THERE ARE HANDY tips to be learned about voice inflection and telephone manner by thumbing through this 1940s telephone owner's manual. Some things are a little dated, such as "allow at least a minute for an answer." Do that with my numbers and you're in voice mail hell. Which is why this 1940s gem provides such a perfect snapshot of our times. Today, the only real voice you'll get for a phone call is probably one in an outsourced call centre overseas. Perhaps that's where this manual is being used today. We have operating instructions from over-sized American washing machines in the attic at home and the illustrations are just like the ones in this old telephone manual. I'm collecting snaps and scans for possible use at Pen & Pixel 2012.
Contact Sheet -- "How to make friends by telephone"