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Did W.E. ever make a Wireless Telephone??

Started by Partyline4, February 25, 2018, 12:41:41 PM

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Partyline4

I was thinking to myself if Western Electric had ever gotten in the wireless house phone game, and I searched google and didn't come up with any results...I would be surprised if they didn't, seeing as the technology was there during their reign.

Jim Stettler

Alexander Bell invented the photophone.  Voice transmissin over a beam of light.
I read an old how-to article that used two old wood phones and  mirrors to guide the light.
That would make the set-up 'wireless"
Modern light transmission is done with fiber optic.


https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Photophone
https://www.inverse.com/article/9604-how-alexander-graham-bell-pioneered-li-fi-with-the-photophone-in-1880


I think the article was a reprint  in a very old ATCA newsletter.
You live, You learn,
You die, you forget it all.

paul-f

#2
There were experiments conducted for many years. Some of the history was reported in the Bell Laboratories Record issue of June 1967. At the time, they were using the term, "lineless telephone."

There's a copy in the TCI Library. You can search for the keywords if this link doesn't work:

   http://www.telephonecollectors.info/index.php/browse/document-repository/catalogs-manuals/western-electric/bell-labs-record/11603-67jun-blr-p202-experimental-lineless-cordless-telephone/file

Some [Bell System-branded cordless phones] eventually made it to market using the Nomad trade name.
Visit: paul-f.com         WE  500  Design_Line

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poplar1

Weren't the Nomads sold and leased by the phone center stores made by Uniden?
"C'est pas une restauration, c'est une rénovation."--François Martin.

paul-f

Good question, David.

The Nomad 600 was made by Sanyo in Japan.  It's possible that by the time cordless was becoming popular the decision had already been made to get out of the phone making business.

We need to find some catalogs, ads or other info!
Visit: paul-f.com         WE  500  Design_Line

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Partyline4

Wow, I had never heard of the Nomad. Pretty neat looking little phone! Some are pretty expensive on the bay it seems....


Saw one for $150!!!

compubit

I had both a Nomad 1000'and a Nomad 4000 at points in time.

My problem with the Nomad 1000 was getting and keeping a charge on the handset.  The charging pads were a bit finicky on my phone...

NOmad 4000 was rock solid for me.

Jim
A phone phanatic since I was less than 2 (thanks to Fisher Price); collector since a teenager; now able to afford to play!
Favorite Phone: Western Electric Trimline - it just feels right holding it up to my face!

paul-f

Here are two with lower model numbers:

Nomad 200 - made by Uniden in Hong Kong.

Nomad 400 - made by Uniden in Taiwan.

- - - - - from above - - - - -

Nomad 600 - made by Sanyo in Japan.

Nomad 1000 - TBD

Nomad 4000 - TBD (no maker on bottom), made in Taiwan.

Visit: paul-f.com         WE  500  Design_Line

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twocvbloke

Makes me wonder what happened to the designs during that period, everything had sharp, boxy lines, which for telephones it made them uncomfortable at best to use... :-\

That said the Binatone DECT phones in this house aren't exactly nice to use either...  ;D

shadow67

When I was in high school in the 1980s I bought a cordless phone that was a 500 rotary type. It transmitted on the AM radio band around 1700 kHz. My friend and I tweaked it to transmit where we could here it on an AM radio. It was the only one I ever saw. I don't remember the manufacturer.

paul-f

Quote from: shadow67 on March 06, 2018, 07:03:29 PM
When I was in high school in the 1980s I bought a cordless phone that was a 500 rotary type. It transmitted on the AM radio band around 1700 kHz. My friend and I tweaked it to transmit where we could here it on an AM radio. It was the only one I ever saw. I don't remember the manufacturer.

One that was relatively popular was the Rovafone. There are probably others.

There's a nice brochure with cover letter in the TCI Library. (Search for Rovafone if this link doesn't work for you.)

   http://www.telephonecollectors.info/index.php/browse/catalogs-manuals-educational-docs-by-company/other-manufacturers/5326-rovafone-brochure-cordless-phone/file


A short discussion is in this topic:
   http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=8379.0
Visit: paul-f.com         WE  500  Design_Line

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Partyline4

Quote from: paul-f on March 06, 2018, 08:44:45 PM
One that was relatively popular was the Rovafone. There are probably others.

There's a nice brochure with cover letter in the TCI Library. (Search for Rovafone if this link doesn't work for you.)

   http://www.telephonecollectors.info/index.php/browse/catalogs-manuals-educational-docs-by-company/other-manufacturers/5326-rovafone-brochure-cordless-phone/file


A short discussion is in this topic:
   http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=8379.0


THAT IS AWESOME!!

Like what I had pictured, but in reality.

Amazing!