Keystone Telephone - music on "hold" in 1904!

[mariepr]

Here's an interesting article on Keystone Telephone's coordination of the 1904 US presidential elections returns with a local newspaper.  This article shows their main switchboard at 2nd and Sansom Streets in Philadelphia.  Another image shows the grammophone used to provide "hold" music while subscribers awaited the election returns. 

http://hiddencityphila.org/2017/02/dial-up-for-the-latest-election-news/

[AL_as_needed]

Now someone was real ahead of their time on that one!

[Dennis83]

Here's an interesting article on Keystone Telephone's coordination of the 1904 US presidential elections returns with a local newspaper.  This article shows their main switchboard at 2nd and Sansom Streets in Philadelphia.  Another image shows the grammophone used to provide "hold" music while subscribers awaited the election returns. 

http://hiddencityphila.org/2017/02/dial-up-for-the-latest-election-news/

Interesting. Thanks for sharing.

[BigBird0000]

Did they have to pay royalties to the artist or record company?

[TelePlay]

Did they have to pay royalties to the artist or record company?

I know, just kidding, right?

Back then, 1904, I doubt it. BMI, ASCAP and SESAC didn't come into existence until decades later. And that being a news update, they may have had a production contract with whomever read the election results, paid staff if you will. Today playing something recorded by someone else as MOH without a license can result if a real money fine, if caught, and those 3 associations pay employees to find violators. Knew someone what did that and the pay was good and was amply paid for by money received from violators.

[HarrySmith]

WOW, that's a lot of Ernestine's!

Someone should go grab that manhole cover, very nice piece.

[andre_janew]

Wow!  Never knew they had music on "hold" in 1904!

[Fabius]

There must of been a dress code. They all have the same blose and dress. No tank tops nor Daisy Duke shorts.

[AL_as_needed]

Here we are in 2017, and people get news on their phones now more than ever. A mobile app yes, but same principle.

There must of been a dress code. They all have the same blose and dress. No tank tops nor Daisy Duke shorts.

That may have been 1904 "casual" wear.