Grandpa's cutting edge technology

[Armybrat 40,822]

My Paternal Grandfather (seated in center) was owner/operator of the Graham, Missouri Telephone Exchange from 1912 until 1920. The system was entirely battery powered, with each home/business wall phone having its own battery and was hand-cranked. Grandpa had a gas powered generator to charge everyone's battery if they brought them to his office. It was a party line system, with each phone having its own ring signal. No texting at all.

The town was not electrified until 1940 (note the gas lamp atop his roll-top desk) and did not get a water & sewage system until 1965.

Edited March 10, 2019 by Armybrat

[RDCanecutter 26,394]

2 hours ago, Armybrat said:

x, x, 1

[jeevsie 3,733]

And that's the way it was and we LIKED IT!

[RPM 26,317]

Sarah?

[Hawndoh 2,386]

My grand father had his own phone company very similar to what you described in Martindale TX. 

Eventually big Bell came knocking on his door and bought him out.