Eventually to become affectionately known as “Old Betsy,” a Western Electric TBX-556A telephone switchboard went into service in 1958 in West Milford Town Hall to facilitate communication in the ...

Before smartphones, landline telephones were the way most people kept in touch. And until direct dialing became common, a switchboard operator's assistance was often needed to help with long-distance ...

Yongsan, South Korea, April 1987: Operators sit side-by-side at the Stromberg-Carlson switchboard at Yongsan, South Korea, connecting local calls. The switchboard was disconnected in April 1987 and ...

Before automation and technology took over, people held some pretty fascinating (and, let’s be honest, slightly bizarre) jobs. From switchboard operators plugging in calls to knocker-uppers rapping on ...