Telephones
Western Electric Design Line Phones
Introduced in 1974, these phones were intended to spice up the boring old device that had been around for decades.I would have gone for the Chestphone, because then I would have felt like I was a member of U.N.C.L.E. or SMERSH.
Full set of pics and other info here.
Posted By: Paul - Tue May 15, 2018 -
Comments (8)
Category: Business, Advertising, Telephones, 1970s
Follies of the Madmen #365
Posted By: Paul - Sat May 12, 2018 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Tobacco and Smoking, Telephones, 1960s
Avoid Saying Hello
Wall Street Journal - Apr 25, 1983
Posted By: Alex - Thu Apr 05, 2018 -
Comments (3)
Category: Business, Telephones, 1980s
Doral Telephone of Tomorrow
In 1974, Doral cigarettes ran a promotion featuring a telephone of tomorrow. "A $125 Value... It's Yours For Only $69.95."I'm not sure how it was supposed to sell cigarettes, but I was curious if any of these tomorrow telephones were still around. Found one on eBay. Bidding is currently at $2.
Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 03, 2018 -
Comments (4)
Category: Telephones, 1970s
Phone Number Sweater
Give every weird pervert in the world your phone number. What could possibly go wrong with that plan?
Carlisle Evening Sentinel - Sep 30, 1971
Posted By: Alex - Mon Nov 20, 2017 -
Comments (6)
Category: Fashion, Telephones, 1970s
Infraphone
The Infraphone, invented by Douglas Reddan circa 1960, used infrared light to allow people to communicate wirelessly at distances of several hundred yards. You had to aim your infraphone at another infraphone, which you did by looking through a sight on top of the unit. Then you could talk into the device, just like using a phone.It's an interesting idea, but I can't really think of a situation when this would provide an advantage over using a radio walkie talkie. Maybe because the signal can't be intercepted as easily? But then there's the awkwardness of having to aim the device. Articles about it frequently suggested it could be used as a wireless intercom.
Eugene Guard - Nov 14, 1960
Palm Beach Post - June 4, 1961
Popular electronics - Feb 1961 (via RF Cafe)
Posted By: Alex - Sat Aug 12, 2017 -
Comments (3)
Category: Inventions, Telephones, 1960s
Just Imagine
The uproarious laughter by the human executive at the antics of Tommy Telephone, a plainly impossible vision, proclaims that the fellow is gratefully descending into the dark swamp of insanity due to the high stresses of his job.
Posted By: Paul - Sat Dec 10, 2016 -
Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Corporate Mascots, Icons and Spokesbeings, Products, Communications, Delusions, Fantasies and Other Tricks of the Imagination, Technology, Telephones, Cartoons, Stop-motion Animation, 1940s, Brain Damage
Howling Dog Phone Ringer
October 1932: A Seattle woman complained that her phone never rang, but she could tell when someone was trying to call her because her dog would start howling in the yard. The telephone repair guy investigated. Realized the dog wasn't psychic. Instead, there was a short in the line and the dog was chained to the ground wire.
Indianapolis Star - Oct 23, 1932
Posted By: Alex - Wed Mar 09, 2016 -
Comments (3)
Category: Technology, Telephones, 1930s
Hairware
Control your phone by stroking your hair. It's a technology invented by Katia Vega of the Pontifical Catholic University of Rio de Janeiro, who explains: "we add new functionalities to hair extensions, turning them into a seamless device that recognizes auto-contact behaviors concealed to outside observers."This is obviously a technology invented by someone who has lots of hair. Useless for us hairless types. Though she does say she has plans for a way of controlling apps by stroking your beard.
Posted By: Alex - Fri May 01, 2015 -
Comments (5)
Category: Inventions, Telephones, Hair and Hairstyling
Automatic Telephone Dialer
So this gadget stored a few phone numbers and allowed the convenience of one-button dialing. Would such functionality have been worth $360.00 even in 1978?
Original ad here.
Posted By: Paul - Mon Feb 02, 2015 -
Comments (7)
Category: Technology, Telephones, 1970s
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| Alex Boese Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes. Paul Di Filippo Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1. Contact Us |