My first phone...not quite digital.

[Pappy]

Unheard of, that a young man like me should have his own phone, but I did. This was in the 40s. It reached all the way from my clubhouse to our springhouse building. The only problem was, you had to keep the string tight, so you couldn’t go to far away.

 

[Aunt Bea]

 

[moosehead]

I remember staying with my Grandmother and her phone was a "party" line. I was instructed that, if I wanted to use the phone to call any of my friends there was a good chance the phone line was going to be used.

"How come?" I asked.

"Because our phone line is shared."

"Why?"

"Because that's how it is."

"Yea, but why?"

"Eat your ice cream."

Anyway, every time I picked up the phone some lady was talking. 20 minutes later I asked the lady how long she would be talking....Pretty cheeky for an eight year old as I was told by the lady on the other end of the phone. So, I dutifully put the phone down, called my Grandmother, told her what the lady had said to me. She picked up the phone had a discussion with the lady and, miracle, I was able to call Billy across the street. My Grandmother wanted to know why I just didn't walk across the street to see Billy...… Gee....I never thought of that.....

 

[fmdog44]

First portable phone with ring tone. Back in the 50s a neighborhood kid had an empty tin band aid can with a few small rocks and he carried it around for a few days. He would shake it for the ring tone then open the lid to hear and talk. Genius!