TIL the idea of direct-dialing a telephone number was invented by an undertaker who suspected the local switchboard operator was routing business to a competitor. Unable to prove the accusation, he decided to automate away the job of operator.

http://www.ospmag.com/issue/article/052008-Lies



Submitted April 16, 2015 at 11:13PM by Backstop http://www.reddit.com/r/todayilearned/comments/32tu7c/til_the_idea_of_directdialing_a_telephone_number/