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Washington, D.C., circa 1922. "Chesapeake & Potomac Telephone Co." The maintenance shed. National Photo Co. Collection glass negative. View full size.
I only recognise half of that equipment, the pole chokers, cable clamps, non-conduct poles, pole belts and such, but much of that stuff has gone the way of the dodo, replaced by new tech. I guess in twenty years, my memories will be antiquated and dust heap worthy, but thank you to all the old workers who busted their butts to put us where we are now!
The amazing part of this photo is how much has not changed. Many of these items are still used today. Today's ladders are fibreglass, though.
The tall thin rods are ground rods. In addition to the wires back to the central office, telephone service required a wire connected to ground for ringing the bell. Using a sledge hammer, the installer would drive the rod into the ground and then connect his circuit to the wire on the rod.
I also see surveyors' poles, hurricane lanterns, pole climbing gear, spades, hammers, chains...
What are the "garage door springs" and the tall thin rods with a little spring on the end used for?
No wonder the local hardware store has run out of bolt cutters. I never really thought of those as personal equipment.
Ah, for the civilized service calls of yesteryear!
They were cable splicing gear. The bigger pots and the kettles were for asphalt waterproofing compound, the smaller ones were for solder, they were heated on the gasoline stoves hanging on the bottom of the rack.
I see there are also teapots as well as what look to be cooking pots. I wonder if camping skills were required to run and maintain phone lines through remote areas in those days.
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