What The Daily Brief Says: Researching Telephony in Manitoba a bit. First phones in late 1870's were called Butterstamps after the dairy churns. Now we're digital and highly mobile with small devices. Yesterday was so old school, we're saying. What will those of the 22nd century think of our communications in the 21st century. What will be different in 2106?
MHSÂ Transactions: A History of the Telephone in Manitoba
(Actual excerpt)
"But progress was being made. A sure sign was the introduction of the telephone to Winnipeg in 1878.
This was the first glimpse of telephony in the entire west and it came in the form of two instruments which had been brought in by Horace McDougall, Manager of the Northwest Telegraph Company in Winnipeg.
McDougall, a telegraphic operator and electrician was the first person here to obtain the right to install or make use of the Bell patented phone. His territory as Telephone Agent included the three prairie provinces.
On March 1, 1878 Mr. McDougall rented the first two hand telephones for his own private use. He strung wire from his home at 152 Garry Street to the Telegraph Office located on the same property. Like all novelties he knew enough to set the value of his service at a stiff price. The rate was $60 a year and the few who could afford it obtained a new dignity in the community.
These early telephones were an awkward device. They were sometimes referred to as "Butter Stamps". They resembled the receivers of modern desk telephones, but were used for talking as well as listening. Users had to shift the instrument from mouth to ear and back again. There was no way of signalling the person at the other end of the line, a caller had to tap on the mouthpiece with a pencil to attract attention.
Within six months the Custom House, the Manitoba Free Press and the Railway office were proud to have interconnecting telephones in their offices.
Three years later, the city boasted of having 10 telephones on one line, which was assuredly more than any other city at that time. In addition, Winnipeg had 26 subscribers."
