Posted by MoparNorm on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 2:37PM :
In Reply to: Re: About the old phone numbers ... posted by Clint Dixon on Tuesday, April 20, 2004 at 12:55PM :
That was a 'party line'. I remember mom couldn't wait to get a private line, because of the privatcy issue, seems the neighbor lady (your grandma?? ha!ha) always knew who was sick, divorced, or pregnant! ha!ha!
I think every exchange was different, some or most had rings for the number, if you were 5, then you waited for 5 rings. Or you had an exchange, When you cranked the handel you actually rang at the switch board, the operator would ask what party and you would tell her "Harry" she would stick your cord into the switch board along with Harrys cord and ring him up. A lot of operators were put out of work with the end of the party line and exchanges after direct dial came about. But a lot of folks were also put out of work at the oil lamp factory after electricity!
MN
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