Evening star., 1952-12-06

Lne Olu NUMBERS SClll SUCKING IN
your head, or perhaps in little note
books?" Mr.. Davidson was asked.
We'll. the system switches you
to an operator or to a tape re-
corder, either of which will advise
that the number you dialed has
been changed. Please consult your
new directory"
The reporter tried an old "six-
pull dial number-two letters for
the exchange and four numerals.
After about 80 seconds, the trans
mitter began to groan.
Some robot which lacked the
English language was. neverthe-
less. able to make meaning clear
something was wrong, very
wrong.
For a few moments it kept re.
peating:
"Oh-o-o-o :! Oh-o-o-o-o! -
Then the dial tone came bach
on-an invitation to try again
and a hint that the system dis.
liked to groan under a burden Of
wrong numbers. Other spot checks
brought operators or the tape re.
corder on the line.
Mr.. Davidson explained thai
the memory checks on the lines
take most of the burden off the
girls on the information switch
boards. In addition, he said, the
message traffic on Saturdays anc
Sundays is relatively light.
Robots Are Quicker.
Nevertheless, another spot check
developed that the robots came or
the line faster than the informa.
ton girls at Dial No. All. care
you busy today?" one of them
was asked.
Eyes. sir!" replied the girl. II
was almost as expressive as the
groaning robot.
The change-over will produce
10 times as many combinations
for telephone numbers, allowing
for unlimited expansion and even
tual extension of the service to
Iintercity dial communications.
Many months of planning and
installation work made the quick
shift possible. Thus at zero hour
a few switches were thrown and
the job was done except for a
few loose ends.
The first calls to 60 out under
the new system were from ex-
change managers dialing their op-
Iposite numbers. After the first few
anxious moments. they were able
to exchange congratulations with
enthusiasm, Mr.. Davidson said.
Extension Gradual.
In recent months. the new six
numeral system was gradually ex-
tended to some 100000 telephones.
The conversion brings many
subscribers new exchange designa-
tions. Most phones retain the
same exchange names, with an
extra numeral inserted between
the exchange name and the old
number.
MIR. Davidson said that as far as
can be determined every sub
scriber has been furnished with
new directories. These have been
made as complete as possible.
Paper masks over the central
circle on the dial disk were
stripped off today to reveal the
new numbers.
Meanwhile, operators in the
outlying districts were having a
few problems. In Hyattsville one
girl was asked if people were get
ting their wires crossed:
Gosh, you should see this
board!" she replied.
Another, asked to ring an Oliver
2 category phone, argued firmly
there was no such exchange.
Still another reassured a caller
that he could get through to the
Maryland State Police at Waldorf
by using the old number. She
was overruled by another hello
girl who came on the line and re-
ported tartly that Waldorf 2101 is
now Midway 5-2101.
Really having trouble, huh?"
a customer asked.
I'll say" an operator replied.
After all the times people have
been told about this. they still
can't get it straight. Up to now
they've been using i've numbers
and now when they ought to use
five. THEY'VE gone hack tn foisvps