[MayflowerMadam]

I never heard that bobby pin work-around thing before. (How many people now even know what bobby pins are?)

[GingisK]

I don’t think such a thing would work. The coin that dropped into a slot would strike a chime depending on the coin’s denomination. That audio signal went to the central office to start the phone service. The dial tone had to be present in order for the coin drop to work.