Telephoneservices:switchboardoperatorsandtelephoneexchanges

The first telephone arrived in Rio de Janeiro in 1877, and was installed in the Palácio Imperial de São Cristóvão, in Quinta da Boa Vista. It was the year following its invention, when the emperor d. Pedro II, during a visit to Philadelphia (USA), met with Graham Bell and expressed his interest in the novelty. The first telephone stations in Rio de Janeiro were established shortly thereafter, based on a concession that came to be called the Brazilian Telephone Company. In the following years, other companies were at the forefront of that undertaking, which Light acquired in 1905, from the Brasilianische Elektricitäts Gesellschaft. And since the establishment of the first telephone exchanges, a consensus was established, among the white men who commanded the companies, that women were ideal for the role: due to their tone of voice, for adapting better to those delicate operations that required concentration, fine-tuning capacity, and for commanding more respect before the users. Despite these old and, today, quite antiquated views regarding the roles of women in the world of work, the role of telephone operator was one of the important conquests of a portion of the female population of Rio de Janeiro. The two photographs refer to the initial decades of those activities in Rio de Janeiro. There were many models; in these images, a telephone operator plays the role of client/user, bringing the receiving extension connected to a wire to her ear, while speaking into the other transmission extension, fixed to the box. That was a wall model; there were desk ones, too.

Image description: This is an old sepia-toned photograph of a woman talking on the telephone. The woman is standing, holding the receiver with her right hand. She is wearing a white blouse with embroidered details and black pants. Beside her, there is a landline telephone mounted on a wooden column. In the background, we see a wall with framed pictures and a hanging lamp. In the lower right corner of the image, there is an inscription that reads "N° 123 - Rio - Nov. 15 - 11".

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Imagem 1 de 2: [Companhia Telefônica Brasileira: Chamada telefônica] – 15/11/1911 – Fotógrafo não identificado

In this photograph, one can see the work environment of the switchboard operators; large warehouses where the equipment that enabled the connection between users at each end was installed – which was done by those valorous professionals.

Image description: This is a historic black-and-white photograph of an indoor setting, likely an old telephone exchange. On the left, we see a row of women standing, wearing white uniforms, who appear to be waiting to serve the public. In the center and on the right, several women are seated at desks with telephone switchboards, carrying out their duties. The women are arranged in rows, with some seated in chairs closer to the camera and others farther away. The ceiling is high and covered with metal beams, with large windows letting in natural light. In the upper right corner of the image, it reads "Company's property." In the background, there are a series of desks and equipment, suggesting an organized and functional structure.

An image of the switchboard operators in full activity in one of the CTB stations in Rio de Janeiro is a good example of the achievements of white Carioca women, who sought work opportunities, independence, and professional advancement. One perceives what some historians term as an ‘androgynous aesthetic’, bringing women closer to the masculine universe; short hair and dresses in the chemise style, with a simple and loose cut, without sleeves. The influence of the French designer Gabrielle ‘Coco’ Chanel is evident. Note also the shoes, with pointed toes and heels. These switchboard operators were our modern women.

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of four telephone operators in a telephone operating room. On the left side, a woman stands wearing a white uniform and headphones. She is looking to the right. In front of her, three women are seated on tall chairs, also wearing white uniforms and headphones. The woman farthest to the right is pointing at a control panel. In the background, there is a large wooden structure with many buttons and switches. On the wall to the left, a fan is hanging. In the upper right corner of the image is the number "1319".

Labor issues were present throughout the entire trajectory of this profession; it was not easy to stay for hours on end attending to customers and operating the connections. The switchboard operators had the right to breaks for rest. In the photograph we can appreciate one of these environments, at the Flamengo telephone station.

Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph of a rest room for telephone operators, dated February 1921. On the left side, there is a closed door. In the center, three women sitting in rocking chairs are talking. In front of them is a wooden table with a white cloth. On the right, two more women are sitting in rocking chairs, also talking. On the wall to the right, there is a picture frame with a black border. The floor is covered with blue and white tiles. In the bottom left corner, there is an inscription dated 1921. At the bottom center, it reads "JARDIM - OPERATORS REST ROOM FEB-1921". Below that, it reads "1 COPY - BOX "K-4"" and "BOX 100" with the number 576.

By the end of the 1920s, the city had more than thirty-five thousand telephones and services were automated for local calls. The new devices featured a ‘handset’ for listening and speaking, and an interesting device: a disc with ten holes under which the numbers were printed; one, two, three... up to zero, at the end. The call was made by taking the handset off the hook and bringing it to the ear, awaiting the line signal and then inserting the index finger into those numbers and rotating clockwise until the limit – a metal stop – and then letting the disc return on its own to the original position. Doing so successively, the number was ‘dialed’; great progress! That movement caused the emission of electrical pulses that provided the direct connection between two people, making telephone exchanges operated by switchboard operators unnecessary. But calls between cities, ‘inter-urban’, continued to depend on the mediation of switchboard operators. In 1932, the company implemented the international radiotelephone service. And that disc model was gradually replaced by the push-button telephone, starting from the 1960s. In 1966, Light concluded the sale of the CTB to the federal government.

Image description: The image is a page from a 1928 newspaper or magazine, containing text and an illustration of an old telephone. The text is in Portuguese and discusses the introduction of automatic telephones in São Paulo. The illustration shows a desk telephone with a rotary dial for dialing numbers. The background is white and the text is black.

Although the historical archives of Light are dominated by images referring to the initial decades of its activity in the field of telephony, we find more recent documents, such as the one that follows, from the middle of the 20th century, where it is evident in the image of the switchboard operators – of their equipment and the work environment – that we have moved forward in time, in relation to technology. Even so, it remains evident that the working conditions were essentially the same. And we take this opportunity to remember that in institutions and companies, it was common to have a single telephone number, which was answered by one or more switchboard operators hired to operate the connections. These devices were called PBX – Private Branch Exchange or Private Branch Exchanges. That is to say: for a long time, telephone users continued to coexist with them until the arrival of current automated and impersonal services – which, at times, tend to drive us crazy!

Image description: This is a black-and-white photograph of a telephone operators' room. The image shows several women working at telephone stations. On the left side, we see a series of switches and connected cables. Moving toward the right, we see several telephone operators focused on their tasks. They wear headsets and are interacting with complex equipment. In the background, there are more people and equipment, suggesting a busy work environment.

The CTB expanded telephony services, constructing new buildings in some neighborhoods of Rio where substations were installed. In addition to housing the equipment and the team of switchboard operators, they fulfilled the important function of providing the citizens who went to them with the possibility of making a telephone call. There were many stations; in the following sequence of photographs, we will recall some of them: Praça Tiradentes, Flamengo, Ipanema, Vila Isabel and Botafogo.

Image description: The image is a historic black-and-white photograph of a building with traditional architectural features. On the left side, we see a smaller building with balconies and open windows. In the center, there is a large three-story building, notable for its ornate facade with relief details and decorated balconies. The inscription "COMPANHIA TELEFONICA" is clearly visible on the upper part of the central building. At the base of the building, there is an entrance with a two-horse carriage stopped in front. On the right, we see another building with doors and windows. In the lower right corner, a girl is walking near a fountain. The text in the image mentions "RIO. Central Telephone Exchange building" and "P. Tiradentes Rio".

In this photograph, the Beira Mar telephone exchange, at rua Dois de Dezembro 63, in Flamengo. Today, a cultural center and a museum operate there, which has already been called the Museum of Telephone, Museum of Telecommunications, and is now the MUSEHUM – Museum of Communications and Humanities.

Image description: This is an old photograph of a building located on a street with cobblestone sidewalks. On the left side, we see a series of historic buildings with arched windows and large doors. In the center, there is a taller building with a light-colored facade and many rectangular windows. On the right, there is another building with larger windows and a main entrance. The ground is made of bricks, and there are tram tracks running parallel to the street. At the bottom of the image, there is red text that reads "Beira Mar Exchange" and "F.T. Beira-mar-Rio".

The first installation of Ipanema, the Manual Station Seven, inaugurated in April 1919 at the beginning of Barão da Torre street; to the right and behind the building is the Cantagalo hill; to the left and in the background is the Tijuca massif, on the other side of the Rodrigo de Freitas lagoon. In June 1930 it was replaced by the new automatic station at Visconde de Pirajá street 54, where the Oi Futuro Ipanema operated and today the Oito is installed, a space for innovation and entrepreneurship for startups.

Image description: The image is an old photograph of a three-story building, located in a setting with mountains in the background. The main façade features regular windows, some of them open, and a main entrance with closed gates. In front of the building there is a low brick wall. In the bottom right corner is written "IPANEMA EXCHANGE BUILDING" and "FLB. 1920". At the bottom of the image, there is a mark reading "BOX 100" and "584".

Building under construction on General Canabarro Street 432, in Maracanã, inaugurated in September 1910.

Image description: This is an old black-and-white photograph showing a building under construction. From left to right, we see a wooden structure leaning against the building, which appears to be construction scaffolding. In the center, workers are positioned on an elevated platform, carrying out construction tasks. On the right, there is a tall palm tree. In the foreground, a horse-drawn cart is stopped, with a person standing beside it. The ground is covered with vegetation. In the lower right corner, there is an inscription that reads "No 42 Rio - June 20, 1910 Isabel Substation and Telephone Exchange."

Following are two photographs of the building where the CTB's Botafogo substation, named ‘Estação Sul’, operated; today occupied by the Public Archive of the State of Rio de Janeiro. This photo was taken still during its construction, probably in 1907. There was a kiosk installed in front. The provisional inauguration of Estação Sul took place in 1908 at Voluntários da Pátria street 20. In January 1910, the definitive station was inaugurated at Praia de Botafogo 480 (depicted in the images), with a switching table for 800 lines.

Image description: This is an old photograph of a building with classical architecture, possibly from the mid-20th century. The image shows a three-story building, built of brick, with arched windows and decorative balconies on the second floor. In front of the building, there is a horse-drawn carriage, with people standing around it. To the right, there is a mobile stall with a wooden structure and a tiled roof. The ground is paved with stone. At the bottom of the image, there is a label with handwritten text that reads "5 COPIES - BOX 'R'".

In this photograph, the South station in 1910, already without the kiosk in front.

Image description: This is a historic photograph of a building with classical architecture. The image shows a main façade with three large arched windows on the upper floor, each with a balcony decorated with metal railings. The windows are symmetrical and arranged in three horizontal rows. Below them are three arched doors, also symmetrical, with a more prominent central entrance, where two people are standing. On the right, there is a garage closed off by metal grates. The building is constructed of brick and stone, featuring ornamental details on the upper section. In the foreground, there is a sidewalk and some ornamental plants. On the left, part of another building is visible. The sky is clear, and power lines cut across the horizon.

It was a revolution. Another one, in fact, after electricity and gas. As the years and decades passed... no one could live without the telephone anymore! In those early times, advertising fulfilled a crucial role not only in the sense of convincing, but also of informing, of making citizens aware of the novelty and its possibilities. When the possibility of making long-distance calls emerged, then, the campaigns were intense. Let us look at some examples from 1928.

Image description: The image is a black-and-white advertising poster. In the center, there is an illustration of a man holding a telephone, with smoke coming out of the earpieces. Around him, there is a detailed map of communication routes, showing important cities and regions. Above the map, it reads "NÃO PERCA TEMPO TELEPHONE!" and below, "DE QUALQUER LOGAR A QUALQUER HORA PEÇA INTERURBANO". In the lower left corner, there is a logo of the "Companhia Telefônica Brasileira" with a bell inside a circle.

In this advertisement, information regarding the possibility of a connection between three states.

Image description: The image is a black-and-white illustration. On the left side, we see a man seated with his back to the camera, wearing a suit and tie. He is in front of a desk where another man, also with his back to the camera, is seated. This second man is wearing a suit and tie and appears to be reading documents. The desk has a vase of flowers and some papers on it. In the background, there is a window with closed curtains and a decorative frame. Below the illustration, there is text in Portuguese discussing the importance of the telephone in business conferences. At the bottom, there is a logo of the "Companhia Telephônica Brasileira" with a telephone depicted.

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Imagem 1 de 2: Luz – 1928 – p.27