Summer 2008

Wishing you a
Simple Summer!

In This Issue...

Industry News
Internal Information
Featured Topic
Staff Spotlight
Industry Events

"Kilometers are shorter than miles.  Save gas, take
your next trip in
kilometers."
~George Carlin























































"A 'gimme' can best be defined as an agreement between two golfers, neither
of whom can putt
very well."
~Author Unknown
 

"Everything should be made as simple as possible." ~Albert Einstein

First Telephone Directory Sold

“The Telephone Directory - [Volume 1, Number 1]” believed to be the first telephone book ever printed was auctioned at Christie’s New York on June 17, 2008.  The directory was printed by O.A. Dorman for the Connecticut District Telephone Co. in November 1878 just two years after Alexander Graham Bell invented the telephone.  The phone book contained information useful to 391 subscribers within the New Haven, Connecticut, area who were obviously still learning their way around the new communication device.  There were no phone numbers printed in the Connecticut city's milestone book -- just the names of subscribers.  

The directory was expected to fetch between $30,000 and $40,000 but the slender booklet went for $170,500 after some spirited bidding by six buyers.

Contents included in this directory:
Pages 1-8: Title, directions for use of battery bell, push button, and magneto call bell phones, and guidelines for use of the district messenger (a large proportion of the first phone calls were devoted to ordering messengers) and district phone system; p. 8: printer's advertisement; pp. 9-25: alphabetical "List of Subscribers to the Telephone System of the Connecticut District Telephone Co."; pp. 26-28: advertisement for Watkin's Automatic Signal Telegraph; pp. 29-39: "Business Directory," short essays on "Progress in Electric Lighting," "The Microphone," "The Bell Telephone at the Paris Exposition," and "The Telephone Patents" (a circular letter from the president of Bell Telephone, Gardiner G. Hubbard). Inside lower wrapper: "Additional names of subscribers received too late for classification," listing 16 names.

The directory also has extensive instructions for the correct use of the telephone, including such sound advice as:

"Never take the telephone off the hook unless you wish to use it."

“You should commence the conversation by saying 'Hulloa!' When you are done talking, say 'That is all!', and the person spoken to should say 'O.K.'“

“While talking, always speak slow and distinct, and let the telephone rest lightly against your upper lip, leaving the lower lip and the jaw free."

"No subscriber will be allowed to use the wire for more than three minutes at a time, or more than twice in an hour, without first obtaining permission from the main office."

"Any person using profane or otherwise improper language, should be reported at this office immediately."

Note: An initial telephone list, consisting of a single sheet containing about 50 names, was issued in New Haven in February 1878.  As the list of telephone subscribers grew, the first directory was published in November 1878.

Christie's Auction Service

INTERNAL INFORMATION

New Clients

During the last three months, we've signed three new telephone directory publishing agreements.  We are excited to be given these opportunities.
 

Communications 1 Network, Kanawha, IA has signed an agreement for us to publish their upcoming directory. This directory publishes annually in September.

Bascom Mutual Telephone Company, Bascom, OH has signed an agreement for us to publish their upcoming directory. This directory publishes annually in August.

CP-Tel, Natchitoches, LA has signed an agreement for us to publish their upcoming directory. This directory publishes annually in January.
 

We publish 132 publications in 16 states
for over 160 companies.

If you would like a copy of our current client list, please contact us.
 

Telecom Industry Appreciation Golf Day

Please join us for the Telecom Industry Appreciation Golf Day at Wapicada Golf Club in St. Cloud on Monday, August 11, 2008.  Pinnacle is continuing the fine tradition of the annual MART Golf Day & Dinner.  For more information on registering or if you wish to sponsor a hole or contribute a prize, please contact Amy at 800.950.4301.
 

Directory Contacts Meeting

Due to the strong response we received through a recent survey, we have decided to hold a directory contacts' meeting in the spring of 2009. 

We continually look for better ways to serve you.  Our intention is to provide the telephone company staff that is involved in the directory process with the following:

·     Information on our procedures

·     An understanding of sales scheduling

·     A chance to learn what’s new in the directory publishing industry

·     More ways to promote the directory

·     A chance to simply brush up on their current knowledge of the directory process

·     And much more!
 

The meeting will be held in Bemidji with more details to come.
 

Pinnacle Contacts

Please CLICK HERE for our company contact list which will assist you in reaching Pinnacle Publishing employees.
 

FEATURED TOPIC

Pre-Sales Department

Back: Supervisor-Tracy Williams, Dawn Ambuehl & Jess Roff
Front: Shannon Miller

INDUSTRY EVENTS

Representatives from Pinnacle Publishing will be attending these industry events this quarter.  We hope to see you there.

The goal of this newsletter is to inform our telephone company clients about the “happenings” at Pinnacle Publishing.  We would appreciate any feedback you may have about this newsletter and invite your suggestions on the content.  If you wish to subscribe or unsubscribe, please reply to this e-mail message stating either “Subscribe” or “Remove” in the subject field. news@pinnaclepub.com