I was hired in 1968 to work on the Pacific Telephone & Telegraph telegraph test board in San Francisco.

We many telegraph (real morse code) circuits for various government agencies.  In fact, every test position had a key in place.  My mentor was an old timer who used the telegraph order wire to chat with other testers in various cities.

The old guys liked to do that because none of us newbies could copy their conversations.  We also supplied Western Union connectivity for the last mile on their telex service and their telegraph service.  We had many Priority circuits going all over the world.  Those were the days.

73,

Wayne WD6DZS