Telling and Selling
Telephone History, Vintage Photographs August 6th. 2008, 6:07pm
I’m not sure what “Telling and Selling” is all about, but the chart appears to reference efforts to increase the number of extension phones. While the photo is undated, I suspect it to be from the late ’50s. The phones themselves are just the thing for bedroom use, the model 500-U “mushroom phone”, a variation that featured a small lamp to illuminate the dial. (To get a better look, here’s the giant version) Thanks go to Dennis Markham for identifying the phones!



August 6th, 2008 at 8:30 pm
Those telephones all appear to be 500 P/U “Mushroom” phones. It’s unfortunate the photo is not in color. I think what we would see there are some rare colors. The one in the back row, left side could be Oxford gray. That collection of telephones would be worth a bundle today!
[Boy do I feel silly. I saw the switches on the bottom-left of the phones, but didn't even think of looking for the dial lamp. Good eyes, Dennis! Yes, that would be an incredible set of phones to own today. As you said, I wish the photograph was in color! - Mark]