We had a party line. You would have to check if someone was on the line before you could use it.
It cost less than a private line.
As time went on, more and more people opted for the private line, since your neighbors could become very skillful eavesdroppers on your personal business.
We were the last ones on our party line, and it took the telephone company about 10 years before they figured it out.
We essentially had a private line for the party line price.
“And here’s the Princess telephone..”
I still have my Princess phone. It is yellow.
I remember everything. Party lines, letters used, operators, etc;etc.
Lordy! Lordy! I am as old as the hills.
I sold many Princess phones and Ericofons.