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In 1973 the BBC made a series of films entitled "A Job Worth Doing", which in one programme looked at jobs in the Post Office... |
Way back in 1973, the BBC made a series of films entitled, "A Job Worth Doing". One such film followed the training of Southend apprentice Ian Talbot and Grimsby postal officer Wendy Robinson. Both 'stars' were invited to have lunch at the Post Office Tower by CHQ Public Relations Division to celebrate the completion of filming.
The Engineer's Story
[Narrator] Ian Talbot is 18 and coming to the end of his second year as a Trainee Technician Apprentice. All the apprentices like Ian are interviewed at this stage of their training to assess their work so far and to decide which particular aspect of telecommunications they should specialise in during their third and final year.
[Interviewer]...you completed the three Bletchley Courses, got a pass in all sections A, B and C.
[Mr Talbot]...there's not many jobs where you get the chance to go away for a month at a time on.
[Trainer at Bletchley] Now if you look at your dial then gents on the telephone that you've got in front of you, you 'll see that it's mounted in onto the dial mounting by the two lips at the front which are just above the bell gongs and by a bolt at the back which is holding the back part of the dial in.
[Narrator] At these Regional Training Centres the apprentices are given the chance to familiarise themselves with various examples of Post Office equipment. At first they deal with the simpler ones, later with the more complicated.
[Trainer] Anybody else got any questions?
[Mr Talbot] What's the type of action on this dial called?
[Trainer] It's a trigger action and if you get hold of the dial and wind it round, the nought round to the finger stop, and look at the action you'll see it then, operating...
[Narrator] They're also given the chance to practice the basic skills they'll need later on in their career. When they leave here these apprentices will have sufficient basic knowledge of equipment and techniques, to be able to cope with the next stage. This is the practical training they'll get in the actual places where they're going to work.
[Southend Exchange Trainer] I'd like you to check the adjustments of that relay there, the A relay in the circuit, you can see it there on the diagram. The current values you should get are on this card here. Now you operate the tester like this...
... and watch the relay to see that it operates and releases when it should do.
[Narrator] Much of the equipment in telephone exchanges is made and installed by outside contractors. It's the engineer's responsibility to test and accept it on behalf of the Post Office. This is a highly responsible job and Ian is therefore learning this aspect of his work as well as acquiring technical expertise.
[Narrator] The opportunity to get out and about (even though it may be underground) is always a popular aspect of field training. And though this is not the kind of work that Ian will be doing once he is qualified, it is nevertheless a valuable experience. Firstly, because it adds to his general knowledge of how the whole telecommunications system works and if he becomes a Technical Officer he will be expected to be versatile and have a wide background knowledge. Secondly, it also gives him an appreciation of the valuable work done by other members of the Post Office in keeping the system going, often in cramped and difficult conditions, a useful insight for someone who spends most of his time undercover in an exchange. Buzzer on Special Faults panel sounds...
"Engineers here." Operator "Can you trace a nine, double nine, junction one, please?" "Yes, can you hold on a minute please? "Yes."
[Narrator] Much of Ian's work will be concerned with telephone exchanges. Now these are highly complicated and no two are exactly alike, so, one of the most important aspects of his training is for him to familiarise himself with the equipment, learn where everything is and understand its function. As a training exercise he may well be asked to trace a call back to a subscriber. This is not so simple as it sounds, since making a call involves a number of operations in different parts of the exchange. And it's only by following every stage of the call through, that he will learn how the exchange really works. But this is not just useful training in the operation of an exchange. In an emergency, people sometimes put the phone down and forget to give the operator their name and address. So doing this job properly could could quite literally be a matter of life or death.
[Ian] Hello, the circuit you want, er... it's Southend four nine, double nine, oh. (49990)
[Operator] Four nine, double nine, oh.
[Ian] Yes.
[Operator] Right, thank you very much.
[Ian] I'll clear down in Special Faults now...
[Narrator] About a thousand new and modernised telephone exchanges are installed every year and engineers are actively involved in their construction. Ian's training here gives him the chance of learning at first hand how a modern exchange is put together, and since this work is something he might have a change of specialising in during his third year, and take up once he is trained, it also gives him the opportunity of showing that he is good at practical work as well as theory. To do this kind of job he needs to be a neat worker, nimble fingered and very accurate.
[Interviewer] What else did you do in the exchange? Did you use the automatic routiners, on maintenance?
[Ian] Yes, we did.
[Interviewer] Why do you think we use these at night?
[Ian] Well at night there's less traffic,obviously, and the faulty equipment can be traced and repaired or replaced. A docket is printed out for the faulty piece of equipment.
[Narrator] Exchanges contain thousands of items of highly sensitive and complicated equipment, which can go wrong. Obviously when it does, the telephone service can be affected. So regular maintenance is absolutely essential to keep the lines clear. During the night, when the exchange is less busy, all the essential equipment is checked automatically by machines called routiners and any faults they discover are recorded. One of the engineers most important jobs is to check these faults, locate and deal with them.
[Narrator] As his training progresses though he continues to work under supervision, Ian will be given more responsibility, since eventually he will be expected to tackle quite complicated jobs on his own. Since a logical and methodical approach to his work is very much a part of any engineers job, he must make sure that his repair work has been effective, by testing the whole circuit again.
Ian is then interviewed and asked if he has a preference for internal construction or maintenance in his third year of study.
[Narrator]...what Ian will actually do in his third year will depend upon three things, his proven ability, his personal preference and what jobs are available in his area. But whether it's construction or maintenance, what's certain is that the training and experience he's had so far will fit him for a wide range of jobs in the telecommunications field.
Listen to Ian Talbot answer a 9 99 test trace request from the operating staff. |
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Listen to Strowger selectors stepping and releasing. |
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