Close Up Of Vintage Manual Telephone Switchboard With Cable Stock Photo, Picture And Royalty Free Image. Image 117725861. Close Up Of Vintage Manual Telephone Switchboard With Cable Stock Photo, Picture And Royalty Free Image. Image 117725861.](https://previews.123rf.com/images/14ktgold/14ktgold1902/14ktgold190200033/117725861-close-up-of-vintage-manual-telephone-switchboard-with-cable.jpg)
Close Up Of Vintage Manual Telephone Switchboard With Cable Stock Photo, Picture And Royalty Free Image. Image 117725861.
![Signalmen Operating A Large Manual Telephone Switchboard at Saigon | 1966 | Telephones, Google images, The originals Signalmen Operating A Large Manual Telephone Switchboard at Saigon | 1966 | Telephones, Google images, The originals](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/02/44/61/024461fc5a90a4fa50391f1d6d2e5349.jpg)
Signalmen Operating A Large Manual Telephone Switchboard at Saigon | 1966 | Telephones, Google images, The originals
![In the early days of telephony, through roughly the 1960s, companies used manual telephone switchboards and switchb… | Photos of women, Vintage photos, Ordinary day In the early days of telephony, through roughly the 1960s, companies used manual telephone switchboards and switchb… | Photos of women, Vintage photos, Ordinary day](https://i.pinimg.com/originals/29/49/73/29497304f2083bb78fa92f5d0a438310.jpg)