Lord of the Ring
Berkley, Mass.
The Barking Phone
Some years ago, while working as a telephone repairman, I was dispatched on a “Bell Doesn't Ring” trouble call ticket. Once at the residence, I asked the customer about the trouble she was having. She told me that although the phone didn't have an audible ring, she always knew when she was receiving a phone call because her dog would bark. I began my investigation by carefully inspecting all of the wiring for this circuit. I found the source of the problem in the kitchen where her dog would always lie. Over the years, the dog had rubbed the insulation off of the inside wire. When the AC ringing signal was sent down the line, the dog would feel the 100V or so signal and bark. This sure was unlike any ringing mechanism I had ever come across!
Ralph Renner
Upperco, Md.
Illustrations by Clint Metcalf