Hmmmm. How did these bad kids get hold of a "shocking machine"? Are you talking about a phone? Phones used to have a crank. I would like to know what kind of power goes through the crank generator.
It was probably an early 'phone. I remember hearing these stories, from another generation, when I was just a kid ... and all I remember is how they laughed about their "shocking machine" and the iron bedsteads. [It was a band of mischievous brothers in action]. LOL