Comments (20) (Please sign in to comment)

1. 

   SusanSunshine said, almost 2 years ago

   And … I hate to say it, but they weren’t smart.
2. 

   gmartin997 said, almost 2 years ago

   And you actually had to dial a number.
3. 

   Astute Social Observer said, almost 2 years ago

   Not quite gmartin, we had to listen for a dial tone and then dial. Cordless phones still do. What corded phones didn’t have back then, was redial and Caller ID. But they didn’t use electricity so they still worked in a power outage…
4. 

   JazzyBella said, almost 2 years ago

   Ah the old landline…gone but not forgotten.
5. 

   Colt9033 said, almost 2 years ago

   Still prefer them, they don’t need recharge.
6. 

   bibliotechnique said, almost 2 years ago

   Is this the party to whom I am speaking?
7. 

   8ball said, almost 2 years ago

   Actually, they did use electricity — just not ours. The phone switching stations take power from the local grid not only to run themselves (and all the old-style telephones they serviced) but also to charge batteries so they can keep running if the power goes out. I was working for the local power co-op when there was a bad storm with widespread, longterm outages, and one concern was the batteries in the phone stations would run out before everything was back online.
8. 

   Rockngolfer said, almost 2 years ago

   I remember phones with no dials, You would pick up the receiver and the operator would ask “Number please.”
   And the number was 4 digits.
9. 

   Citizen GROG! said, almost 2 years ago

   And no speed dial, either.
10. 

    beviek said, almost 2 years ago

    very cute!!
11. 

    exoticdoc2 said, almost 2 years ago

    And they’re the only ones.
12. 

    Vegas Viper said, almost 2 years ago

    Rockngolfer… and they were party lines
    (more than one household on one line)
13. 

    Sky1946 said, almost 2 years ago

    I remember party lines from when I was a kid. We used to listen to other people’s conversations and giggle! The way you knew the call was for you was the number of rings. We kids picked up the phone no matter how many rings and listened anyway, as I am sure other people on the party line did as well.
14. 

    dbig 1oohh said, almost 2 years ago

    I still got that old winding phone where you have to wind it up. I dust it every now and then but it’s still a good piece of art & new guest’s find it pretty cool.
15. 

    Smythe Symble said, almost 2 years ago

    I’m on a party line Wonderin’ all the time Who’s on the other end? Is she big, is she small? Is she a she at all? Who’s on my party line?
    Wish I had a more direct connection This party line was here when I arrived Which I’m not voting in the next election If they don’t do something about finding out The person who is on my party line
    KINKS – PARTY LINE – 1966 [U.K.]
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