I used to install them. I remember a cool new device, we called it an AML, allowed party lines to become private lines over the same wires when there was a shortage of dedicated pairs for each separate line. Wow have things changed
I agree, I worked for Bell Canada and it was the same 48 volts with a ringing voltage of over 100. 40 feet up a pole wearing spurs in the rain and someone decides to call the line you are working on, I am sure we all been there done that.