Old-Timey Telephone on the Wall

Using this modern iphone is a far cry from the old telephone we had when I was growing up. John’s great uncle — a blind man — owned the telephone exchange. John’s grandfather built the switchboard for his blind brother. Now I know little about switch boards, but this one had little holes where the line had to be plugged into and the carpenter put a device above each hole so when that line rung the device would fall and by feeling, the operator would know the location to plug into. He had a rig just outside so that when a thunder cloud came up he could literally knock the wires loose from the house. Relatives of the blind men kept the lines in operation. This man was not know for paying his bills and when he died his sister stopped at a relatives house and told him they were settling the affairs and would pay the people he owed. The relative said, “And when you do, there’ll be a piano jump up in the middle of the road and play,Who in the Hell Would have ever Thought it.” They were never paid.

Anyway if this blind operator had ever talked to you he would remember your voice and would call your name when you called next. Of course, several people were on the same line and when anybody’s phone rang others would listen in to hear the news. One afternoon he was trying to reach the doctor and got no answer, but a lady picked up and Uncle said, “Mattie, do you know were the doctor is?” She answered, “No, I don’t believe I do.” Another time a local girl who was away in college tried to call her mother and he said, “Sara, your mother is over at Mrs. King’s right now — but she’ll be back in a few minutes.” What service!!!!

I well remember our ring was two shorts and a long. Today we have such a telephone hanging on the sun porch and can talk on it. Visiting children get a kick out of using that old phone and they have to be reminded to speak into the mouth piece. It rings so loud you could hear it if you were at the barn. Western Electric changed it out and the front has to be opened so the dial can be used, but I seldom use it because I can’t hear on it. It’s reminder of how it was back when with country living.

The old wall telephone