Controllers Collection

Telephone bureau exchange, 1889
Telephone bureau exchange. 19th-century artwork of woman operating the exchange at a telephone bureau. They are using receivers to listen to incoming calls and using the wires

Mr. Hoover, left and Mr. Clynes, right. Food Controllers respectively for England and America during World War I
2638486 Mr. Hoover, left and Mr. Clynes, right. Food Controllers respectively for England and America during World War I, seen here in 1917. Herbert Clark Hoover , 1874 -1964

Inside the Control Tower, Croydon Airport Date: 1930s

Tram Construction at Belfast, Controllers Ready for Cars
Tram Construction at Belfast, Controllers Ready forCars - a view of control boxes upright, one is open, inside. (Location: Northern Ireland: County Antrim: Belfast). Date: circa early 1900s

Tram Construction at Belfast, Fitting and Adjusting Controllers - a view of a man inside working at a control box for trams. (Location: Northern Ireland: County Antrim: Belfast)

Air Traffic Controllers in the control tower at Croydon Airport are in constant telephonic touch with aeroplanes in flight Date: 1927

Apollo 15 moon landing mission control. View of the Mission Operations Control Room (MOCR) in the Mission Control Center (MCC) at NASAs Johnson Space Center, Houston, Texas

Berlin Airlift air traffic control, 1948 C016 / 4231
Berlin Airlift air traffic control. United States Air Force (USAF) personnel operating radios for air traffic control in 1948 during the Berlin Airlift (1948-9)

Telephone switchboard exchange, 1893
Telephone switchboard exchange. 19th-century artwork of woman operating the exchange at a telephone bureau. They are using receivers to listen to incoming calls and using the wires

Apollo 11 officials celebrating, 1969
Apollo 11 officials celebrating. NASA and Manned Spacecraft Center (MSC) officials and controllers celebrating the safe return of the Apollo 11 mission to the Moon

Railway network control room. Operators using computers to control a railway network shown on the large screen. This is a control room of Russian Railways (RZD)

Amateur Traffic Cops
Beware of amateur traffic controllers... they are seldom competent to act in an emergency

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Controllers have played a pivotal role in shaping the world we live in today. From the early days of telephone bureau exchanges in 1889 to the modern air traffic control towers, their expertise has ensured smooth communication and safe transportation. Inside the Control Tower at Croydon Airport, controllers diligently monitored incoming and outgoing flights, guiding pilots through the skies with precision and care. Similarly, during tram construction in Belfast, they were ready to ensure that cars ran smoothly along their tracks, fitting and adjusting controls as necessary. The significance extended beyond terrestrial boundaries. In Apollo 15's moon landing mission control room, these experts meticulously guided astronauts on their historic journey. The tension was palpable as they watched over every detail from liftoff to touchdown. During Queen Elizabeth I's funeral procession captured in a colored engraving, it is evident that even centuries ago, controllers played a crucial role in organizing events of national importance. Their meticulous planning ensured that everything unfolded flawlessly. In Berlin Airlift's air traffic control center of 1948, controllers orchestrated an unprecedented humanitarian effort with precision and efficiency. They managed countless aircraft arrivals and departures while ensuring supplies reached those who needed them most. Telecommunication also owes its development to dedicated individuals manning switchboard exchanges like the one depicted in 1893. These operators connected people across long distances before automated systems took over. Controllers' contributions were not limited to aviation or telecommunications alone; they also had a hand in monumental moments such as Apollo 11 officials celebrating mankind's first steps on the moon in 1969. Their guidance helped make this extraordinary achievement possible. Even railway networks relied on control rooms where diligent professionals coordinated train movements for efficient transportation across vast territories. From humble beginnings at telephone bureaus to controlling complex operations during space missions or managing bustling airports –they have been instrumental throughout history. Their dedication ensures our safety and facilitates seamless connectivity worldwide.