Telephone Almanac
by Wendell Hunter - DuBois, PA
Reprinted from "Crown Jewels of the Wire", March 1986, page 43
Upon seeing the picture of the Civil War telegraphers stringing wire (see p.
12, Sept., 1985), I have been moved to send in the following pictures I have had
for some long time. These were in an anthology of very early books reprinted by
Arno Press in the early 1970's.
I am not sure where I copied the Western Union picture, but other picture was originally in a
book printed in 1859.
This drawing depicts a repairer about 1873.
English lineman of the mid-19th century.
His hat served both as protection
from the elements and as storage
space for extra tools.
Western Union battery room before the days of generators.
Cable for a river crossing was spun on the spot. Submarine cables were
used later when gutta percha proved to be a good underwater insulator.
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