Like most of the first crossarm-constructed phone lines built here in New England during the telephone's earliest days, those utilizing crossarms had two lag bolts affixing them to their poles, like the one seen here. The very earliest ones probably did not have crossarm braces but I am not sure. I estimate this is an early-mid 1890s line and built by New England Telephone and Telegraph Company. At some time around the late teens Ma Bell started using 10-pin crossarms. These were heavily creosoted to withstand the extremes of our New England weather. They were built to last forever. I remember them well! Their crossarm braces were mounted *outside* the arm; likely a Bell Standard from previous years.