One Ringy Dingy, Two Ringy Dingy

[launderess]

Whoa-Nellie! Anyone else remember these?

http://cgi.ebay.com/Antique-Bell-We...4QQihZ001QQcategoryZ38037QQrdZ1QQcmdZViewItem

 

[gansky1]

Fred Nelson in Chicago has a beautifully restored switchboard in his family room connected to the house phone network. It's very fun to play "Lilly" with!

 

[fnelson487]

Here it is!

I worked my way through high school and college working one of these at the phone company. This is a PBX (private branch exchange board (WE 556A)) much smaller than the phone company toll office board. It works and a lot of fun. Lilly Tomlin's character Ernestine was one of my favorites! That's a genuine Western Electric switchboard chair.

Fred

 

[fnelson487]

This is the one I worked at the phone company!

This was a great job.

 

[bobbyderegis]

Ernestine rocked! Snort.
Bobby in Boston

 

[frigilux]

I can only imagine how high-tech that switchboard must have looked back in the day...

 

[bajaespuma]

Darling Lily

Mr. Vidal??? Mr. Vidal??????(snort!)Mr. Vidal? Is this the party to whom I am speaking?

God that woman was a genius! I hope she owns one of these!

 

[retroguy]

Lots of those still in operation......

As in house intercoms/secretarial answering services in high rise apartment buildings in DC.