Self-tutoring about lifestyle history: the tutor mentions the idea of a party line.

I was at an apartment in the late ’80s where the resident said she had a “party line.” I didn’t know what she meant, but didn’t ask. Instead I stored the idea in memory, thinking one day I’d find out what “party line” means. Today is the day.

Apparently, a party line is shared by multiple households. When the phone rings, it does so at every address on the party line. However, each address has its distinct ring pattern, so everyone on the party line can tell if it’s “for them.” At the same time, anyone on the party line can pick it up, and if others are talking on it, can listen in. While the line is in use, no one else sharing it can make a call.

Party lines were common after WWII, when phone service was catching up with demand. For perhaps decades, the only way many people could afford phone service was to share a party line.

Nowadays, a few thousand party lines still exist in the US, but many only have one subscriber left on them.

Starting around 1988, phone companies adopted the preference to discontinue party lines. Therefore, that party line I knew of – probably in ’88 or ’89 – may not have had long left.

Source:

techchannel.att.com

mentalfloss.com