The lanterns were hung on saw horse type barricades to warn drivers and pedestrians to keep away from the work area, especially if the work involved digging holes for utility poles. Underground telephone lines were very rare back then.

This week's Guest Host: Henry Fonda.

I remember visiting my Grandfather on his Northern Wisconsin farm back in the 70's. Granted, all the vehicles he owned weren't anywhere near as old as the truck in this picture but looking at the picture and the inside of that cab, I got a whiff in my minds eye of how his farm truck use to smell. You know...that oil, leather, sweat and dirt smell?

Thanks for bringing that back to me Shorpy.

"You don't like the service, mac? Tough. We've got a monopoly."

I love the pinstripe suit-jacket with the long leather gauntlets. Definitely not standard lineman threads today! I would also assume that the kerosene lanterns are not for use in manholes. (Besides consuming oxygen, they would tend to announce the presence of methane in a rather dramatic fashion.)