1

Early phone users would use a hand crank to contact "central", which was a switchboard maintained by a local operator, ususally a woman. She would put a caller through to the number. Neighbours on the same line could call each other by cranking a series of long and short rings. One long ring meant emergency and alert everyone that there was a problem in the neighbourhood and help was needed. The operator could "cut in" when an emergency occurred.

2

Farm wall phone
1903
Eganville, Ontario, Canada


Credits:
Sheldon Davis