History: NJ Bell Wartime Advertisement (1943)

The 2 Dec 1943 edition of The Matawan Journal included this advertisement encouraging telephone customers to avoid using long distance service in the evenings while American soldiers fighting the Second World War might be trying to call home from the war zone.

NJ Bell Telephone Co advertisement, 2 December 1943

Help Him Get A Line to Home

About the only time he can get to the telephone is a few short hours in the evening. That's when thousands of other boys in the camps want to use Long Distance, too.

Any time you are not on the lines, there's a better chance for a soldier's call to get through. Save those hours for the service men.

So unless it's urgent, we hope you won't be using Long Distance from 7 to 10 o'clock at night. 

NEW JERSEY BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY