Sunday, September 05, 2010

Why do I Love Rotary Phones?

(Hubby in a rotary payphone booth at the antiques mall)


Why do I love rotary phones so much (ranking right up there with my irrational love for canister sets, atomic lampshades, and chrome)? It's bad enough I remember calling my friends on them as a child! I miss the swirl of the dial as you dialed each digit, and you could not wait for the number to connect! Sometimes even now, I have to look around to find the rotary phone when I am out and hear someone's "retro" cell ring tone...Recently we put a red rotary table phone in our bedroom, and I can now say we are both half-deaf and highly nervous...that was taken out ASAP! We put it there because it is one of the only rooms in this "quaint" (translation, hard-to-live-in) 1920 money pit with a phone jack, other than the kitchen, where the microwave sits. I wonder, how did we stand them growing up?



Orange Rotary Phone
Originally uploaded by redgiantsfan


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17 comments:

Lidian said...

I know! My dad had one until last year, in a bedroom (the kitchen phone was modern!). We were staying with him years ago, in that bedroom, and the loud jangling was really, really not a good thing. I wonder how we all used to stand the noise, too.

disco said...

I love them to then!! Still do now! LOL. Maybe because my family had them when I was growing up! Then they evolved to a boxy looking phone box with big square press buttons.. =p

x Mavy
http://dialogueswithafruitcake.blogspot.com/

Armpit Studios said...

Those things were so solid and heavy too, unlike the cheap plastic things they sell these days. One of those rotaries would stay put on the desk even when you stretched the coiled cord way out to get a Ding Dong out of the cupboard. They just felt good and dependable to use, and could survive countless slammings-down of the receiver.

Barbara said...

I love the old phones. If you don't want that orange one, I'll take it off your hands!

You NEVER had to replace one of those phones. NEVER.

Haddock said...

Some old things still holds its charm, function wise as well as for the emotional bonding.

Desiree said...

Rotary phones are so cute! My grandmother used to have this incredibly ornate one in the living room that was about three feet high. So cool.

Jim said...

I loved the 'ring' they had. I just bought an 'egg timer' and it's 'ring' is very similar to the old phone's! Every time it goes off.....I almost answer it!
Jim

Nostalgically Yours said...

I adore rotary phones, even if they are loud and rather jarring. I remember my uncle kept his old rotary phone from college in his bedroom at my grandmother's house. If I ever had to call home from there I insisted on using that old rotary. It's the reason I have the old-fashioned ringtone on my phone. I've wanted it since before it came as a preset on the iPhone...

We probably stood the noise for the same reason we stood coal ovens at the turn of the century - we didn't know anything else. These phones were developed in an age where there was usually only one phone per household, so they had to be loud so you could hear them from anywhere in the house.

quizshowbob said...

Yes, I love those big black rotary phones that could be used as weapons and have ring tones that break the sound barrier.

lqaaesthetic said...

We love our Cortelco, tan rotary so much, we just had to make it the "front lines" our business: 
http://lqaaesthetic.com/contact.php

Rin [FrostyMint] said...

We used to have one of these when I was a kid. It was black and yes [agree with one of the comments above] heavy. I guess if I still had one I wouldn't have used it, I can't stand loud noises. But I do like old things because they come with stories...interesting stories.

Anonymous said...

As a coin have two side...same as with rotary phones...some hates it coz its heavy one & ring is like irritating and also look outfashioned...While there are many who likes it coz many have hobby of collecting OLD ANTIQUE..while some feel its as easy to use..inspite of using nowadays enhanced phone which is even hard to open the KEYPAD LOCK...So its all depends on chioce and comfortability of using.
Bathroom Suites

jena ardell said...

Rotatory phones are the best!! Not only are they adorable, but less electromagnetic waves and radiation against your head...

MomWaldsPlace said...

My hubby is a "Phone Guy". He used to refurbish vintage phones for folks. Although we have several stashed around here, he never did one for us. He's also a techno geek, and has to have the latest cell phone. My hubby has a split personality, aaaaaghhhh!

Seriously though, some of the art deco phones are downright sexy. The olive green wall phone from my mom's place is NOT.

Julia @ Boredom Abounds said...

I love old phones - I inherited my grandmother's old rotary phone a few years ago, but it's one of those ridiculously ornate gold and white things and it's in need of a good polish! Still works perfectly as well.

Beaut said...

Groovy, I just love those auld phones.
It really does bring back all my old memories when I see one

Beaut xxx
Rockabilly Clothing

Farm Girl Pink... said...

Well I have in use 2 vintage 60's era Pink phones... the original Bell made phones.

One is the original pink Princess rotary. Which I had the line to the ringer, sniped. Because, yes, that ringer could wake the dead.

And I have my pride and joy... my pink Princess trim line phone. With the push button pad in the hand set.

Both of them are a fine weapon of choice. If you find your self needing to knock someone out on short notice.

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