How big is your phone book??

[jymbee]

The Rhome (TX) Phone Company in 1977 had 400 customers and 3 employees. The book was pretty small. In Rhome and Decatur I always requested a party line as they were cheaper. Everybody else in town would request a private line so I was the only one on my line.

Party lines cheaper, ah yes-- hard to believe that really wasn't that long ago. Way back in the days when you waited until after 5pm or even better, after 11pm to make that long distance call to save $$$...

 

[George2615]

I remember when I was a kid we were on a party line. If a neighbor was on the line we couldn't use the phone. Of course it was a rotary dial type. There were no cell phones. We were also one of the first families to get a TV (black and white picture) and had 3 snowy channels to watch depending on which way the antenna was pointing. I don't remember how big the phone book was then but the one we have now is about 2 1/2" thick.

 

[300UGUY]

No idea. I haven't used one in years. We get 3 or 4 every year, from different companies. We throw them all out. We used to advertise in the local yellow pages, but gave it up a couple years ago - it just doesn't work anymore.

 

[teejk]

Not only do I go back that far (and I had a "2 partiy line) as late as 1977, I go back to the days of crank phones and "central switchboards" in each town.

Harry K

My grandfather was born on the boat coming from Ireland (I guess around 1900 or so). Went through all that depression stuff and lost a farm here and a farm there.

I met my wife and of course had to do the periodic family reunions (I think she has like 50+ first cousins). Speaking to her grandfather at one of them, turned out that he shared a phone line with my grandfather. Until that day nobody knew there was any link in our families. It was on a pole in the farmyard. So that Green Acres thing (great show btw) was true.

 

[mikehaugen]

ours is about 3/4" thick. I am relatively young (relative to a lot of people posting here anyway) and am all about technology and internet usage, but I still like to use the phone book. I think it is faster and more inclusive, especially having to weed out all of the national advertisers that pop up using an online yellow pages. I keep one in the garage for when I need to call somewhere and don't feel like going into the house.

 

[k0ua]

Point well taken-- and I'm the first to admit that I typically just tap a few keys to find info these days. However there's still a significant portion of the US population that is not "connected" and that do still use the phone book. A number of them who I know personally are friends and neighbors of mine.

Some interesting stats re. Internet usage here.

Good post, frankly I am a little surprised at the percentage of people not connected.

 

[MasseyWV]

I remember they were similarly fascinated with things like "party lines" as well. But hey, I doubt anyone here goes back *that* far. :laughing:

I once had a party line and hated it with a passion. My stupid neighbor wouldn't stay off the phone or eavesdropped on my calls, when I could make them.

 

[k0ua]

I once had a party line and hated it with a passion. My stupid neighbor wouldn't stay off the phone or eavesdropped on my calls, when I could make them.

We had a 10 party line when I was a kid. It is as close as you can get to not having a phone while still having one. It was darn near worthless.

 

[Ken]

Working in Central N.Mex. Our telephone line we were the 25th on the circuit. A list of those on the line was posted by phone.
You could call a rancher and he would answer from neighbors ranch . or call Dr. and have others show up faster to help if needed. Fire call was one long ring. then all listened .
Call some one who was not home someone would take massage and give them a call when they returned. Rumors could be started easy just mention some one is having visitors late at night everyone knew in the morning.
If some one break in and dials over your call just ask them to be patient about finished and they may join in the conversation.
Also everybody knew that you got a call out in the middle of the night or what time you got in .
Or the operator could correct your knowledge of events.
When Openheimer was trying to call the president before setting off the first atomic test someone had to drive to town and awake the telephone operator .
Then government told the explosion was a train of explosives had gone off . Everyone local had already learned the truth from the phone.
Better telephone communications still has not been invented..
ken

 

[MasseyWV]

someone would take massage

I could use one of those myself. Sorry, I couldn't resist. :laughing: