OT- old technology

Hey Scott,

Have you ever seen a phone with a crank on it? My aunt in Chauncey used to
have one until 1969 when they added the little Chauncey exchange to the
Claremont (dial) exchange. It looked a lot like a regular Automatic
Electric phone, but it had a crank where the dial would be.

The advertising for the Jitterbug cell phone reminds me of that. They have
simplified the phone down to just dialing, and in one case, not even that.
What's next, a crank on a cell phone?

--
Charles of Schaumburg

"n5hsr" <n5hsr@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:XomdnV9FLOu2LPjYnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@comcast.com...[color=blue]
> Hey Scott,
>
> Have you ever seen a phone with a crank on it? My aunt in Chauncey used
> to have one until 1969 when they added the little Chauncey exchange to the
> Claremont (dial) exchange. It looked a lot like a regular Automatic
> Electric phone, but it had a crank where the dial would be.
>
> The advertising for the Jitterbug cell phone reminds me of that. They
> have simplified the phone down to just dialing, and in one case, not even
> that. What's next, a crank on a cell phone?
>
> --
> Charles of Schaumburg
>[/color]

PS. If they ever put a crank on a cell phone, I'll get my phone number
changed to 7 F 22. That used to be my grandad's phone number prior to going
to dial sometime between 1954 and 1963. The trick is knowing which operator
to call . . .

Charles of Shaumburg

"n5hsr" <n5hsr@comcast.net> wrote in message
news:XomdnV9FLOu2LPjYnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@comcast.com...[color=blue]
> Hey Scott,
>
> Have you ever seen a phone with a crank on it? My aunt in Chauncey used
> to have one until 1969 when they added the little Chauncey exchange to the
> Claremont (dial) exchange. It looked a lot like a regular Automatic
> Electric phone, but it had a crank where the dial would be.
>
> The advertising for the Jitterbug cell phone reminds me of that. They
> have simplified the phone down to just dialing, and in one case, not even
> that. What's next, a crank on a cell phone?
>
> --
> Charles of Schaumburg[/color]

Why not? We have Crank radios and Crank flashlights!

Also, people would probably have to limit calls to 5-10 minutes.

Of course, you'll get some idiot Soccer Mom trying to crank her phone up
While she's talking AND driving with 8 screaming kids in the SUV...

Wait! A soccer Mom wouldn't do that! Make that the driver of a Prius with a
Peace sign on it!

Hachirokuãƒ?ãƒ?ãƒ*ク wrote:[color=blue]
> Why not? We have Crank radios and Crank flashlights![/color]

We also have crank-phone-chargers, so its getting close.

n5hsr wrote:[color=blue]
> Hey Scott,
>
> Have you ever seen a phone with a crank on it? My aunt in Chauncey used to
> have one until 1969 when they added the little Chauncey exchange to the
> Claremont (dial) exchange. It looked a lot like a regular Automatic
> Electric phone, but it had a crank where the dial would be.
>
> The advertising for the Jitterbug cell phone reminds me of that. They have
> simplified the phone down to just dialing, and in one case, not even that.
> What's next, a crank on a cell phone?
>
> --
> Charles of Schaumburg[/color]

When I was a mere lad in the 1940's we had a phone with no dial. A two
party line. If the aother party was using the phone you could listen
in. They could listen to you if you were on the line. When you picked
up the phone you would hear "operator" you would tell her what number
you wanted. Our number was "East Boston 7 0407M. Never forgot it.
Ron

"ronbon" <n877@msn.com> wrote in message
news:1164330854.881735.5680@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
[color=blue]
>
> When I was a mere lad in the 1940's we had a phone with no dial. A two
> party line. If the aother party was using the phone you could listen
> in. They could listen to you if you were on the line. When you picked
> up the phone you would hear "operator" you would tell her what number
> you wanted. Our number was "East Boston 7 0407M. Never forgot it.
> Ron[/color]

I lived in town as a kid (50's) and we had a private phone line, but some
friends lived out in the country, & they had party lines. Several homes'
phones were on the same line, & each home's phone had its own distinctive
ring - sort of Morse Code-like. If you picked up the phone to make a call &
someone else on the party line was already on it, you'd obviously pick up in
the middle of their conversation. Some people would hang up right away,
others wouldn't... And if the other people were on for a long time, most
peopke would finally ask them to please wind up their call soon, to free up
the line.

Cathy

"Cathy F." <clfr@adelphiadot.net> wrote in message
news:AaSdnXSMmv1r1_vYnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@giganews.com...[color=blue]
>
> "ronbon" <n877@msn.com> wrote in message
> news:1164330854.881735.5680@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...
>[color=green]
>>
>> When I was a mere lad in the 1940's we had a phone with no dial. A two
>> party line. If the aother party was using the phone you could listen
>> in. They could listen to you if you were on the line. When you picked
>> up the phone you would hear "operator" you would tell her what number
>> you wanted. Our number was "East Boston 7 0407M. Never forgot it.
>> Ron[/color]
>
> I lived in town as a kid (50's) and we had a private phone line, but some
> friends lived out in the country, & they had party lines. Several homes'
> phones were on the same line, & each home's phone had its own distinctive
> ring - sort of Morse Code-like. If you picked up the phone to make a call
> & someone else on the party line was already on it, you'd obviously pick
> up in the middle of their conversation. Some people would hang up right
> away, others wouldn't... And if the other people were on for a long time,
> most peopke would finally ask them to please wind up their call soon, to
> free up the line.
>
> Cathy[/color]

As recently as the early 1960s, I knew a fellow in Fillmore, CA. When you
called long distance, you got a Fillmore operator and asked for the number,
which I recall as 247J. Yes, J on the end.
The operator knew everyone in town and obviously all their activities as
well, because I called once and asked for 247J, and the operator sensing
from my voice that I was young, asked "Do you want Tom? "(the son of the
family). "Yes, please" I said. "Well, Tom's not home now, I think he's down
at Henry's cafe for lunch....want me to ring him there?" She plugged in
Henry's Cafe's number and sure enough, Tom was there. I laughed the rest
of the day.

"ronbon" <n877@msn.com> wrote in message
news:1164330854.881735.5680@j44g2000cwa.googlegroups.com...[color=blue]
>
> n5hsr wrote:[color=green]
>> Hey Scott,
>>
>> Have you ever seen a phone with a crank on it? My aunt in Chauncey used
>> to
>> have one until 1969 when they added the little Chauncey exchange to the
>> Claremont (dial) exchange. It looked a lot like a regular Automatic
>> Electric phone, but it had a crank where the dial would be.
>>
>> The advertising for the Jitterbug cell phone reminds me of that. They
>> have
>> simplified the phone down to just dialing, and in one case, not even
>> that.
>> What's next, a crank on a cell phone?
>>
>> --
>> Charles of Schaumburg[/color]
>
> When I was a mere lad in the 1940's we had a phone with no dial. A two
> party line. If the aother party was using the phone you could listen
> in. They could listen to you if you were on the line. When you picked
> up the phone you would hear "operator" you would tell her what number
> you wanted. Our number was "East Boston 7 0407M. Never forgot it.
> Ron
>[/color]

Well, my aunt had Chauncy 11F13 until 1969, then she was 869-2490 until
Uncle Russell died.

Charles of Schaumburg

n5hsr, 11/23/2006, 9:34:57 AM,
<XomdnV9FLOu2LPjYnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@comcast.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> What's next, a crank on a cell phone?[/color]

I am one of the few people remaining in America that does not have a
cellular phone. I hate those damned things, especially the behavior of
90% of those who use them.

My cell phone peeves:
-- obnoxious rings during meetings
-- hogging traffic lanes while yakking
-- dropping a face-to-face conversation to answer the phone
-- constant text messaging
-- exorbitant prices of hardware and service

No, I don't propose a ban on cell phones, but cell phone etiquette
training and testing for a license would be a good idea.

--
"I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree
with them." ~ George Bush

badgolferman wrote:[color=blue]
> My cell phone peeves:
> -- obnoxious rings during meetings[/color]

Should be turned to silent, or off.
[color=blue]
> -- hogging traffic lanes while yakking[/color]

Agreed.
[color=blue]
> -- dropping a face-to-face conversation to answer the phone[/color]

Generally if Im having a conversation with someone worth talking to I
switch mine off before i start talking to them but there are times when
youre waiting for an important call and need to pause the current
unimportant conversation.
[color=blue]
> -- constant text messaging[/color]

Its a very easy and fast way of staying in touch with friends and
familty - something not enough people do so to facilitate it is only
good in my opinion. Calling people can be too involved and.....
[color=blue]
> -- exorbitant prices of hardware and service[/color]

cause texting to be cheaper and quicker.

Some people would argue that it is the norm now and therefore you are
the one expecting too much. I'm sitting on the fence. :-)

"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:xn0eu3l1kd4yfxg007@news.readfreenews.net...[color=blue]
> n5hsr, 11/23/2006, 9:34:57 AM,
> <XomdnV9FLOu2LPjYnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@comcast.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>> What's next, a crank on a cell phone?[/color]
>
> I am one of the few people remaining in America that does not have a
> cellular phone. I hate those damned things, especially the behavior of
> 90% of those who use them.[/color]

I resisted one until about 3 years ago. But I finally got one mainly for
use at work (school). There are phones in the classrooms, but they are
presently set up as intercoms, not as outside lines. It can be a royal PITA
to find a free outside line to use to call a parent, make a dentist appt.,
etc. Having a cell phone, I can be right at my own desk while the class is
at lunch or at a special (Art, Music, etc.), & I don't have to cart my
planbook &/or gradebook around while traipsing around the building trying to
find a phone that's free.

Also good - makes it easier than finding a pay phone - if running behind
schedule on trips - to let people at other end know you're running late, so
they're not inconvenienced, & don't worry. I was coming up on the train
from NYC w/ my niece - by the time we reached Albany were running an hour
behind, due to a snowstorm. This way could easily call my sister & let her
know to wait a good hour before starting out for the station where she was
going to pick niece/daughter up.

I agree w/ the peeves.

Cathy

[color=blue]
>
> My cell phone peeves:
> -- obnoxious rings during meetings
> -- hogging traffic lanes while yakking
> -- dropping a face-to-face conversation to answer the phone
> -- constant text messaging
> -- exorbitant prices of hardware and service
>
> No, I don't propose a ban on cell phones, but cell phone etiquette
> training and testing for a license would be a good idea.
>
> --
> "I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree
> with them." ~ George Bush[/color]

In article <xn0eu3l1kd4yfxg007@news.readfreenews.net>,
"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote:
[color=blue]
> n5hsr, 11/23/2006, 9:34:57 AM,
> <XomdnV9FLOu2LPjYnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@comcast.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
> > What's next, a crank on a cell phone?[/color]
>
> I am one of the few people remaining in America that does not have a
> cellular phone. I hate those damned things, especially the behavior of
> 90% of those who use them.
>
> My cell phone peeves:
> -- obnoxious rings during meetings
> -- hogging traffic lanes while yakking
> -- dropping a face-to-face conversation to answer the phone
> -- constant text messaging
> -- exorbitant prices of hardware and service
>
> No, I don't propose a ban on cell phones, but cell phone etiquette
> training and testing for a license would be a good idea.[/color]

I have a cell phone, but I've self limited to 60 minutes per month. I
never reach max.

A simple solution to the cell phone glut is do away with minute
packages. In other words, charge by the minute only and not sell
packages that include 1000 hours per month ect. People will then watch
more closely as to what foolish calls they think they need to make on
their cell phones.

I was in the doctors office once waiting to get a lab test. They called
a guy who was talking on his cell phone in the waiting room, well when
he was called he kept right on yaking into the lab. Next time I was
there perhaps a couple months later they had a big sign on the door, NO
CELL PHONES! I'm seeing these signs more often. Around here you can
get a ticket for inattentive driving. So watch it when you make that oh
so important call to your girfeind just to chat and relieve your driving
boredom.

Another time I was in the local computer superstore looking at some junk
and this dude comes walking in fast and it was like there was nobody
else around except him. He was talking to himself and I thought this
chap is going to whip out a AK and start shooting up the place until I
saw his bluetooth headset, LOL.
--

"dbu'" <repubs@waitfor08.com> wrote in message
news:repubs-4EFABD.11581524112006@comcast.dca.giganews.com...[color=blue]
> In article <xn0eu3l1kd4yfxg007@news.readfreenews.net>,
> "badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>> n5hsr, 11/23/2006, 9:34:57 AM,
>> <XomdnV9FLOu2LPjYnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@comcast.com> wrote:
>>[color=darkred]
>> > What's next, a crank on a cell phone?[/color]
>>
>> I am one of the few people remaining in America that does not have a
>> cellular phone. I hate those damned things, especially the behavior of
>> 90% of those who use them.
>>
>> My cell phone peeves:
>> -- obnoxious rings during meetings
>> -- hogging traffic lanes while yakking
>> -- dropping a face-to-face conversation to answer the phone
>> -- constant text messaging
>> -- exorbitant prices of hardware and service
>>
>> No, I don't propose a ban on cell phones, but cell phone etiquette
>> training and testing for a license would be a good idea.[/color]
>
> I have a cell phone, but I've self limited to 60 minutes per month. I
> never reach max.
>
> A simple solution to the cell phone glut is do away with minute
> packages. In other words, charge by the minute only and not sell
> packages that include 1000 hours per month ect. People will then watch
> more closely as to what foolish calls they think they need to make on
> their cell phones.[/color]

The problem w/ that is that some people have ditched their land lines & have
only cell phones - they use them as their main/only phone.

Cathy

[color=blue]
>
> I was in the doctors office once waiting to get a lab test. They called
> a guy who was talking on his cell phone in the waiting room, well when
> he was called he kept right on yaking into the lab. Next time I was
> there perhaps a couple months later they had a big sign on the door, NO
> CELL PHONES! I'm seeing these signs more often. Around here you can
> get a ticket for inattentive driving. So watch it when you make that oh
> so important call to your girfeind just to chat and relieve your driving
> boredom.
>
> Another time I was in the local computer superstore looking at some junk
> and this dude comes walking in fast and it was like there was nobody
> else around except him. He was talking to himself and I thought this
> chap is going to whip out a AK and start shooting up the place until I
> saw his bluetooth headset, LOL.
> --
>[/color]

"badgolferman" <REMOVETHISbadgolferman@gmail.com> wrote in message
news:xn0eu3l1kd4yfxg007@news.readfreenews.net...[color=blue]
> n5hsr, 11/23/2006, 9:34:57 AM,
> <XomdnV9FLOu2LPjYnZ2dnUVZ_uqdnZ2d@comcast.com> wrote:
>[color=green]
>> What's next, a crank on a cell phone?[/color]
>
> I am one of the few people remaining in America that does not have a
> cellular phone. I hate those damned things, especially the behavior of
> 90% of those who use them.
>
> My cell phone peeves:
> -- obnoxious rings during meetings
> -- hogging traffic lanes while yakking
> -- dropping a face-to-face conversation to answer the phone[/color]

Excuse me, but have you never been asked to standby while one answers a
ringing wired phone? Surely you've been talking to somebody when a
traditional phone rings, and that person asked you to wait a moment while
they answer the call. Proper etiquette says they should ask the caller to
wait while they complete the conversation with you, or they tell the caller
they will call back when they are done with you, but this etiquette does not
change because there is a wire or not.

[color=blue]
> -- constant text messaging[/color]

I can't say that I NEVER text, but I never text.

[color=blue]
> -- exorbitant prices of hardware and service[/color]

The phone is free and service is cheaper than a land line in most cases
these days. One can get service for 40 bucks and include service for
additional equipment for $10 for each piece. You can have cell service, and
get a phone for your Mom for less than both of you pay for land line
service.

[color=blue]
>
> No, I don't propose a ban on cell phones, but cell phone etiquette
> training and testing for a license would be a good idea.
>[/color]

Phone etiquette would be a good thing, but if one has good manners then one
probably doesn't need etiquette classes, and if one needs etiquette classes,
the class probably won't work.

[color=blue]
> --
> "I have opinions of my own - strong opinions - but I don't always agree
> with them." ~ George Bush[/color]

"Cathy F." <clfr@adelphiadot.net> wrote in message
news:0aSdnaleAr2crPrYnZ2dnUVZ_tCdnZ2d@giganews.com...
[color=blue]
> Also good - makes it easier than finding a pay phone -[/color]


Pay phone???

I'll bet we have an entire generation of kids that have never seen a pay
phone, and perhaps two generations that have not used one.