In the United States of America, Mary Moore was the first national
voice of the Bell System's standardized speaking clock and also
provided the voice behind many telephone company recordings on
equipment manufactured by Audichron.Moore's voice was often recognized
for the distinctive two-syllable pronunciations of 9 ("NY-un") and 5
("FY-vuh"). This was a requirement of telephone operators at the time,
because "nine" and "five" can sound very similar on a poor-quality
line.Prior to Moore's recordings and Audichron equipment, an operator
stationed in a booth would await the glow of a signal lamp, indicating
that a subscriber had dialed the service; she (or, sometimes, he)
would then announce the time at 10-second intervals until the lamp was
extinguished. Callers reaching a disconnected number would be informed
by the operator personally. Moore had one of these reading jobs
herself before she was formally recorded.
voice of the Bell System's standardized speaking clock and also
provided the voice behind many telephone company recordings on
equipment manufactured by Audichron.Moore's voice was often recognized
for the distinctive two-syllable pronunciations of 9 ("NY-un") and 5
("FY-vuh"). This was a requirement of telephone operators at the time,
because "nine" and "five" can sound very similar on a poor-quality
line.Prior to Moore's recordings and Audichron equipment, an operator
stationed in a booth would await the glow of a signal lamp, indicating
that a subscriber had dialed the service; she (or, sometimes, he)
would then announce the time at 10-second intervals until the lamp was
extinguished. Callers reaching a disconnected number would be informed
by the operator personally. Moore had one of these reading jobs
herself before she was formally recorded.
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