how to use a rotary-dial 'phone

[Ellen]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CIDw75mUl6c

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3zjlLb0tqGs&feature=related

[McHeath]

Fun videos.

[Ellen]

Oops, I should have put them in a different thread-folder-column-whatever.  Sorry.

Visiting phriends about ten years ago, I told my kids to call home and tell Daddy something.  They looked at the dial and said, "how?".  Next day I phound a dial phone - somewhere - and they learned (in no time phlat, oph course) to use it.

Same for a dial clock, but harder to learn.  I hadn't realized that we only had digital ones until the 8-yr-old had to go into the other room to find out the time.  My favorite clock (for telling time on) has no numbers or marks except a dot at 3,6,9,12.

Here's an ad from 1957, A&P magazine, 7¢.

Ellen

[McHeath]

Great ad, the Bell System was always promoting what they called extension phones back in the day.  Of course since people had to pay rent on each phone it was a way for the phone company to make more loot.  My folks had three rotary phones when I was a kid: kitchen, bedroom and garage. 

As for the kids not knowing how to dial, I see it at school where I teach as I have a rotary in my class.  Funny watching the kids stick their fingers in the holes and expecting a tone to happen.

[Ellen]

Yeah, the last phone I rented was a red dial one, and when I realized that I was paying $135 a year for it, and I could buy a new (piece of junk) one for $25, I returned it and they THREW it into the back room.  I was appalled! Now I have the AE40, a Western E. 500? and a new piece of junk for those times when there are only robots on the other end.  And 2 yellow wall-dialers in a box downstairs.  When my daughter was 5,  I gave her a phone and a screwdriver and a bucket.  She had a blast, and then I threw it out.  So sorry!!