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[S. Jester]

Just something to consider if it ever gets that bad.

http://www.texashillcountry.com/Stories/RuralTelephoneSystems.htm

However, after thinking about it, I don't see how it would work without the kind of phone that don't generate its own power, like the old crank phones.



S.

[Rarick]

solar panel (Small) and batteries, heck those self recharging solar flashlites would probably give you the juice.........

[bennie]

Interesting story. Having personally experiencing mostly "party lines" from the 50's through the 70's, I can relate well.

My Great-Grandmother ran the phone service (swtchboard operator), out of her 2-room home, in Dickens, Tx from 1926 to 1951. After sundown during the week, and on Sundays, the phone line was closed.

[Moonbeam]

After sundown during the week, and on Sundays, the phone line was closed.

Hey, that as my Dad's rule, too! 

[padre29]

True, now with ham radios and grms and even things like midlands ship to shore radios you could probably figure something out that is a little more consistent.

[Yuki]

cool

[Bear]

Interesting story. Having personally experiencing mostly "party lines" from the 50's through the 70's, I can relate well.

My Great-Grandmother ran the phone service (swtchboard operator), out of her 2-room home, in Dickens, Tx from 1926 to 1951. After sundown during the week, and on Sundays, the phone line was closed.

My father told me that when a phone line finally came out to the ranch, it was a party line
for the area. There were some folks who were habitually nosy, and would listen in after it
was clear the call was not for them. The solution was simple - when you hear an eaves dropper
listening in, just switch to French. The eaves dropper would usually hang up shortly there after.

Bear

[gooch]

My uncle Dale [may he RIP] used to live in south central Missouri and was a Veterinarian.

My brother and I used to get shipped off to his house every summer for about four years. [so my folks could have a break I'd guess. ]
We would work for Uncle Dale during the day and hang out on the weekends.
He had a party line and when he wanted to get a modicum of privacy he would announce to all listening on the line "ahem hello everyone Mr So-N-so and I are going to be talking Stud Horse for the next few minutes so if that sort of stuff bothers you it might be time to hang up." He would then wait for a minute or so and continue with his conversation.
He said it usually worked like a charm and every so often he would hear the *Gasp* of one of the nosy's who was offended by the term "Stud Horse".

When the phone would ring we would count the rings. His ring was two long and two short.

Man ... that's a long time ago.