The 90v(?) AC that comes through the phone line to make it ring was intended to be powerful enough to ring a physical bell. Back before the exchange was automat

The 90v(?) AC that comes through the phone line to make it ring was intended to be powerful enough to ring a physical bell. Back before the exchange was automated, home telephones had a hand-cranked generator to produce that signal. According to my dad, kids used to take those out of old phones and use them for all kinds of shenanigans. (Like shocking their friends, siblings, and the dog, I'm guessing.)