Pluggers by Rick McKee for June 05, 2022

know of anyone who still plays with that kind of telephone?

Lyrics from the 1979 New Wave hit “Pop Musik” by M …

We did have sort of a finger semaphore communication.

Early digital photon, non-laser messaging.

I did this with my grandson and he was amazed that he could hear me.

Did this with grandkids.

An Oldie but Goodie !

We bearly tries this but we did this anyways.

Actually we had two old wooden crank wall phones and strung wire through the trees.

My kids did this with cans from their bedrooms to each other!

or … not-so-loud and not-so-clear – but hey – it works … and it’s fun for a while once in awhile.

Sometimes I think it worked better than my iPhone today!

Two Mother’s Oats’ cardboard cans and a 100-foot roll of string did it for us waybackwhen !

Had one strung between my tree-house and the back porch. If mom knew i was in my tree-house, she would tap on the can (the ring) to get my attention to listen. Usually calling me in for chores, lunch, or dinner. Saved yelling for me.

My three younger brothers and I did do that, as well as shouting down the garden hose and later with cheap walkie-talkies that had about the same range. :)

The trick, of course, was to think up something to say worth shouting loudly enough to be heard, even without the apparatus.

What is this brother of whom you speak?

I had one that ran from my window to the window of my friend next door. Straight shot across the back yard.

To everybody: If you ever go to New York City with your family, go to Grand Central Terminal. Besides being one of the 10 biggest tourist stops. Go to the lower level by the Oyster Bar, go to the opposite ends outside the bar, one talks and the person at the opposite end will hear you! Speak softely. ;o)

I do that with my 8th grade students when we talk sound waves etc. They love it.

Safer than the Internet. The original smart-a——-s phone.