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a kennedy

(32,040 posts)
Fri Jul 26, 2024, 07:37 PM Jul 2024

Damn, I kinda wish we still used the phones of the movies back in the 1940's...

They took up the whole side of your face. They were so dramatic.....and expressive, I loved them. Don’t get me wrong.....I love my phone of today, it’s there’s but there’s no excitement in answering a cell phone. Ugh.... boring really.

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Damn, I kinda wish we still used the phones of the movies back in the 1940's... (Original Post) a kennedy Jul 2024 OP
I remember the old black desk phone at my grandma's house Diamond_Dog Jul 2024 #1
You can't *slam* a cell phone. Ocelot II Jul 2024 #2
I love seeing them ms liberty Jul 2024 #3
And you didn't lose your signal. Lochloosa Jul 2024 #4
That's what I miss - the reliability, and the sound quality was better, too. dgauss Jul 2024 #9
Even when your power went out, the phone worked. Lochloosa Jul 2024 #11
And dialing took longer (before buttons) so you had the chance to *not* make that call Coexist Jul 2024 #5
I still have a couple of those.... getagrip_already Jul 2024 #6
Some of the best scenes in the movies were on a DIAL PHONE ....... a kennedy Jul 2024 #7
Dial M for Murder comes to mind. Ocelot II Jul 2024 #8
I have a old box phone. duncang Jul 2024 #10
Loved the old rotary dial phones.... anciano Jul 2024 #12
Cumbersome old things, but I miss them. madamesilverspurs Jul 2024 #13
I need that! Lulu KC Jul 2024 #14

Diamond_Dog

(34,593 posts)
1. I remember the old black desk phone at my grandma's house
Fri Jul 26, 2024, 07:42 PM
Jul 2024

The receiver was real heavy. And when you dialed a number, the dial made a ticks-ticka-ticka sound as it returned to its normal position.

Ocelot II

(120,776 posts)
2. You can't *slam* a cell phone.
Fri Jul 26, 2024, 07:46 PM
Jul 2024

The great thing about the old phones is that if you wanted to end a call dramatically you could slam down the receiver, and the person on the other end of the line would hear a sharp *whack!* sound. It was a way of telling someone to fuck right off without having to say it.

dgauss

(1,067 posts)
9. That's what I miss - the reliability, and the sound quality was better, too.
Fri Jul 26, 2024, 08:14 PM
Jul 2024

I also always liked the sound of a rotary dial.

Lochloosa

(16,401 posts)
11. Even when your power went out, the phone worked.
Fri Jul 26, 2024, 08:40 PM
Jul 2024

That was important in Florida during hurricane season.

Coexist

(26,202 posts)
5. And dialing took longer (before buttons) so you had the chance to *not* make that call
Fri Jul 26, 2024, 07:48 PM
Jul 2024

and in the words of George Carlin, "when you dial a number on your phone, do you ever let your finger get the free ride back?"

duncang

(3,581 posts)
10. I have a old box phone.
Fri Jul 26, 2024, 08:34 PM
Jul 2024

Just for display. One of the desktop crank handle ones without buttons. Had to go through an operator. They can give you a buzz. Decided to see just how bad and cranked it while holding the wires. I disconnected the wires to the crank so the grandkids wouldn’t get shocked.

Edit: I like the old Eiffel Tower rotary desk phones the best. They do make modern replicas that work..

anciano

(1,532 posts)
12. Loved the old rotary dial phones....
Fri Jul 26, 2024, 09:23 PM
Jul 2024

and the phone booths that gave you some privacy when making a call.

madamesilverspurs

(16,038 posts)
13. Cumbersome old things, but I miss them.
Fri Jul 26, 2024, 09:33 PM
Jul 2024

Sometimes, like when I'm tired but need to make a call, I catch myself waiting for a dial tone (yeah, I'm that old).
I'm no good at juggling my cell phone, especially when prompted to push a particular button or series of buttons. Between aging ears and aging eyes, moving the thing to push buttons made for way too many errors. So when I saw an ad for a handset I jumped on it. It's comfortable, familiar, and I can use the keypad while listening or talking.




.

Lulu KC

(4,146 posts)
14. I need that!
Fri Jul 26, 2024, 10:16 PM
Jul 2024

I had one for an old cell phone but it didn't fit my new one. Thanks for reminding me. I could hear so much better and also be heard. It was designed for a human body.

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