History

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Telefónica’s building on Gran Vía, Madrid, at its completion (1929)

No special celebrations marked the start or termination of its construction, but the commencement of works on 12/10/1926 is a significant date in Telefónica’s history and its termination on...

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Construction of Telefónica’s building on Gran Vía, Madrid (1926-1929)

For several months it was the highest building in Europe and for decades the highest in Madrid. Designed by the architect Ignacio Cárdenas, the building had 14 storeys, not including the tower, 88...

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Construction of Telefónica’s building on Gran Vía, Madrid (1926-1929)

For several months it was the highest building in Europe and for decades the highest in Madrid. Designed by the architect Ignacio Cárdenas, the building had 14 storeys, not including the tower, 88...

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Linesmen with façade cable (1926)

Linesmen of CTNE (Compañía Telefónica Nacional de España) working on a façade (1926).  

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Installation of long-distance lines (1925)

Linesmen of Compañía Telefónica Nacional de España installing long-distance lines (1925).  

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Underground telephone network (1926)

Underground telephone network at Puente de Toledo, Madrid (1926)    

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Cable network for automatic service (1926)

The removal of aerial cables and the networking of phone lines was a common practice in the late 1920s. Cuatro Caminos, Madrid.  

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Dismantling of cable tower (1927)

Dismantling of cable tower at the Mayor exchange, Madrid (1927). Cable networks transform cityscapes.  

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

CTNE’s mobile installations (1926)

Company employees travel by van to install cables and telephone poles.

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Preference bearer share (1925)

Preference bearer share num. 167.722, worth 500 pesetas, issued on 17 January 1925 by CTNE (Compañía Telefónica Nacional de España).  

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

First “pre-paid” telephone (tokens) (1928)

The first two telephones of this type were installed in Madrid in 1928 at the “Vienna Park” in the Retiro Park and at the “Regio” bar.

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Long-distance exchange in Santander (1926)

People gather at the shop window of Santander’s long-distance exchange where automatic telephones were on display and demonstrations of how to use them were given (1926).  

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Local switchboard at the Mayor headquarters, Madrid

Operators working at switchboards, with supervisors of the service looking on.

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Local switchboard with telephone operators (1928)

In the early years of telephony, work had to be done standing up because of the switchboards’ height. Manufacturers gradually introduced a standard size and operators were able to work sitting...

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

CTNE operator with microplast

Operator of CTNE (Compañía Telefónica Nacional de España) with microplast.      

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Telephone dial

CTNE informed the public on the use of the new terminals as an essential step in the introduction of automatic telephony.  

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting of CTNE (1926)

Annual General Shareholders’ Meeting of CTNE (Compañía Telefónica Nacional de España) (October 1926).  

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

Inauguration of telephone service with the United States (1928)

King Alfonso XIII, on one of the balconies of the building on Gran Vía, Madrid  

Wednesday, 31 december 2003

First communication between Spain and America (1928)

King Alfonso XIII, with a group of people invited to the first communication between Spain and America. The scenario was the still unfinished building on Gran Vía.