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32 results for: Telecommunications

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Image of Seattle's first transcontinental phone call, February 25, 1927
Photograph

Seattle's first transcontinental phone call, February 25, 1927

On February 26, 1927, the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company started long-distance service between Seattle and Great Britain. Anyone with a telephone could arrange to call between 5:30 am and 10 am Pacific Coast Time, which was afternoon in Britain. The rate to London was $87.00 for the first three minutes, and $29.00 for each additional minute.In this photo, General…
ID Number:1983.10.634.1
Date:1927
Image of Seattle's first transcontinental telephone call, February 25, 1927
Photograph

Seattle's first transcontinental telephone call, February 25, 1927

On February 26, 1927, the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph Company started long-distance service between Seattle and Great Britain. Anyone with a telephone could arrange to call between 5:30 am and 10 am Pacific Coast Time, which was afternoon in Britain. The rate to London was $87.00 for the first three minutes, and $29.00 for each additional minute.In this photo, General…
ID Number:1983.10.634.2
Date:1927
Image of Telephone Building, Seattle, circa 1921
Photograph

Telephone Building, Seattle, circa 1921

The Pacific Telephone Building was constructed in 1921 at Third Avenue and Seneca Street. Here, the facade appears complete, but signs of construction can be seen near the street. Handwritten on sleeve: Telephone Bldg.Photographer's Reference Number: 86018Caption information source: "American Telephone and Telegraph Company (A, T and T), Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Company, Office Building #2, Seattle, WA," PCAD, https://pcad.lib.washington.edu/building/8827/
ID Number:1983.10.2176
Date:Circa 1921
Image of Wireless operator at the harbor, September 1921
Photograph

Wireless operator at the harbor, September 1921

The Port of Seattle was very busy during the 1920s. The harbor radio station, call letters KPE, was located on Pier 1 at the end of Yesler Way. Ships leaving or entering the harbor radioed their estimated arrival or leaving times and other messages to KPE. This helped the port control ship traffic. This photo shows a wireless radio operator…
ID Number:1983.10.2280.3
Date:1921
Image of Woman at switchboard, Seattle, circa 1922
Photograph

Woman at switchboard, Seattle, circa 1922

Today, telephone call connections are made electronically. At first, however, each connection had to be made individually by an operator at a switchboard. This was a popular job for women.In this photo, taken in the early 1920s, a Seattle telephone operator uses a telephone switchboard to connect people who've called with the people they're calling. Handwritten on sleeve: Telephone Girls…
ID Number:1983.10.2720.1
Date:Circa 1922
Image of Telephone switchboard operators, circa 1922
Photograph

Telephone switchboard operators, circa 1922

Today, telephone call connections are made electronically. At first, however, a telephone operator seated at a switchboard manually connected each local and long-distance call. Most telephone operators were women. In this photo, taken in the early 1920s, a Seattle telephone operator uses a telephone switchboard to connect people who've called with the people they're calling. Photographer's Reference Number: 95450
ID Number:1983.10.2720.2
Date:Circa 1922
Image of Radio station KFOA at Rhodes department store, 1923
Photograph

Radio station KFOA at Rhodes department store, 1923

Seattle's early radio stations were operated by individuals, churches, newspapers, and stores. Radio station KFOA was operated by Rhodes department store. Shoppers could visit the second floor of the store and watch radio broadcasting in action. KFOA was the first station in Seattle to become part of a network, the National Broadcasting Company.This photo, taken in 1923, shows performers at…
ID Number:1983.10.2984
Date:1923
Image of Young woman listening to a radio on the yacht
Photograph

Young woman listening to a radio on the yacht "Muriel," circa 1923

This fashionably dressed young woman gazes out over what is probably Seattle's Portage Bay as she listens to a radio. Radios were still quite new in the 1920s. They had two parts: a receiver which picked up the signal, and a large, trumpet-shaped speaker which made the signal loud enough to hear. The receiver was large because it operated with…
ID Number:1983.10.2985.2
Date:Circa 1923
Image of Woman listening to a radio in her living room, circa 1926
Photograph

Woman listening to a radio in her living room, circa 1926

In the early 1920s, radios were tricky machines that only an expert could operate. By 1926, they were much easier to use and came in a variety of models, some of which looked like furniture. In this photo, taken around 1926, a young Seattle woman listens to a radio in her living room. On Sundays, she could hear services from…
ID Number:1983.10.2987
Date:Circa 1926
Image of Pacific Telephone & Telegraph building, Seattle, November 17, 1927
Photograph

Pacific Telephone & Telegraph building, Seattle, November 17, 1927

The Pacific Telephone and Telegraph Building is on the northeast corner of Third Avenue and Seneca Streets. Its cornice was removed after being damaged in the 1965 earthquake. Handwritten on sleeve: Pacific Tel. Tel. Co. Bldg. Ext. 11-17-27.Photographer's Reference Number: 128143
ID Number:1983.10.3845.2
Date:1927
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