[cyclotic]

I also remember when Bell quit charging for extra extensions and teaching myself how to wire phone lines and running several extensions at our house. I was maybe 15.

Did you know that phone lines run constant 9 volts. The voltage increases to 48 volts to cause the ringer to activate?

Did you also know that it’s not a good idea to strip the wire insulation with your teeth as the phone rings?

[crz]

“Did you also know that it’s not a good idea to strip the wire insulation with your teeth as the phone rings?”

ROF!

Nor is it a good idea to get grabbed by a two banger John Deere magneto.

[hanamizu]

“I also remember when Bell quit charging for extra extensions...”

---

Extension phones were real luxury items back in the day. My dad, who learned electronics in the Army Air Force wired and installed an ‘unauthorized’ extension phone, but had to modify it so that the phone company couldn’t detect it.

People today forget or never knew how expensive phone service used to be. A common way to get around the charges was to call yourself person-to-person collect to let your parents know that you made it safely to college or wherever.