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Out My Window

RV Living .

Old Phone for us Old Timers

I was wondering what happened to my phone. I do remember when we ordered a new style phone that was colored instead of black. When it was hooked up the first thing I noticed was it was soooo light. No longer a threat to my little sister. This one almost bounced rather than taking a chunk out of the floor boards if it was dropped.
From that point on, it was just a blur.
Lighted dials, Princess style, Slimline, phones that chirped at you instead of ringing.
One day, all the pay phones vanished!
If you are one of those that turned around one day and said "What happened to my phone?" This is for you.

The Port-O-Rotary, available now in red, is an original rotary phone that has been specially modified to function like a mobile cell phone. All you have to do is open the phone, insert your SIM card, and turn the unit on which will operate your phone number and account minutes.

What keeps the retro mood alive is that this phone has a dial tone, dials out through the rotary and the incoming calls ring the original, loud, gong style metal bells. Its best features: the internal cellular module works within any country that has one of the 900MHz, 1800MHz, or 1900MHz cellular bands and the battery can run for 4-5 days and is charged by an external jack on the rear of the phone. The Port-O-Rotary is truly international with up to 15-digit dialing, auto-frequency selection, '+' characters, and PIN # entry for pre-paid cards.

Life Support50's Anyone?

Comments

Lois 27. December 2008, 01:10

I even remember my great grandfather's phone. It was beautifully finished oak, fixed to the wall and you had to use the crank to get "operator"! Whenever I would try to call my father at work, the operator would ask me, "Little girl, are you playing on the phone?" Our first phone number was 373J3

Larry 14. January 2009, 23:01

I want one, but I want it in Royal Blue. :D

Rick 15. January 2009, 04:08

Wonder if anyone remembers the Ericophone?
It twittered or chirped instead of ringing. The tone was not loud but it really carried.

It was my favorite from the 60's.

Larry 15. January 2009, 04:26

I don't remember ever seeing one of those before. How did you make a call? I don't see any buttons or switches.

Rick 15. January 2009, 15:09

The hook switch is a button on the bottom. When you lift it up, it is off hook.
That button was in the center of a dial.
It had a lighted dial when you picked it up.
Something scary because we weren't told about it and didn't notice in the light... when it chirped it lights up in the handle to the strobe of the sound.
Can you imagine laying in bed the first night you had this phone and getting your first call?

Lois 16. January 2009, 03:01

:lol: That would make you wonder if you were asleep and dreaming!

Bryan S. Welborn 28. January 2009, 02:57

We used to have an olive green version of this kind of phone. It matched the kitchen stove and fridge. Yeah...olive green.

Rick 28. January 2009, 05:04

Ah yes. Part of the Avocado, Harvest Gold, and Almond appliance age.
Seems there was also a turquoise and a brown in there someplace.
I remember having mixed colors because we had to buy a new stove and were waiting on the fridge to go out. Trash compactor and dish washer had panels you could take out and turn over for a new color.
Speaking of which... do they still make trash compactors?

Bryan S. Welborn 31. January 2009, 05:00

Here's the way it looked, I forgot about the edging of the colorscheme.
http://thatwasthen1968.com/1968images/harvest-appliances-ad.jpg

Hey, what about those Swag lamps, those were cool huh?! Man, oh man.
http://www.curbly.com/uploads/photos/0000/0002/2913/4NbQV5OJRl5torRx9QXuS8w2dQEL_large.jpg

Trash compactors? Yes:
http://www.cnet.com/8301-13553_1-10073666-32.html

Rick 31. January 2009, 06:10

That swag lamp would look good with the green shag carpet.

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