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
[...band of mischevous brothers...]
They (the band) would have liked my Dad. He's going to be 90 this weekend. Burned the schoolhouse down by putting a cartridge into the furnace. Used to shoot people in the arse with a pea shooter. A real character.