1936 — Telephone Talk was the glossy bimonthly publication of the British Columbia Telephone Company. It was written by employees for employees to present information of interest to those engaged in the plant, traffic, commercial, operating, accounting and other departments of the service. Each issue is replete with black and white photos and information on topics such as: company, industry and technological news, traffic levels, expansion plans, personnel announcements, publicity and social events, deaths, weddings, lists of exchanges, and more. As such, these issues serve as a vital preserve of rare and fascinating British Columbia history. This volume covers topics including: Service to Japan, Hawaii and the Philippines now available; Anchors foul cable 4 times within 10 days - Burrard Inlet; Classified system will be extended to remainder of territory - includes full-page rate sheet; Company gains telephones in 1934 after 3 year decline (presumably due to the Great Depression); Company architect, Hugh D. Simpson; Our overseas service kept growing last year; Employee Sales Team Results; Statement of Development, 1 January 1935 - show # of phones per community; System suffers heaviest storm damage in history - January 1935 - 8 pages with photos; New exchange for the Albernis; John C. Miles succeeds John Johnston as Building Head; World Telephone network now includes 60 countries; Billy Palliser - champion salesman for Victoria Plant; Sechelt Company picnic; New phone system for thriving Alberni area - 4 pages with photos; Record 19,000 mile call from Vancouver to Perth, Australia; Dog's bark in Vancouver heard in Scotland; Round the world telephone talk sets record; Telephony's part in Canada's Jubilee celebration - 2 pages with photos; Parksville Exchange has Dial Unit at Qualicum Beach; Arthur R. Harness - garden awards; New switchboard handled by sightless operator - article with photos; PNE float details and photo; 2-page bio. with photo of Eugene P. LaBelle, the company's General Superintendant of Plant *MR. LABELLE'S NAME IS STAMPED ON THIS COPY*; Carrier circuits established between Vancouver and Calgary; Number of phones increased last year; Miss Elizabeth Murray, Vancouver's first chief operator, dies; New radio stations established; Fraser telephone building remodelled; Conference calls link Canadian cities by long distance (!); Operator school reopened; George E. Pittendrigh of Cloverdale, BC - installed Vancouver's first telephones; Telephone folks to the rescue; New Long Distance developments embrace Howe Sound Points; Key to Safety on the Job; New radio link serves Quesnel and adjacent mining area; Vancouver's first emergency phone calls; Newcastle Island Picnic; C.A. (Charlie) Price - Queer theories prove that people read the 'Yellow Pages"; James Welsh - our first formen; Article on the challenges of information operators; Seymour operating room photo; Mr. W.F. Salsbury - helped pave the way for our present telephone system; *CARICATURE OF E.P. LABELLE* and other company executives; Vancouver Arena fire damage quickly repaired; PNE float photo and details; Long Distance developments this year; Dominion Telephone organization meets in Victoria; Ex-policeman Ernest A. Harris recalls use of telephone in 1891; Monte Butler wins more rowing laurels; and more. Average wear. Ink stamp of company executive E.P. LaBelle upon fore- and top edges, and inside front board, else unmarked. Half-leather binding intact. Backstrip loose along front edge. Book
