An ever-increasing number of people are discovering, or rediscovering, old phones. I don’t recall seeing any collectible grow in popularity as fast. Why the interest? I think it’s a combination of things. I’m inclined to believe that the “baby boomers”, that loosely-defined generation that followed WWII, are partly to blame. They (we) remember the rotary phone with an undeniable fondness, in spite of a brief infatuation with the “modern” touch-tone phones. Once the novelty had passed, pushing buttons seemed somehow a less satisfying, less organic process than that of a rotary dial, and electronic beeps were a poor substitute for the traditional clicking and whirring. It seems that many are just now remembering this, and finding that the old phones can still be enjoyed and used on a daily basis. Rotary phones were once an integral part of life, tied directly to countless fond memories. If nostalgia enhances ones memories a vintage phone can serve as their affirmation, as they’re every bit as enjoyable as we remembered.
Vintage phones were user-friendly in the truest sense, having been designed to provide decades of trouble-free service. Many seventy year old telephones have yet to require their first repair, and those in need of such can usually be fixed with a minimum of tools or knowledge, just as originally intended. Such product longevity is unknown to those born into a touch-tone/cellular world, and could account for the increase in younger enthusiasts. Phones that don’t require firmware updates or annual replacement… who knew?