First Blog - for testing

Rural and other telephones that were not on a common battery exchange had a "magneto" or hand cranked generator to produce a high voltage alternating signal to ring the bells of other telephones on the line and to alert the operator.

In the 1890s a new smaller style of telephone was introduced, packaged in three parts. The transmitter stood on a stand, known as a "candlestick" for its shape. When not in use, the receiver hung on a hook with a switch in it, known as a "switchhook." Previous telephones had required operating a separate switch to connect either the voice parts of the telephone or the bell. With the new kind, they less often forgot and left the phone "off the hook". The bell, induction coil, battery and magneto were in a separate "bell box" if it was a magneto exchange. For a common battery exchange, the bell box could be installed under a desk or otherwise out of the way, since it didn't need a battery or magneto.

Rural and other telephones that were not on a common battery exchange had a "magneto" or hand cranked generator to produce a high voltage alternating signal to ring the bells of other telephones on the line and to alert the operator.

In the 1890s a new smaller style of telephone was introduced, packaged in three parts. The transmitter stood on a stand, known as a "candlestick" for its shape. When not in use, the receiver hung on a hook with a switch in it, known as a "switchhook." Previous telephones had required operating a separate switch to connect either the voice parts of the telephone or the bell. With the new kind, they less often forgot and left the phone "off the hook". The bell, induction coil, battery and magneto were in a separate "bell box" if it was a magneto exchange. For a common battery exchange, the bell box could be installed under a desk or otherwise out of the way, since it didn't need a battery or magneto.