Bakelite

[quuf]

Comments

[maxauburn]

I never cared overmuch for those old rotary phones.

I'd often forget where I was in the dialing, and have to start all over again!

But I do remember them-I'm 55-but I don't think fondly of them.

[quuf]

De gustibus . . .

(Good use of overmuch. The last time I read it used by a contemporary was in an Advocate article on gay Dublin more than 20 years ago! Funny, the things we remember.)

[sunbeam_bears]

We have 2 of those phones. One is an extension, both work, but are unplugged because of the loud ringer box.

[quuf]

Wow! They must be very old indeed. The ringer unit wasn't moved into the body of Western Electric telephones until about 1936.

[dorjejaguar]

:) Thank you.

[quuf]

You're welcome!

[dorjejaguar]

:)

[danthered]

For this post, I ♥ you. Every bit of it, from the rhapsody for Bakelite (which has three syllables!) to the use of "clangorous".

I've long been partial to the Automatic Electric equipment - nothing against H. Dreyfuss or his design work (your #302 and its thermoplastic successor, the #500) but I prefer the lines of the AE #40 and its "jukebox" wall variant, the #50. Take a moment and do a Google image search on "Automatic Electric" 50 and "Automatic Electric" 40.

Also, some of the AE ringers have a minor-5th musical interval between their two gong notes, much more interesting than the usual WE 3rd.

[quuf]

Oh, I've loved those Automatic Electric models forever. They make my mouth water -- better yet, they make my finger twitch. If I had to choose between the two, I think I'd select the AE #50. There's something purposeful and austere about wall phones that makes them attractive to me (For the record, here's one of my favorite photographs).

I remain uncomfortable using a cellphone after ten years or so (Obviously, a late adopter). I'm a realist, however, and know all too well the necessity of mobile communication. Which is why I'd really rather have one of these. I'd even be willing to shlep it everywhere!

Thanks for the kind remarks.

[bearhedded]

i still don't have one.

[quuf]

No cellphone? Good for you! I bought mine for emergencies related to elderly parents, but I'm not sure I'd miss it. On the other hand, it's probably become more indispensable than I realize.

[seattleforge]

Love this.

[quuf]

Thanks, S! Glad you're not offended. :)