Landline Telephones

[washabear]

I have a landline as my main phone. The phone itself is just a cheapie ATT unit that has a caller ID display and an answering machine built in. The answering machine, which is digital, sounds horrible, but because I am a screener, an answering machine is a must; finding a phone that has one is quite difficult these days, but I wanted an all-in-one unit rather than separate pieces hooked up to each other. I rarely answer the phone unless it is someone I know, and if “unknown caller” comes up on the display, I want to hear who is calling before I decide whether I will answer. As far as I know, you can’t do that with a cell phone.

I do have a prepaid cell phone as well, which I keep strictly for emergencies. It came in handy awhile back when I was in a collision and was able to call police, insurance company, etc immediately. So having both works best for me.

 

[48bencix]

No Cell

We have a nice red Western Electric touch tone in the kitchen (desk model). I have a green Western Electric dial phone in my bedroom and a yellow Western Electric dial phone with amplified handset in my office. I got rid of the cordless ones, the charge lasted less and less as time went on. I can pull the kitchen one into the family room if I need to. I don't mind getting up to answer the phone. Plus we have dsl on the phone line, with wi-fi to our computers. My partner has a cell, where he recieves all of his personal calls. We also have a fax machine, strange how that comes in handy sometimes.

I do love the Western Electric phones, hefty, great bell, last forever and good sound. I also have a Western Electric Telstar phone that is not hooked up.

I also found a radio shack add-on speaker phone (circa 1982) that I have in the kitchen along with a cheapo answering machine to be somewhat up to date. I still have my tele-zapper plugged in even though I am on the do not call list.

Martin

 

[rp2813]

Bruce, your landline system and methods of use are almost exactly like mine. I have a Panasonic cordless phone and answering system with an extra handset and base. It has a feature where it will announce the name of the caller if it's on the Caller ID display. She doesn't always pronounce the names exactly right though. I screen everything so telco-provided voice mail won't work for me.

Cell phones will usually display at least the number of who is calling. You can choose to flip the thing open or not based on what is displaying on the cover's screen, if your phone has one. Also, most cell phones have a feature where you can attach a name to a number. So when that person calls you, their name is displayed rather than a number you may or may not recognize. With menu-driven dialing these days, many people don't bother to memorize anybody's phone number anymore.

Also forgot to include in my response on the alpha-numeric dialing my observation that while the alphabet on the phone dial basically became unnecessary once the North American Dialing plan (when Area Codes were introduced starting in 1947) had been completely rolled out sometime in the 60's, the letters remained on virtually every phone produced regardless. Business owners were the only people making use of the letters to spell something out with their phone number. Now, with the texting phenomenon, the letters on the touchpad have taken on an entirely different purpose from what they were originally intended to do--along with the dial itself--which was to eliminate the operator from the equation when making a local (and later long distance) phone call.

I remember when my aunt from Chicagoland came out to spend the winter back in the late 70's and I took her to the Phone Store to order her service. The young clerk there asked for a local number where she could be reached, and she provided my parents', rattling it off to him as "CY5-XXXX" and he just gave her a blank stare and asked again. She repeated it and he told her "that isn't a telephone number" and she assured him it was. I just stood there and let him squirm, as it didn't take a rocket scientist to substitute "295" for "CY5" and the kid worked for the frigging Phone Company for cryin' out loud! It's not like alpha-numeric wasn't still painted on the sides of trucks or still on old signage across the country at that time.

A couple of alpha-numerics I still remember from being a kid are the SF Chronicle: GArfield 1-1111 and SF Examinier: SUtter 1-2424. I guess they ran a lot of TV ads because those two were drilled into me forever. Most of "The Emporium" department stores had last 4 digits 1111. The local one growing up was AXminster 6-1111.

OK, I need to stop. This stuff makes me feel way too oooooooold!

 

[launderess]

Only Alpha-Numeric Phone Number One Remembers

Is "BUtterfield8----", from the film.

No, I tell a lie, growing up there were still lots of local businesses that used alpha-numeric phone numbers such as "SA7***" and such.

By the way, BUtterfield was the exchange for parts of the Upper East Side of Manhattan in NYC. There are still a few long established businesses that use the exchange, including BUtterfield Market.

L.

 

[rp2813]

L, yes, under all of the older telephone numbers in use today lies their original alpha-numeric exchange.

I remember as the new non-alpha-numeric phone numbers started cropping up locally, they sounded so foreign. You might as well have been calling to another planet since you couldn't equate them with any of the local alpha prefixes.

Of course BUtterfield is a very famous exchange thanks to our gal Liz. "NO Sale!" These days on TV and in movies you still hear "555" as the prefix most of the time. But back in the alpha-numeric days it was always "KLondike 5" that was used. I presume 555 is still a prefix that's proprietary (if that's the right term--aren't they all?) to the telcos since it's not one that's issued for general use.

Mary Wells also immortalized BEechwood 4-5789. I wonder how she got away with that?

The Hitchcock film "Dial M for Murder" has a scene where the phone is dialed and then cuts to the central office where the mechanical switches spiral down on their posts, clicking off the numbers as dialed. A great little view of pre-electronic switching technology.

 

[polkanut]

I have a cell and landline also. I must agree that landline quality is much better, at least you don't have to deal with dropped calls. Here in Wausau our alpha-numeric exchange was and for the most part still is Viking, such as VI8-2435.

 

[paulg]

Chicago boy

Have a cell, but only out of necessity. Have Sony cordless phone, various vintage touch-tones plus a Stromberg-Carlson rotary wallmount (PhoneCo rebuilt).
I remember using the Stromberg-Carlson not too long ago and the other person said "Gosh, you sound sooo CLEAR".
.... Stromberg-Carlson clear, my dear...

 

[fnelson487]

I Worked My Way Through High School and College

At the phone company switchboard (cord and push buttons) and therefore have a soft place in my heart for the good old days of landlines, operators and good old phone company service. Probably one of the most reliable utilities known. Here is my tribute to those days. Hooked up and working after 40 years. A WE cord board. Built like a Sherman tank. Fun to play with too! Works with touchtone or rotary dial.

 

[fnelson487]

Another Gem

A metal 302. This thing would work after a nuclear blast!

 

[fnelson487]

This Thread Would Not Be Complete

Without a Princess! It's lovely and it lights! (And this one does!)

 

[fnelson487]

Terry In Training

Breaking every phone company rule!

 

[fnelson487]

Gotta Do One More

Reminds me of the Park Ridge, Il exchange. Central Telephone. Looks like the inward operator positions.

 

[cehalstead]

it's also "little"

I am quoting from the original box for my pink rotary Princess:

"It's Little.....It's Lovely.....It Lights"

 

[fnelson487]

Chuck

I knew I was leaving something out!

Fred

 

[fnelson487]

A Good Old Basic

Western Electric phone. Works with the switchboard too!

 

[maytagbear]

YES!!!!!!!! ^^^^^^^^

The phone above this post, the black WE touchtone desk set on the chrome pedestal...I want, and have not yet found one like it. Colour does not matter. Beige, white, blue, red, chartreuse....

I have only recently seen them in crap condition, or in pristine condition with Tiffany prices.

The next town over (Ravenna) was "AXminster6" or "AXminster7."

Kent is ORchard. First exchange was "ORchard3." I currently have an ORchard3 number, after having and ORchard8 for a long time.

Real phones. Real phone company offices, in which a bill could be paid in person. Real repairs the same day..........

Lawrence/Maytagbear

 

[pdub]

I have a modest phone collection myself. Here are a few pictures.

 

[pdub]

Another pic

 

[pdub]

One last pic.

 

[sdlee]

oh man....

....why does this happen? Pdub until last summer I had the box for that little green globe radio on your shelf. I had a red one in jr high.I hope you already have a box.

Maytagbear I see those phones all the time around here so when rummage sale season starts again Ill keep my eyes peeled for you. Its one of my faves too but Im probably not going to collect phones (no space) The one I really wanted in the 70s was the Doughnut phone. I wanted a brown one so badly.

Now with those out of the way I can NOT beleieve this thread has went on Sooooo Long with no mention of Bensonhurst 920....You New Yorkers know what Im referring to.For the rest of you heres a clue....One of these days Alice...(POW)..to the moon!!!!

And what? Not one single mention of Lily aka Miss Ernestine Tomlin? A crisp business like hello to you all!!!

thats one ringy dingy.....two ringy dingys.....

 

[superelectronic]

The bells, the bells!

Oh, how this thread has made me smile! Over here in Britain I am a devout user of the vintage phone on a landline. I don't own a mobile (cell) phone even though people have tried to give me one. There's something to be said for remaining incommunicado whilst out and about and I just can't cross that bridge into mobile ownership...yet.

It's the bell ringer that does it for me (modern reproductions don't really cut it though - it's always one anaemic bell - not the traditional two)...ringing out load and pround in the hall, with the satisfying weight of the handset when you pick it up. Who cares if it's a pain to rotary dial - a phone call should be an experience, not a mundane task! I have made a concession to modernity with a touch-tone phone in my bedroom for those inevitable call centre experiences, plus caller display to see who's called when I'm out.

I agree with the point about mobiles not being much use as a safety measure - more likely to attract the attention of maurauding vagabonds in the street! No good as a weapon, that's for sure!

Here's a link to my favourite style - the 746 in ivory. Mine is similar but has been converted to pushbutton pulse dialing (I do have the model pictured too but it adorns my parents' landing. The rotary dial verion I was using in grey/brown colourway that can be seen on the site in the link needs a new dialer since the spring snapped).

Happy dialing!

Al

http://www.dialretrotelephones.co.uk/popup_image.php?pID=348&osCsid=f8422b25aaac72a0bd45abdaafa0e7f1

 

[superelectronic]

Correction...

My phone rings LOUD and PROUD, not "load and pround".

Dashed happy fingers...!

Link to the full site of vintage Brit phones below.

Bye!

Al

http://www.dialretrotelephones.co.uk

 

[superelectronic]

Et finalement...

Apologies for a third posting, but here's another site where you can see some different (older) classic Brit phones, amongst others.

I know these are sales sites but I'm not trying to drum up business for them, promise!

Al

http://www.uk-telephones.com

 

[launderess]

So Many Extensions We Have Today

Anyone remember when having just one telephone in a house was normal? It was usually in the front hall, and in some homes was in a special nook designed for the purpose. Of course this meant when telephone calls came at off hours (which back in the old days wasn anytime after 8PM, the whole household would gather around the the phone to see "who could be calling" at this hour. Late night calls always seemed to me to be about bad news; someone very ill, or dying, or had passed. Someone was in the hospital or in an accident, you know. Of course late night calls could be good news as well, like someone having a baby, or just arrived home from serving overseas in the military.

Extensions weren't cheap, therefore it was really grand living to have say a telephone in the kitchen, front hall/parlour and perhaps the master bedroom.

Remember once whilst watching the a telephone repair man fix a phone in our kitchen as a child, saw him call in to make the phone ring back. He told me the dial code and what fun I had! Well until I got found out, that is; got grounded, nearly a whippin, and that was the end of that. *LOL*

 

[launderess]

Much as we all may love vintage telephones, leave us not have a love fest over the former AT&T. MaBell was a real "mother" alright, everything cost dear; from rates, to installation charges, to equipment. Didn't like it? Tough chedder, they were a monopoly and there wasn't anything you could do.

 

[buffster]

Fred and Patrick...

Fred,

Love the 302; though I don't remember seeing it during my visit. (Can't imagine why with so many toys with which to play. My mind is still reeling.) That photo of Terry at the switchboard cracks me up. Toys, toys and more toys. What fun! Did I mention that I finally got my first princess phone?! Seems to have a problem in the receiver though.

Patrick,
WE NEED TO TALK! I'm in awe of your collection. Mine pales in comparison. Love the Trimlines. What fabulous colors. I also love the IBM wall clock and Suzy Homemaker stove, washing machine and is that a Suzy Homemaker blender?! Greg Nunn where are you. He's going to be pea green with envy when he sees that!

Do you find most of your treasures locally? Portland is my old stomping ground. If you'd like to chat further, email me offline. I'm curious to learn in what part of Portland you live.

Here are a few selections from my small, but always growing collection.

 

[buffster]

A parting shot...

I owe a big thank you to Terry Lattz, Jeff Parker and Michael Shelley for contributing wonderful additions to my collection (not shown in these photos). I've enjoyed using the beige rotary Trimline from Michael and Jeff quite a bit lately.

 

[jamiel]

In our town it was TAylor 1 and TAylor 2, WOodland 5 and WOodland 6. Next exchange over was WOodland 1 and WOodland 2.

It was weird because the exchange boundaries didn't match the town boundaries, and didn't follow roads very well, either. In our area of St. Louis, Watson Road (Hwy 66) was a logical break, but the actual exchange boundary was about 1/2 mile south on West Watson. North of that you were on the Kirkwood, MO exchange...south of that you were on the Sappington, MO exchange.

I remember being concerned (and now I'm in the phone biz...) when we got our first centralized emergency number (343-4151)--predated 911. We lived on the Kirkwood exchange side of our town (Crestwood) but had our own fire/emergency/police. I remember wondering how they'd be able to figure out that they should dispatch Crestwood rather than Kirkwood fire/emergency/police. This would have been mid-70s.

 

[jamiel]

To answer the question posed here, yes, still have a landline but use it very rarely...don't even remember the landline number, but have DSL and haven't bestirred myself to optimize things by dropping the landline and doing naked DSL (yes, that's the name for it...technically it's a dry loop).

I think the main problem is that I've got a sweeeeeet cellphone plan which just about matches my mobile usage (Cingular isn't making much on me) and I'm loath to give up that good plan to get more minutes (which I'd need if I gave up the landline for toll-free usage, for instance)

 

[pdub]

Mike,

Thanks for the compliments. I will drop you an email. You have some beautiful specimens there yourself. I love the hardwired handset cord trimlines you have in olive, and red especially. I have the same in pink and red and was amazed at how clean and shiney they were when I found them. This past summer I procured a few more and then told myself that I think I have enough. (right! you know how that goes) I've been lucky with garage sales, antique & collectible shows, and some from ebay. Working for the phone company for most of my career hasn't hurt either.

Patrick

Here's a fun pic.