What’s New

On occasion (or when we have time), we will add or change something here at Telephone World. Here is a listing of significant changes.

Phil McCarter’s collection to be preserved at new museum in Denver

March 14, 2025
March 14, 2025 - Long time telephone collector Phil McCarter of Salem, OR (also known as SXSPhil) is donating his entire collection of telephone and switching equipment to the Connections Museum. Most fans of telephony know of the awesome museum in Seattle, WA with their collection of switching equipment (Panel, #1XB, #5XB, DMS-10, 3ESS, etc.) and how much they are preserving telephone history for the next generation. Phil has worked a deal with the Connections Museum in Denver to house his collection of switching equipment (including one of the two fully functioning #3XB switches in the country) in a new building in Denver.
Phil posted the following to several groups on Facebook this week about the news:
"For the few that has heard the news, The connections museum will be opening up a Denver CO location.
All of my switching and phones will be relocated there. For those that want to know why I'm letting go of my collection is as following. @ 2+ years ago, I almost died, I have not recovered 100 % close but not all the way, for 40+ years I've had serious knee troubles thanks to High school staff, I was injured during P E and it was not properly dealt with. It's becoming difficult for me to take care of a large property with lots of buildings and yard to maintain, and my Wife wants to move. at 60+ it's time to let go.
Now it will be saved and not sold off 1 item at time or scraped. Yes, I'm sad to let it go but I also happy to see it move to a public location and live on longer. Thanks to all who has seen it and enjoyed it. As of May 1st, we start to take it apart, so if anyone wants to see it you have until then. I live 5 miles east of I-5 south of Salem Oregon, the connections group are looking for volunteers to help, Contact the if you want to help. Phil"
Sarah at the Connections Museum in Seattle announced it in a video a few days ago:

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A Visit to the Ellsworth Telephone Museum – October 2024

November 9, 2024

In October 2024, I had the opportunity to visit The Telephone Museum in Ellsworth, Maine. This museum had so much to see! It features many different kinds of telephones, manual cordboards, several Step by Step switches, several All-Relay switches - and finally an entire #3 crossbar switch and a partial #5 crossbar switch. This is a place that a telephone enthusiast must visit at least once in their life. There is a long write-up on my visit, plenty of photos, and also plenty of videos! Please visit the Ellsworth, ME Telephone Museum section

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Preserving a #5ESS Switch for Posterity

June 19, 2023

In June 2023, Telephone World was invited to participate in preserving a small #5ESS switch at a rural telephone company for posterity. This was no small feat as you can imagine! Check out the Preserving a #5ESS Switch for all the details and a TON of pictures!

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The Beginning of the End of AT&T Operators Started in 1992

October 4, 2021

It's hard to imagine almost 30 years ago that the first Interactive Voice Response (IVR) systems were coming online to eventually replace operators. In fact, AT&T no longer has an operators. At all! They got rid of them several years ago. This video came out in October 2021, but it was recorded back in 1992. So take a look to see the beginning of the end.

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New Section – Various Virginia Telephone Recordings

May 24, 2021

Thanks to a contribution from a visitor, we have a new section - Various Virginia Telephone Recordings! Check it out!

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The UK Speaking Clock

April 27, 2021

A great video on the UK Speaking Clock and its history.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uVeMNrwRO-A

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The Old Days -Talkable Busy Signals

April 6, 2021

Evan Doorbell is mentioned in an article about talkable busy signals back in the old days where impromptu conferences were found.

https://onezero.medium.com/the-prototype-for-clubhouse-is-40-years-old-and-it-was-built-by-phone-hackers-71389d117cad

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Site Updates – January 2021

January 31, 2021

We've just completed our move to the new site. We're making updates and additions as we go!

Many more things will be added to the site as we go along. I've been keeping a lot of things in storage waiting to develop a new site to hold them all. That time is just about here.

Enjoy the new site!

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Site Updates – November 2020

December 13, 2020

Some updates to the site as we continue our transition from our old site to this one:

The pages for Cellular Phone History have been completed. The section discusses pre-cellular (with MTS and IMTS), AMPS, 2G, 3G, 4G and now 5G.

Check out the section at the Cellular Phone History section page.

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Site updates – August 2020

August 22, 2020

Progress is being made with site updates, migrating the old site to the new one, and also adding new content.

Updates include the Links of Interest page and the Stories pages.

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Website (re)construction in progress

August 16, 2020

Welcome to the new Telephone World! We are making a brand new site from scratch. If you were a user at the old site, you'll see most of that site being recreated here, and new things added. LOTS of updates need to be made!  So hold tight while the old site is being migrated over, page by page! Thanks!

 

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