Tabor City tribune. (Tabor City, N.C.) 1946-1991, 1958-11-19
An Operators Honey Dipped Voice
Makes TeIephoning A ReuI Pleasure
BY AL HARRISON


friend passing through town, or
just a wrong number call.
AT any rate the tingling sound
is one of modern convenience
the telephone.
1t has in recent years remov-
ed itself from the luxury" list
and become one of the necessi-
ties of life.
Those who have phones in
their homes or places of business
are affectionately called Sub
ScriberS" in phone company
TECHNOLOGY.
Only recently the cost of this
necessity was increased in this
area serviced by Carolina Tele-
phone and Telegraph Company.
The increase brought about
normal reactions from few of the
100000 subscribers. But like all
reactions to increased cost of
living it soon dissipated itself.
Only a few subscribers called it
quits.
Using the telephone it simple
operation. One merely selects
the number, flips the dial and
within seconds the conversation
is underway.
But step behind the scenes
and the simplicity is lost in a
mesh of wires, transmitters and
thousands of small electronic
gadgctS. This is the actual mech
|anical Setup that makes possible
the conversation between two
people located at points that may
be several thousand miles apart.
+ PSobably the people most
closely associated with the sub
scriber' would be the group of
honey-voiced, calm and collect
ed young women who serve as
long-diStance telephone operat-
ors. The dial system has made
the local operator obsolete.
S"'S,;7'lis urgency detected in
their voices. Even when an
Emergency arises the operator
retains that cool, calm, honey
d. dipped voice that gives conf
dence to the caller.
In situations that would stir
the normal person to anger and
result in verbal discharge
there remains the pleasant OPP
orator who minds her manners.
She is the public representative
who links the company with the
subscriber.
But she is not without her
problems. Although she calls
them minor" ones.
Take for instance when an
inebriated soul who has painted
the town as far as the paint
would 60 and longs to hear the
Sound of a friends voice. The
friend might reside in San
Francisco and the caller might be
armed only with the name and
city he lifts the phone from it's.
cradle and dials 20" which is.
standard for securing services.
from the long distance operator.
From this point on it might
resemble a comedy of errors.
While the operator might tire Of
this ordeal and have great de-
sire to mutter get lost" she.
must by company rules and her.
love for the service she is rend-'
tering be kcenly aware of eti-.
|quette, tolerance and friendli-.
ness.
The operator handles the in
Icbriate with patience possessed
lonly by telephone operators and
school teachers. Sooner or later,
and probably sooner thaen one
ordinarily expects, the call will
be completed. What earlier look
ed like comedy of errors was
q VI
that usually gets results.
But a point to remember isl
that the caller can always find
service quicker when he is able
to provide the operator with the,
name and phone number of thcI
person he desires to reach inl
another city.
And there is a reason for this
Iexpediency when armed with the
desired number. You pick up
your phone and dial "O'. A Light
flashes on one of the boards
manned by an operator. She
plugs in the jock which she
holds in her hand anticipating al
flash on the board. She simply
responds - Operator" and the
call is underway. You give her
the name Of the desired party,
the city, and IL possible theI
number. She puts the call into
motion. Only after she gets i'll
into motion does she ask you for
your number. This movement a
lone saves time.
After your desired party is on
the line the operator advises you
of this and an electric clock
stamps the time on a small card.
When your call is completed the
light again flashes on the boardl