[GreenKeys] This will take you back many years...

[Larry Tighe]

Panel Office;

I hung out at the East Orange, NJ panel office summer nites.  I was helping 
Stan, my neighbor/switchman, to get his ham ticket.  We practiced code at 
the switchman's desk.

During breaks, I'd go up to the Test Bureau and play at the testing desk. 
You could go up on the "No Test Trunks" and go right into a busy line and 
listen in.  One card in the box of cards had a red colour to it.  It was 
"Mary's" card...a local prostitute in the area.  I parked the no test line 
finder on her number and listened to the Johns booking time with her.  I 
also "tested" her line with 100+ VDC to see how many ringers she had...she 
had one...and the card showed it had a switch on the ringer...she turned off 
the bell when she was "busy".

Being 17, I knew no fear.  One nite I started taking her calls at the test 
desk....I knew her bell was off and she didn't hear the fone ringing.  It 
was a Monday nite.

I booked all callers in to her for 9PM Wednesday nite...at first they were 
thrown by a young male voice...I assured them I was "helping" her....then it 
was ok.

The next week, I came back to the C.O., her fone was disconnected!  Hmmm, 
wonder why.   LOL

I did lots of other mischief, but later.  C.O.s are great fun! !  BTW, the 
teletype shop was on the ground floor of that building...but who cared at 
17?

lar