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PICKERING BROOK MANUAL TELEPHONE EXCHANGE Research by Gordon Freegard
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The first manual Telephone Exchange was set up in Ted Davey's home at 265 Pickering Brook Road. It was in the front room which was also contained the local School Tuckshop. Laural Roads (now Gava) left school at 14 to work for her sister Mavis, (Mrs. Ted Davey) and operate the exchange. She did this till she turned 21 when she married Bruno Gava. There were about 69 subscribers and some others on party lines. Phone call costs were one penny for local calls and four pence for Trunk calls. Country calls were dearer depending upon distance.
In 2008 Laural remembers the telephone numbers for Pickering Brook Residents between 1952 - 1959 were as follows: |
THE MANUAL TELEPHONE EXCHANGE
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1. MAZZARDIS V.
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19. MARCHETTI C.
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37. |
55.
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Most of these numbers are the same today but now have 9293 8 --- in front of them. A code system was devised for the neighbouring communities. |
Recently the Pickering Brook Heritage Group was able to purchase an old telephone exchange switchboard that is very similar to the one that was originally used. It is now proudly on display at the Heritage Park.
LAURAL ROADS (NOW GAVA) WHO OPERATED THE TELEPHONE EXCHANGE FOR 7 YEARS #2
This exchange continued until the Automatic Telephone Exchange was built by the Post Master General's Department (P.M.G.) further along Pickering Brook Road opposite the School and next to what used to be the Old Nursing Sisters Post. |
OLD TELEPHONE SWITCHBOARD SIMILAR TO THE ONE THAT WAS USED IN PICKERING BROOK #3
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Reference: Article: Gordon Freegard Image: 1 , 3 Gordon Freegard
Copyright : Gordon Freegard 2008-2020
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