I don’t blame you guys for loosing patience with me. After all, I’ve been writing way too many posts whose subjects are sort of “out there”. Well, here’s one more, then I’ll try to get back to the business of talking serious phone repair, restoration and history.
OK, let’s get started. First I’d like a show of hands… how many of you are familiar with Connecticut Telephone and Electric? That’s great, almost everyone. They’re probably best known as the company that made the TP-6-A, that cool, art-deco styled phone that is sometimes called the “toaster” or even, believe it or not, the “Soviet Princess”. They were used primarily by the military (as well as seeing extensive intercom and dictaphone use), and are awesome phones. Too bad the government used the bejeezus out of them, ’cause there’s not many around in good condition these days. [Note: More than one phone carried the TP-6-A designation, as it was also applied to the North Electric "Galion" (H-series). It's been said that TP-6-A refers to military phones made specifically for use in tropical climates, which seems plausible.] Connecticut made countless other products as well, including the EE8-A army field phone, but did you know about the Velvetskin Patter? If Connecticut has a skeleton in their closet, this is it. (click image for full 1930 ad) So what is this contraption you ask? It’s a beauty aid, one that performed the all-important task of stimulating the facial muscles. The business-end of the Patter consisted of two pads that functioned like tiny boxing gloves. Just switch it on, put it to your face, and it’ll give you the whoopin’ you so richly deserve. I haven’t had the pleasure of examining one of these, but the two “patters” remind me of “clappers”. You know, like on a telephone ringer. Do you suppose?