Public phone life

This post is inspired by Hel who wrote this most interesting post about the history of the classic red English phone box and other models, or perhaps that is the UK.

So, let's have a look at public phones in Australia that lie in my memory.

This is the first oldest public phone I can remember. On the horizontal part, you can just see a half round circle and you sat your sixpence or five cents there, and when the phone was answered at the other end, you would push your coin to the left and it would roll and drop down into the phone.

This is not a public phone but some of the above had separate earpieces and fixed mouth pieces similar to what is in the candlestick phone below. I don't remember there being much in the way of vandalism as everyone used them at time, and wanted them to work. 

This model became quite standard in my younger years.  Five cents would be inserted into the slot at the top and when the call was answered, you pressed button A. Button B was to retrieve your coin if the call wasn't answered. As kids we often just pressed button B to see if anyone had left a coin in the phone but I can't remember if we ever found any. It was common knowledge that if you yelled into the ear piece, the person at the other end could faintly hear you, enough to say 'Pick me  up', if there was an arrangement in place. I don't remember if that worked either. Sometimes just calling without using a coin was sufficient. My grandmother called her home and the phone ringing alerted my grandfather to drive to pick her up from church.  It's a wonder you could get a dial tone without inserting a coin. 

So what housed these important machines? It was an English style classic red phone box, of various styles. This one has panes of glass but I remember some at least, having louvred windows, which I guess let in external noise. This was taken at the National Communications Museum in the suburb of Hawthorn. It's well worth a visit.

I assume the paint used inside was to stop people writing on the walls. I can imagine people scribbling a  phone number on a wall that they needed to remember. It could have also been for insulation the boxes from external noise too. They had a very dead sound inside and with the door shut, very little noise penetrating. 

Now, I wonder if there is a gap in my knowledge. These are the next public phones I can remember. They were virtually vandal proof, with the very inconveniently short metal cord.

                                               

With a closing door, these boxes weren't too bad.

But clearly vandalism was becoming a big problem, with this version minus the door and with a metal grill around the bottom of the box, rather than glass.

Indoors, you would see phones more like these.

What do we have now? These very modest affairs. The pink topped one indicates free WiFi, which was originally only for Telstra customers, of which I was then one. In days before apps, how did the system know you were a Telstra customer? 

At one point as usage fell by 2020s, all calls within Australia to fixed phones and mobiles became free from public phones, so no complicated machinery for coins or bank cards were needed, no risk of coin theft.

Many are now covered in advertising, electronic at times. 

I suppose these phone cards are from the nineties into the two thousands, and before you could use a bank card. Kosov loved the Australian dinosaur card. The two lower cards have punch holes in them, made by the phone as you used your stored value card. I've heard since that you could put tape over the holes and whatever detected the holes saw the card as unused. The two top cards were later when a circuit was printed on the card, so no more punch holes.

Of extra interest to note, the lower right has the name Telecom, which followed the earlier PMG, Post-Master General's, the title for our government postal and phone company. Without fuss or fanfare, Telecom became Telstra, as seen in the left hand card.  

A visit to Switzerland

I've read two or three Agatha Christie books, and of course they were ok. But I absolutely loved the tv series Poirot, based on her books. My favourite episode was called The Labours of Hercules, which I believe is the name of a work of art.

The scenery, Series 13 Episode 04 was lavish. The hotel where it was filmed was lavish. The story line was excellent, the acting faultless and I haven't finished watching it yet. But oh the scenery, and a funicular, and my long time readers will know I do like a good funicular. 

If you are still reading my blog, thanks to the person who pointed out Daily Motion to me to find older films and tv series, and there I found a not so good copy of the episode. I am not paying, so I cannot complain. The stills I took are far from illustrating the lavishness of the series, but you'll get your idea. The name of the uploader is oddly called Deaddogsdam.

Ok, here we go. A bit of research work will be needed.

The journey to the resort begins with the funicular. To appraise those who don't know, funiculars are rail vehicles that can climb steep hills by the weight of a connected descending car. Power is still needed but not much.

Ready to board below the mountain resort.  

 

A passing loop, before the car enters a tunnel. Spoiler alert, there is an avalanche whereby the tunnel is filled with snow, making the funicular inoperable. 

 

The view from the car looking upwards. The interior of the vehicle is a prop built in Pinewood Studios, London. Hey, and aren't we worried about AI?

The car creaked, squeaked and groaned as it carried its passengers to the ascent destination.

Perfectly safe.

Here's the hotel on the horizon.

Exiting the funicular. 

The hotel was for very swank guests. 

What wondrous views. 

The denouement: While the setting was Switzerland, it wasn't actually. Le funiculaire de Saint-Hilaire du Touvet is in France and was built to service a sanatorium, which is used as the hotel. Who knows where the hotel interior scenes were filmed. 

Monday Mural

Sami and others post for Monday Mural. My effort this week took little effort, as my friend Bunyip having seen the mural being painted, took photos of the finished product. I wish artists would sign their works, and I wish I could remember to mention whose work they are. 

It is so large, two photos were needed to show the mural. I do love the kookaburra. 

Sunday Extra

It pleased me to see today that Jacinta Allan, the Premier of the State of Victoria, today participated, along with a couple of her ministers, in the gay Pride March. There is what appears genuine joie de vivre in the photo and I'm reminded of wonderful photos of former Prime Minister of Canada, Justin Trudeau marching in a gay pride march. Premier Allan is in pink. The words weren't spoken but uploaded to her socials. Photo from Star Observer.

Pride is about being able to live your life openly. Loving who you love. Being who you are - without fear or apology. It began because too many Victorians were denied that freedom. Because dignity had to be fought for. Today, we march with pride - and with purpose. And if hatred is finding a new voice elsewhere, it will never find a home here.  

To anyone who has been made to feel different just because of who you are: you will always belong in our Victoria. 

Sunday Selections

I'm joining River, and others for Sunday Selections, and as usual, mine are just a random choice.

Cheeky blighters. It's unusual for pigeons to come up this high, thankfully.

I didn't get around to posting this at the appropriate time, Christmas tree by Phyllis. I told him after Christmas that it was too big to store in  the box as it had been, and would probably have to go. He cleverly put the branches in his large suitcase and the metal stand went under their bed.

I don't know if this is mine, but the table runner appeared for Christmas.

When we visited Marysville and stopped off at Healesville, some sweets were bought.

Vanilla Bean has been witness to all household goings on since shortly after Phyllis moved in. 

Phyllis does like to present things nicely. Kosov likes to arrange the tray of thirty eggs of eggs to look balanced by egg colour.

"You know I am more beautiful than your crappy flowers."

All kinds of odd things come home in shopping bags.

Ray and I have never toilet mats like these, however Phyllis and Kosov recently bought this one. Jass decided it looked better in the hallway.

Cheap frypans have come and gone. This is the latest frypan and it wasn't so cheap and seems to be doing well.

Don't quote me. Check the facts for yourself but I believe the Queen Victoria Hospital for woman was partly funded by fundraising by women and the first Victorian female doctor worked there. It is now part the Queen Victoria Shopping Centre and high rise apartment building. 

Parts of the old hospital were kept and are now for 'women's business'. 

A hexibtion

The Melbourne City (lending) Library is rather marvellous, and during the gay month of Midsumma beginning with a huge carnival, followed by a dance party and culminating in Pride March on Sunday, there has been a huge number of other events, from films, to art exhibitions...well all sorts of things.

Hairdresser Friend asked if I wanted to go to Pride March, and I kind of would have. We used to form large parties of up to twelve people to lunch on Fitzroy Street with a few drinks and watch the parade. But I think my years of participating in such events has passed, besides, it is hard to get to without walking over one kilometre from a tram stop, unless I go into the city and out again on a different tram to the normal direct tram.

While it is a bit of a tenuous connection, N & B are considered part of the family and they came to Ray's memorial celebration. B is Ex Sis in Law's step daughter. N & B have a three year old daughter and a one year old son, and his birthday will be celebrated on Sunday, so no Pride March for me.

I can't totally ignore Midsumma though, so I visited the photo exhibition at the aforesaid City Library, and it was pretty cool for about twenty minutes. The curator of the exhibition was there and I overheard him saying and showing on his phone a visitor of the only photo in the collections that was definitely Australian. I assume most photos are of American lovers. There were more couples in military uniform than I would have expected. 

It is interesting that is was presented by the European Union to the Midsummer event, with a message from the EU Ambassador to Australia. Are our connections to Europe already becoming stronger as we slide away from the US?

Here are a few photos.

AI Slop Answer

I haven't given everyone a chance to check my last post, but as I was watching the YouTube clip, it jumped out at me. What? I stuck a pencil in the cog of the tape and rewound to check if what my eyes were seeing was true. Game Roon? Well done Marie Q.