Thursday, October 29, 2015

Need a Phone? [Early 1900s]

From our old postcard collection ...

We had to chuckle when some of you said you weren't around when letters were added to the dials on telephones (our last post).

So, for your amusement, here are three post cards sent out by The American Telephone and Telegraph Company, a part of the Bell Telephone System, to let you know why you needed a telephone in the first place.

#1 A Doctor Quick!



This card is the only one in the series with a prepared message.
The prepared message on the back of the card above .... "Let us hope that the need for emergency medical help may never come, but should it come, let us hope that you may be connected with us so that we may be ready – as we are at all times willing – to serve you. The value of one such call may out-weigh a year’s cost. Let me hear from you. Local Manager."

#2 Announcing Unexpected Guests


We got a kick out of the trash can next to the desk. It appears to be overflowing. And, of course, the suitcases ... it looks like they may be staying for a while.

Unused back.
#3 When Servants Fail

It appears the company was targeting the well heeled. Our guess is the lady on the stair steps is the servant who is showing up to replace the one who failed to do so. A simple call to the lady on the right appears to take care of the problem.

Unused back.
How do you like these cards?  You do remember the candlestick phone ... don't you?  More from this series of cards on a future post.

Thank you for stopping by John's Island. 

13 comments:

  1. The only time I've seen these phones is in old 1930s movies. You sure do have quite a collection of interesting old postcards, John! :-)

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  2. I believe these phones were before my time. I love the postcards, AWESOME collection. Happy Thursday, enjoy your weekend ahead!

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  3. enjoyed these. pretty neat ads for phone service in the day.

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  4. A terrific collection these are indeed, John!! A lot of history!! Thanks, as always, for sharing!! I hope your week is going well!! Enjoy!!

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  5. Yes, they were nice ones. I remember the candlestick phones but never had or used one. : )

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  6. With the number of political calls I get every night...I think I could live without a phone again.

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  7. How things have changed. Now we just touch the number we have on the screen.

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  8. Wonderful old cards! I don't remember the candlestick phone except from television shows. Times have certainly changed.

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  9. Very much enjoyed seeing the post cards! Life is certainly very different than it once was.

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  10. They are so interesting, John, you have an amazing collection of old postcards.
    Happy weekend!

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  11. Phones have probably changed faster than anything else. Just in my lifetime I've seen an old-fashioned wall hanging version of these candlestick phone (okay, it wasn't operational!), clunky rotary phones, cordless phones, cell phones the size of your head, small cellphones, flip phones, and now those tiny squares with which we can do everything there is to do. Amazing!

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