I remember the good old days when Ma Bell wouldn't allow you to attach an answering machine or a fax machine or a computer modem to your telephone connection.
But like I said Bell did have some problems and that was one of them. But then again these days you better make certain you either buy a maintenance contract or know enough to trouble shoot the wiring in your home. If you don't and your side is the problem Bell bills you for the call. LOL They had to catch you first. A spare phone was the easiest to catch. A guy on Test Board could measure the line and read two phones UNLESS you disconnected one of the phones ringers.
I like going aroud to thrift stores and buying Western Electric touch tone phones. Those things last nearly forever.
why was that? didn't that kinda defeat the purpose of having phone service for some?
no fax, answering machine or modem??? that makes no sense...
Well the reason for that was because you had cheap phone service that was made up by the little nickel and dime leasing services.