Discussions

It is 100 years since Manitoba Telecom Services was launched on January 15, 1908. (See article in B.S. Sunday).  
The first Telephone was invented in Brantford, Ontario, Canada on July 26th, 1874 by Alexander Graham Bell. The first long distance call was made from Brantford to Paris Ontario on August 10th, 1876. The Telephone was first established in Brandon in 1882. The Bell Telephone Company owned and operated it, and they had fifty-one subscribers all located within city boundaries. In 1908 the Bell Company that was privately owned was taken over by the Manitoba Telephone Company, an Institution of the Manitoba Government. By 1944 there were 3,088 local and 434 rural telephones. The first Superintendent of Telephone Service was Mr. F. C. Patterson – 1882-1906. Most Telephones in 1907 were owned by high society, and there fore had to use the highest ‘Etiquette’.  
In 1911 Bell published a guide and in 1911 Manitoba Government Telephones published instructions on Telephone use.  
The most important Rule was: Do not guess the wanted number, but make certain by consulting the provided Directory before making the call.  
For those residing in Brandon and Portage La Prairie only: When calling the Operator, remove the Telephone receiver from the hook and hold it to your ear. The Operator will answer with the word “number”. You should respond promptly, speak in your natural tone of voice INTO the transmitter, not AT it, by giving the number of the required Subscribers Station, making sure you give the figures of the number separately, like “1-4-2-9”, not “fourteen-twenty-nine”. If in Portage La Prairie use the prefix in conjunction with the number of the Subscribers Station.  
For those residing anywhere else: Call the Operator by turning the crank, remove the Telephone receiver from the hook, and hold it to your ear. The Operator will answer with the word “number”. You should respond promptly by giving the number of the required Subscribers Station, making sure you give the figures of the number separately, like “1-4-2-9”, not “fourteen-twenty-nine”.  
For all exchanges: When giving your required number to the Operator and it has similar consecutive numbers, use the word, “double”. This practice will greatly lessen the possibility of such numbers being misunderstood by the Operator.  
Continue to keep the Telephone Receiver to your ear while the Operator connects you to the Party to whom you wish to speak, and ring his/her bell. If it is found that his/her number is busy, the Operator will inform you by saying, “busy”, or you will hear a buzzing sound caused by the line being busy.  
Service Suggestions for Line Busy: It is easier for an Operator to establish a connection than to reply “Line busy.” Recollections of this simple fact may perhaps smooth out the asperities Harshness of manner, ill temper or irritability. of a state of mind evoked by the hasty conclusion that the Operator simply is shirking her duties. For example, follow a call into the Main Exchange, you ask for a certain number, and the Operator immediately informs you the line is busy. How does she know? Simply by a little admonitory click in the receiver when she tried to “Plug in” on the line asked for. She cannot tell why is talking on the line, or how long it has been in use. She also is unable to predict on how long the line is likely to be “busy.” All the information she possesses is a “click,” but it is sufficient to advise her that some one of thee 150 other Operators in the Exchange had a prior call from or to that number. Had the line been clear, the effort to complete the connection would have been no greater than that required getting the “click”: hence the task of informing a caller that the line is busy is just so much extra labour. In fact, it involves a double burden, as the Subscriber will usually repeat the call until he is able to transact his business. Obviously, therefore, the desire of the operator is to establish the connection when it is first called for. She has no motive in doing otherwise. Subscribers will materially aid the commission in their endeavour to give a rapid service by answering all calls promptly.  
When finishing your call: Do not hang up your receiver before you have finished talking. When you have finished talking, place the receiver on the hook and wait ten seconds until you call another number. This is to give the Operator time to disconnect your previously called number.  
When your phone rings: Answer the calls on your bell promptly, (on a party line each subscriber had a different bell ring, like one ring two rings and so on). Face the Transmitter with your mouth held half-an-inch from its opening. Speak naturally, distinctly, and not too rapidly.  
To find Subscribers or changes not found in the Directory, call “Information”.  
How to Answer a Call: The preferred way to answer a telephone call is by stating the name of the firm or person called in a clear, concise tone, instead of saying “Hello,” which conveys no information to the party calling beyond the fact that there is some one at the end of the line.  
Rural Party Lines: To make rural party lines efficient, and to prevent annoyance to the other Subscribers on the same circuit, the following rules must be observed.  
a). When making a call, first remove the telephone receiver from the hook and listen, then ask “Waiting?” Before ringing in order to avoid interrupting a conversation in progress.  
b). To call central on telephones equipped with Push Buttons, press the button and ring. To call other Subscribers on the same line, or to ring off, do not push the button when ringing.  
c). Answer only your own signal. If there is any confusion about the rings, report the matter to the Chief Operator at once.  
d). Listening on line when it is in use by others is prohibited. Please remember that the other subscribers on the line have equal rights with you, and that parties on the same telephone line should be as courteous to each other over the wire as when the meet face to face. By observing these rules, rural party line service should be perfectly satisfactory.  
When making a long distance call: First call for “Long Distance.” When the Long Distance Operator answers, give your telephone number, and your name and the initials, the name of the firm, or particular person desired, and the name of the city or town. For Example: Main 456, W. H. Brown speaking – get J. B. Smith at Winnipeg.  
Charges for Long Distance: All rates quoted are for an initial period of two or three minutes. For overtime beyond the initial period, a charge will be made by the minute. Subscribers are responsible for charges to Long Distance messages or conversations from their telephones.  
Messenger Service: Upon request, and the pre-payment of reasonable charges, a messenger will be sent when possible to notify a non-subscriber to come to any Public Pay Station.  
When a particular person is desired: The name must be given to the Operator, otherwise a charge will be made from the time connection is established with the Telephone desired, whether the party required is obtained or not.  
Non-subscribers: Who desire the use of a Subscribers’ Telephone should be referred to the nearest Public Pay Station.  
Reversal of Charges: All charges will be made against the originating Office, except those messages for which the receiving party expressly agrees to pay.  
SPECIAL NOTICE  
Attachments to Telephones: The commissioners are responsible for the character of the service rendered. Subscribers are supplied with all Telephone Apparatus necessary for good service, therefore the attachment of the various unauthorised devices offered for sale, which are supposed to eliminate noise, improve the transmission, supplant the Telephone Directory, and the like, cannot be permitted. All such devices are unnecessary, and many are detrimental to the service. They are made simply to sell: with the completion of the sale the selling agent’s interest ceases. Should unusual conditions necessitate the use of special apparatus the Commissions will be glad to furnish the same at reasonable rates.  
 
Source: The Daly House Museum Archives.