A Very Short History Of Telephones In Portugal (2)

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A very short history of telephones A very short history of telephones in Portugalin Portugal

To speak about the To speak about the telephone industry I must telephone industry I must say something on say something on telegraph, an earlier telegraph, an earlier communication communication technology.technology.It was implemented in It was implemented in USA in 1844 and in USA in 1844 and in Portugal during the Portugal during the 1870’s. Telegraph lines 1870’s. Telegraph lines were mainly situated in were mainly situated in (and between) cities like (and between) cities like Lisbon and Oporto.Lisbon and Oporto.

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The first telephone lines began to The first telephone lines began to work since April, 24th 1882, in work since April, 24th 1882, in Lisbon, and July 1st of the same Lisbon, and July 1st of the same year in Oporto.year in Oporto.

In the two pictures at the bottom In the two pictures at the bottom line there are several girls whose line there are several girls whose work was attending subscribers work was attending subscribers and connecting them to other and connecting them to other subscribers.subscribers.

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The first company that operated in The first company that operated in Portugal was a small one from Portugal was a small one from England. The main office was in England. The main office was in London at Grosvenor street near London at Grosvenor street near Hyde Park, a famous garden. Hyde Park, a famous garden. Near only twenty subscribers had Near only twenty subscribers had demanded to have its services. demanded to have its services. They were mainly lawyers, doctors They were mainly lawyers, doctors and sea traders (now Portugal and sea traders (now Portugal have more than 10 m have more than 10 m subscribers).subscribers).A short later, that small company A short later, that small company was bought by a bigger one was bought by a bigger one named APT – Anglo-Portuguese named APT – Anglo-Portuguese Telephone, sympathetically knew Telephone, sympathetically knew as Companhia dos Telefones. The as Companhia dos Telefones. The APT had lines especially in Lisbon APT had lines especially in Lisbon and Oporto. The remain of the and Oporto. The remain of the country belonged to CTT – country belonged to CTT – Correios de Portugal.Correios de Portugal.

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One short but interesting story in those One short but interesting story in those initials years was about king D. Luís initials years was about king D. Luís the first. Someone in his family had the first. Someone in his family had died. In that time people mustn’t go to died. In that time people mustn’t go to any kind of parties for some days.any kind of parties for some days.The king was an opera’s fan (amateur) The king was an opera’s fan (amateur) and he liked to see an Portuguese and he liked to see an Portuguese opera. The telephones company opera. The telephones company switch a special line between the switch a special line between the theater and his own home.theater and his own home.In the bottom image you can see a In the bottom image you can see a draw from Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro, a draw from Rafael Bordallo Pinheiro, a well known Portuguese artist, that well known Portuguese artist, that represents the king listening the music, represents the king listening the music, perhaps with his pijamas and a night perhaps with his pijamas and a night hat in his head. The Company had put hat in his head. The Company had put seven or eight microphones at the seven or eight microphones at the theatre stage.theatre stage.

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The two images at near The two images at near right represent different right represent different moments in the life of moments in the life of history of Portuguese history of Portuguese telephones: an aerial cable telephones: an aerial cable at Terreiro do Paço (Lisboa) at Terreiro do Paço (Lisboa) and several cars belonging and several cars belonging to CTT telecommunications to CTT telecommunications (circa 1930).(circa 1930).The third picture at far right The third picture at far right remembers a switchboard remembers a switchboard that I think had belonged to that I think had belonged to the military branch.the military branch.

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These images at right These images at right seems taked by a neo-seems taked by a neo-realist (social realism) realist (social realism) photographer as I see it. photographer as I see it. Several workers are Several workers are putting a phone cable in putting a phone cable in the ground. There was a the ground. There was a big wheel with a very long big wheel with a very long cable.cable.Look at the heads of Look at the heads of those man. They use those man. They use boinasboinas, a kind of working- , a kind of working- class hats.class hats.

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The photograph above is an inside The photograph above is an inside take of a switchboard in Lisbon, in take of a switchboard in Lisbon, in the Marques buildings block, near the Marques buildings block, near Terreiro do Paço.Terreiro do Paço.The second one was a little more The second one was a little more modern switchboard, but where modern switchboard, but where work was mainly did by girls.work was mainly did by girls.

At that time those girls were At that time those girls were forbidden to have marriage forbidden to have marriage because it was a work they could because it was a work they could do by day and night.do by day and night.During 1940’s, there was a long During 1940’s, there was a long public relations campaign moved public relations campaign moved by a movement of women rights to by a movement of women rights to get the right for marriage.get the right for marriage.

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The following images, at The following images, at the right side, represents:the right side, represents:At the top, Mr. Carmona, At the top, Mr. Carmona, the president of the president of Portuguese Republic, Portuguese Republic, was doing his first call was doing his first call with a phone connected with a phone connected to an automatic to an automatic switcboard.switcboard.At the bottom, workers At the bottom, workers were changing the dial of were changing the dial of telephone because of telephone because of new automatic new automatic switchboards.switchboards.

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Here we have several Here we have several pictures with models pictures with models of old telephones and of old telephones and telephone public sites telephone public sites (cabinas).(cabinas).

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The advertising for 1930’s The advertising for 1930’s was amazing. It was a was amazing. It was a time for renewing time for renewing switchboards and a long switchboards and a long campaign had begun.campaign had begun.

Unfortunately, II World Unfortunately, II World War began at those days War began at those days and the renewal had and the renewal had been postponed until the been postponed until the end of war.end of war.

A Very Short History Of Telephones In Portugal (2)

Technology

short history of telephones

portuguese telephones

telephones company

life of history

models of old telephones

telephone lines

apt angloportuguese

dial of telephone