The complete telephone man e He was mobile, mechanized and well equipped. With his tools around his waist he carried telephones on his back chest and in his bicycle sack. As today telephone men 80 years ago were safety -minded which in that era included wearing your sleeve guards and trouser clipsThe complete telephone man He was mobile, mechanized and well equipped. With his tools around his waist, he carried telephones on his back, chest and in his bicycle sack. As today, telephone men 80 years ago were safety-minded, which in that era included wearing your sleeve guards and trouser clips