When I was a child, our ring was two rings and a short, and our phone number was 523. When one picked up the receiver, the operator would say ‘’Number please’’. Later on it was changed to Mercury 4-7972 after we got dial phones. <><me
We had a party line when we first moved to Anaheim in 1955. It was several years before we had a private line. It took us kids that long to figure out who our other “party” was.
Two of my friends were on the same line and could hear each other’s rings. I would call one and the other would chime in so we could have a "conference"call way back in the 50’s.
Holy cow Gray, your grandparents had one! We had one when we were first married! Of course, we weren’t using candles to read by and heating the house with wood, so I guess were were enjoying some level of technology…
We had one in 1964 in CT (I was 5). We also only had to dial (literally) 4 numbers as long as we were dialing within the exchange. But then we had a milk man who delivered milk every morning, he would leave it in the milk box, which was a box built into the sidewall of the house. We used to use it to get in if we forgot our key (only little kids fit)….and a “soda pop” guy who brought cases of glass bottle of soda to our order once a week.
Hey… I have an ice box against the wall opposite where I am sitting. It’s made of oak and it is only about 10 feet away! Of course, today we use it mostly as a liquor cabinet for extra bottles of bourbon, scotch, and Jack Daniels; however, if we wanted to get a block of ice, it would keep the booze cold! It even has a back access door to the outside so the iceman doesn’t even have to enter the house!
As far as lighting the buggy, after the 1880s, we were using acetylene or oil. The acetylene had much better wind resistance…
BE THIS GUY over 8 years ago
Gray’s son remembers Communists?
Egrayjames over 8 years ago
Our line was two rings…phone number was NOrmandy 9-5946. My wife said her number we OLiver x-xxxx.
awdunn2484 over 8 years ago
When I was a child, our ring was two rings and a short, and our phone number was 523. When one picked up the receiver, the operator would say ‘’Number please’’. Later on it was changed to Mercury 4-7972 after we got dial phones. <><me
Dkram over 8 years ago
We started with an eight party line back in the early 60s.Later on it became a four line, then two.We’ve had private line for forty or so years..\\//_
JanLC over 8 years ago
We had a party line when we first moved to Anaheim in 1955. It was several years before we had a private line. It took us kids that long to figure out who our other “party” was.
JaneCl over 8 years ago
Two of my friends were on the same line and could hear each other’s rings. I would call one and the other would chime in so we could have a "conference"call way back in the 50’s.
Comic Minister Premium Member over 8 years ago
Hee hee hee!
neverenoughgold over 8 years ago
Holy cow Gray, your grandparents had one! We had one when we were first married! Of course, we weren’t using candles to read by and heating the house with wood, so I guess were were enjoying some level of technology…
Grace Premium Member over 8 years ago
We had one in 1964 in CT (I was 5). We also only had to dial (literally) 4 numbers as long as we were dialing within the exchange. But then we had a milk man who delivered milk every morning, he would leave it in the milk box, which was a box built into the sidewall of the house. We used to use it to get in if we forgot our key (only little kids fit)….and a “soda pop” guy who brought cases of glass bottle of soda to our order once a week.
Oy, I’m old.
neverenoughgold over 8 years ago
Hey… I have an ice box against the wall opposite where I am sitting. It’s made of oak and it is only about 10 feet away! Of course, today we use it mostly as a liquor cabinet for extra bottles of bourbon, scotch, and Jack Daniels; however, if we wanted to get a block of ice, it would keep the booze cold! It even has a back access door to the outside so the iceman doesn’t even have to enter the house!
As far as lighting the buggy, after the 1880s, we were using acetylene or oil. The acetylene had much better wind resistance…