Yeah, and I can drive a stick shift, too!

[PALADIN85020]

My wife and I made one of our semi-annual pilgrimages to Bisbee this weekend with the editor of my new book and his wife. He and I worked very hard to finish the book in time for a pre-Christmas introduction, and I figured we all needed a break. We had a great time. I'll probably post some artsy pics I took later, but I wanted to share this one with you first. This was part of a display in the mining museum. They wanted to feature old-time stuff to see if it could be recognized today. This one floored me!

I'm feeling very ancient right now because of this. Are there actually people so newly minted that they have never seen, handled or operated a dial telephone? Good grief!

Not only can I "dial" a phone (that's what the word dial implies, don't you think), but I can drive a stick shift and properly employ a single action revolver!

Actually, Bisbee is a pretty advanced burg. Here is their new social networking system that they feel is far superior to the internet. I think one of those long-haired stoners figured it out all on his own:

I think I'll fix myself a relaxing Manhattan. I can still do that, too.

John

 

[ralph7]

An old period correct joke from then...

"Can I use your Dictaphone"

"Sure, but don't you think your finger works better?"

 

[arjay]

Pretty funny! Thinking about it though,I bet my 23 year old daughter has never seen one and her 30 year old brother? Who knows [emoji1]
They do know how to drive a stick lol

 

[Alpo]

I keep hearing about how people, nowadays, not only don't know HOW to use that phone, but would not recognize it as a phone.

That blows my mind.

I have never used (or even SEEN in real life) one of those boxes on the wall, where you hold the earpiece to your ear, turn the crank on the side, and YELL, "Hello Central? Get me 628 please."

But you know? I know how they work. Why? I've seen them in movies and TV shows. Surely the latest generation has seen someone use a dial telephone on some TV show or other.

 

[rwsmith]

Having a 15 year old son.....

Having a 15 year old son that says I'm a fossil at 59 I watch TV and listen to music and how 'quaint' it must seem to the young crowd.

Dial and pay phones are one example. What were telephones when you had to talk to the operator and put money in the slot for three more minutes? I was listening to some old 60's and '70s music with the screaming Hammond B3 organ and a lot of early electronics and thought that it sounded like the Boston Pops alongside the 'music' he listens to. Guitars are not prominent like they were. Now on TV hippies look as weird as Flappers did when I was growing up. It is strange getting old.

 

[Shorty 45 MK2]

I'm in my 20's and we had one of those phones in the house growing up. I loved it, guess it reminded me of shows I watched like Roy Rodger and Adam-12.

Sorry can't run a single action properly but I drive stick!

 

[arjay]

The 30 year old remembers using a rotary wall phone in our kitchen when he was little,but the 23 year old has never dialed a phone.Im feeling old now [emoji57]

 

[labworm]

I still have a tan rotary phone sitting in front of me on my computer desk and it works.

I also have been shifting since 1973 up to this date.
Some of the cult following BMW drivers believe it isn't a BMW if it has a auto trans in it.

 

[Old 44 Guy]

Gosh; This brought back the memories. I went to work for Ma Bell in 1950. The phone pictured here is a 500 type made by Western Electric. Earlier one were 300 series. All are obsolete now but work just fine if you can find one. I had a dial wall phone in the barn in California, the neighbor kids asked what it was & how could you call out on it. Made me feel obsolete too.

 

[labworm]

AT&T, purchased at a Flea market for $5.00 about 4 years ago.
Excellent condition, just had to plug it in.

 

[jcelect]

Phone

I have one of those hanging on the wall in my shop, and it works fine! I have one problem with it, I can't figure out how to "Press one for English, Press two for Spanish"! Well, maybe that isn't a problem after all, I can't speak Spanish anyway!
jcelect

 

[shouldazagged]

Try showing anyone under twenty-five a manual typewriter or adding machine. Or a slide rule.

 

[Cyrano]

I'm not too good wih a single action; haven't shot one enough. But I sure can drive a stick shift, and didn't do too bad with a couple of crash boxes (no synchromesh); one of them even had the gear shift placed for the left hand. 'Heel and toe' as you downshift gets interesting.

 

[WuzzFuzz]

One of the advantages of driving a "stick shift" vehicle these days is, it will give you the satisfaction that it most likely won't get stolen, because the punks don't know how to drive it.

I'd like to find one of those old Candle Stick phones, and see if it would still work if plugged into the wall..

Shouldazagged, I do still have my ole manual typewriter. I still use it especially around Christmas time to address cards. My handwriting is so bad anymore. I better use it so the postman knows where it's supposed to go, instead of back to me!!!!


WuzzFuzz

 

[Texas40]

It's called the generation gap folks. There are things from our parents era that we never got to experience. Just like there are things from our era our kids never got to experience. There will also be things from current times that our grandchildren will never experience.

Class of 2018 has always known Bill Gates as the richest man in the country.
# to them this symbol on a phone is NOT referred to as a pound sign it's a hashtag.

So yes there are many things from generation to generation that are "weird" to one but normal to the other

I can dial a rotary phone had um for yrs even with party line.
I can also drive a stick in fact I'll base driving one today when I head to work in my Mustang.

 

[BAM-BAM]

Both of my cars have manual transmission............ discovered a side benefit last year.......my 16 year old had to learn to drive on the mini-van!

LOL

 

[Retired LTC USAR]

Growing up, I spent my summers on a lake in KY. I remember having a "party" line where you had to pick up the receiver and listen to see if anyone was talking before you dialed, and everyone (about 20 customers) had a distinctive ring.

 

[chief38]

I not only collect phones, I use them every day in my home. I've got all authentic vintage phones including a Candle Stick from 1905, a Cradle Phone from 1934, and a bunch from between 1950 and 1970 that still amaze the kids that visit and try them.

The ONLY portable phone I have is the one that I take outside by the pool and all the rest are hard wired. At last count I had 15 phone hooked up...........

And YES I can still drive a stick shift automobile. Still have a few Typewriters, and collect (and use ) many GE vintage fans even though our home has Central Air.

 

[Muley Gil]

My grandmother had a party line into the early to mid '60s. She told me about having the handcranked wall phone. Their number was two longs and a short.

My daily driver is a 5 speed Isuzu pick-up. Gets up to 30 MPG, even with all the junk in the back.

 

[ladyT]

Growing up, I spent my summers on a lake in KY. I remember having a "party" line where you had to pick up the receiver and listen to see if anyone was talking before you dialed, and everyone (about 20 customers) had a distinctive ring.

Ahh the party line. Americas first social media. Early Twitter.