In message , "Dave Plowman (News)"
writes
In article m,
wrote:
It's common practice in England to ring a telephone by signaling extra
voltage across one side of the two wire circuit and ground (earth in
England).

No it's not - and hasn't been for many many years. Such devices were known
as party lines.

A friend of mine on the Wirral had one of these years ago, he wired an
extension to his line into his workshop. Not realising how it worked he
just earthed one side of the pair to initiate a call, unfortunately it
was the side that set the other parties meter running, he had a visit
from the GPO to explain the facts of life and signalling to him.


--
Bill