Post #2027492

2025-09-17 19:12 UTC

@leymoo In the US, that was called a party line. To reduce costs, a bunch of people would share a single line that only one person would use at a time out of courtesy, BUT anyone sharing the party line can actually listen in or talk if they want to. Alfred Hitchcock Presents looks like it was a US TV show. In 1960, there was an episode called party line. The alternative is a private line.

Replies (3)

@leymoo@hachyderm.io 2025-09-17 19:24

@Theresacityinmymind I’m curious as to whether there was specific telecom kit that radio stations used to manage calls in the 70s and 80s - maybe if there was a bit of kit it used the same concept to work as the party line concept in the US, but on purpose? I understand the UK switched from US style phone networks to their less phreakable system (System X - https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/System_X_(telephony) ) by the early 80s - a black box would work on UK networks up until that switchover.

Open ##2027493
@tammeow@cute-spellcasting-ideas.eu 2025-09-18 00:24

@Theresacityinmymind @leymoo i read this in a novel as a child and it ended up with a neighbour blocking the ability to call emergency services. i would love to know what i read

Open ##2027500
@SistaWendy@toot.cat 2025-09-21 11:53

@leymoo @Theresacityinmymind Party lines were more common in rural areas, for the reason you mention: cost.

Open ##2027501