Tucson Field Office partner installs new interpretive display in historic Empire Ranch House

Recently, Tucson Field Office (TFO) partner the Empire Ranch Foundation (ERF) installed a historic candlestick ringer telephone and crank-magneto in the Bookkeeper’s Office of the Empire Ranch House. According to information ERF historian Alison Bunting received from ERF volunteer John Weiss:

“In rural America until the mid-1900s, crank magneto phones were commonly used. Frequently, farmers and ranchers built their own telephone lines (party lines) farms. Not all magneto phones were connected to an operator. The user employed coded ringing to identify between which farm they were calling. The magneto crank only provided the A/C current to ring all the bells on the party line. After ringing, a local battery (2 battery cells) provided the D/C current used for talking.

"The Empire Ranch had one of the first telephones in the area when a line was installed in the 1890s between the ranch and the Pantano railroad station 45 miles north. Talented ERF volunteer, John Weiss, refurbished and mounted a 1908 Kellogg candlestick telephone and Stromberg-Carlson Magneto Ringer ca. 1894 in the Office. This equipment, which was probably used at the Los Encino Guest Ranch in Sonoita, was donated by Frank Hedgcock, ERF Advisory Committee member.”

The phone was mounted on a solid wood piece, with a small platform for the candlestick. Visitors can turn the crank and the ringer will sound. The candlestick is secured to its platform by a special screw, but the earpiece can be lifted, as well. TFO thanks Frank for the donation, John for the wonderful installation, and Alison for the sharing John’s background research and pictures. Our partners do a terrific job of preserving and interpreting our heritage for the public! (Story by Chris Schrager)