standard, stick, and rotary party lines
07-11-2011, 07:47 PM
#31
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Michigan. . .FINALLY!!!!
Posts: 6,726
I'm 44 and I remember having a party line with the 3 families on my road. The nosy older lady across the street used to pick up the phone and listen or if it was summertime and she was outside and we weren't home and our phone rang, she would go in her house and answer it and take a message for us. As for the shifter on the column, my very first car was a 1975 Ford Maverick with a "3 on the tree" My friends were all in awe that I had such a thing!!!
07-11-2011, 07:52 PM
#32
Super Member
Join Date: Mar 2010
Location: Tennessee
Posts: 2,189
Originally Posted by sisLH
A 19 yr old co-worker was telling me she knew how to drive 'standard' on the floor. I told her that was 'stickshift' -that standard was on the column-she said no, that was automatic. I say that yes now it's automatic but there didn't used to be all the automatics. Standard was a shifting gear on the column and Stick was on the floor. She didn't believe me so she asked a driving instructor. He told her that Yes, it was that way but he himself had never seen it. Am I THAT old???
Which made ask about phones. She has never used a rotary phone and never heard of 'party lines'. But she does still see 'old-fashioned push button phones' on walls. OMG, just roll me in my grave now.
Which made ask about phones. She has never used a rotary phone and never heard of 'party lines'. But she does still see 'old-fashioned push button phones' on walls. OMG, just roll me in my grave now.
07-11-2011, 08:00 PM
#33
Super Member
Join Date: Feb 2011
Location: La Grande, OR
Posts: 2,457
I learned to drive on a 3 on the column (some called it a 3 on the tree). In north Idaho, you only needed to dial the last number of the prefix then the remaining numbers for local calls. It was long distance to call the next town 6 miles north even though they had the same prefix. Any family lucky enough to own a TV had an antenna that looked like a clothes line. Two glass 5-gallon jugs of milk were delivered by a local farmer. Had to wait for the cream to separate, and yes we churned our own butter.
07-11-2011, 08:00 PM
#34
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Michigan. . .FINALLY!!!!
Posts: 6,726
Originally Posted by CoyoteQuilts
Originally Posted by sisLH
A 19 yr old co-worker was telling me she knew how to drive 'standard' on the floor. I told her that was 'stickshift' -that standard was on the column-she said no, that was automatic. I say that yes now it's automatic but there didn't used to be all the automatics. Standard was a shifting gear on the column and Stick was on the floor. She didn't believe me so she asked a driving instructor. He told her that Yes, it was that way but he himself had never seen it. Am I THAT old???
Which made ask about phones. She has never used a rotary phone and never heard of 'party lines'. But she does still see 'old-fashioned push button phones' on walls. OMG, just roll me in my grave now.
Which made ask about phones. She has never used a rotary phone and never heard of 'party lines'. But she does still see 'old-fashioned push button phones' on walls. OMG, just roll me in my grave now.
07-11-2011, 08:03 PM
#35
Super Member
Join Date: Apr 2011
Location: USA
Posts: 1,625
I remember rotary phones, stick shfts though I never drove one, party lines and that one neighbor who was always tying up the partyline. I remember necker knobs, drive-in-theaters, typewriters, rabbit ears and having to get off the floor to turn the tv over which was in black and white. Life before computers, cell phones, text messaging and caller ID.
07-11-2011, 08:06 PM
#36
Super Member
Join Date: Dec 2010
Location: Riverside Washington
Posts: 1,508
Do you remember counting the ringing of the phone and waiting to see if it was for you? ours was 2 long and 1 short there were 6 familys on that line, Every one knew who was getting a call and there was always someone listening in. LOL Noboday had secrets then. (early fifty's)
07-11-2011, 08:10 PM
#37
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Michigan. . .FINALLY!!!!
Posts: 6,726
Originally Posted by Gramie bj
Do you remember counting the ringing of the phone and waiting to see if it was for you? ours was 2 long and 1 short there were 6 familys on that line, Every one knew who was getting a call and there was always someone listening in. LOL Noboday had secrets then. (early fifty's)
07-11-2011, 08:11 PM
#38
Super Member
Join Date: Jun 2011
Location: Michigan. . .FINALLY!!!!
Posts: 6,726
Originally Posted by Gramie bj
Do you remember counting the ringing of the phone and waiting to see if it was for you? ours was 2 long and 1 short there were 6 familys on that line, Every one knew who was getting a call and there was always someone listening in. LOL Noboday had secrets then. (early fifty's)
07-11-2011, 08:31 PM
#40
Super Member
Join Date: Jul 2010
Location: Lebanon Missouri
Posts: 2,668
Ours was Randolph 25 and a party line then it became 7 #s but still a p/l The TV rolled til Dad smacked it on the top back left side And tuesday night was the nite we got to stay up late to watch Red Skelton with popcorn and a glass of Pepsi-Cola and Dads 51 Chevy was a standard shift and the coolest car next to my step-moms Rambler Nash that slept all 9 kids.Ahhh- The simple life :-)
Thread
Thread Starter
Forum
Replies
Last Post
guinnivire
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
19
07-12-2021 06:44 AM
orangeade
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
1
08-01-2013 05:32 AM
etcha sketch
For Vintage & Antique Machine Enthusiasts
4
05-12-2012 04:14 AM
