THG-Subscribers ?

To call a Subscriber on ...

Local code cards (like the one opposite) were first kept in the slide out drawer of the black bakelite 300 series dial telephones.

The THG would like to create a database of these old codes, so if you have an old telephone, please check the slide out drawer

The A5599 code card (July 1961) that was designed to fit into the drawer of a 300 type telephone, had the wording
" TO CALL A SUBSCRIBER ON"
(named ) exchange, dial the number you require.

But just what do you call a SUBSCRIBER ?

The dictionary definitions are:

A person who subscribes. (subscribe- to contribute a specified sum)
A person paying for the hire of a telephone line.

While 'a customer is a person who buys goods or services from a business'

Subscribers become Customers
(This article appeared in the Post Office Telecommunications Journal, Summer 1959) Telephone "subscribers" are now known as "customers", according to the Postmaster General's wishes expressed when he announced the new Friendly Telephone Policy-referred to in our leader-in the Commons at a Press Conference on March 11th. Telephone Managers held conferences for the Press in their own Areas. As well as sending signed copies of booklets outlining the policy to all grades in the telephone service Mr Marples tape-recorded a personal message to all operators, to which they could listen by ringing a special number. Posters summarising the objects of the service were put up in all exchanges, and a special edition of the JPC wall newspaper, Post Office Press, were posted throughout the country. In his recorded talk the PMG emphasised that telephonists had always given a "jolly good service" and pointed out that when ordinary calls are dialled "you will be left with the difficult calls. You will have to cope with people who need help. You will have to tackle angry people and frustrated people. Now, not only must we be efficient and friendly, we must be 'seen' to be efficient and friendly..." "We are giving you greater freedom to vary standard expressions... and if you do alter (them) please do be careful not too sound too familiar or un-businesslike. It is really a question of the right balance, and we shall rely on your discretion to please the customer." Replying to a Parliamentary question, the Postmaster General said on March 26th that the cost of publicising the Friendly Telephone did not exceed £1,500. ~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~~
A THG 'subscriber' quotes: " THG members put a lot of effort into preserving the physical apparatus of telecommunications, but I wish they thought more about the intangibles, such things as operating procedures and nomenclature. ......................Where the provider of a service owes a special duty of care, this is marked by a special name for the user of the service; such as, doctor's 'patient' or the solicitor's 'client'."
It is certainly a pity that the potential for fostering the goodwill which existed in the word 'subscriber' has been lost. Indeed, in today's busy modern world, first name terms are often used in an attempt to promote an even more friendly service, usually at the cost some respect and credibility. The customer is always right, but subscribers could be mistaken, maybe that was their downfall ?
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