science · 11 October 1983 · 41 years ago
In 1983, the last hand-cranked (magneto) telephones in the United States went out of service as 440 telephone customers in Bryant Pond, Maine, were switched to direct-dial service. Prior to that time a resident's number could be as short as 33. Those living close enough to the telephone office might get to answer the phone, even if they were outside because the operator could just yell out the window! The last hand-cranked telphone call in Bryant pond was made the following day, on 12 Oct 1983.
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