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Hideous Telephones

Started by Stephen Furley, August 04, 2009, 05:42:30 PM

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Willytx

Quote from: GG on May 12, 2011, 05:06:45 AM


....

In any case, very well done.  Doesn't appear to be paint, doesn't appear to be some kind of contact paper.  So how did they do that one?  Some kind of elasticized fabric, or "wrap" material?  But if that, then how'd it go on without obvious stretching of the imagery around the corners?  Not that I have any desire to turn a phone into a psychiatric fire-alarm, but it would be interesting to know.

Mod Podge. http://www.plaidonline.com/mod-podge/brand/home.htm

Not that I'm advocating more of this horror.

Owain

Quote from: GG on May 12, 2011, 05:06:45 AM



In any case, very well done.  Doesn't appear to be paint, doesn't appear to be some kind of contact paper.  So how did they do that one?  Some kind of elasticized fabric, or "wrap" material?  But if that, then how'd it go on without obvious stretching of the imagery around the corners? 

There appears to be a break in pattern (half a red flower) along  the front and right hand side panels, so I'd guess careful cutting of the fabric

DavePEI

Quote from: Owain on May 12, 2011, 03:53:38 PM
There appears to be a break in pattern (half a red flower) along  the front and right hand side panels, so I'd guess careful cutting of the fabric

Definitely a step above the first two examples... Think I will turn a candlestick into a lamp, then cover it with sequins, decoupage, or flowers! At least I would call this one folk art!
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

Wallphone

Dave, don't even think about it. If you do we'll all come out to the Maritimes and hunt you down and confiscate it. Besides that, you would probably lose your Museum License doing that kind of stuff.
Doug Pav

DavePEI

Quote from: Wallphone on May 12, 2011, 06:51:07 PM
Dave, don't even think about it. If you do we'll all come out to the Maritimes and hunt you down and confiscate it. Besides that, you would probably lose your Museum License doing that kind of stuff.
Doug Pav
:o  :D
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

Wallphone

Dave, Sorry about the threat, that would just give me an excuse to come out and see the Maritimes which is something I've always wanted to do before my time is up.
Doug Pav

DavePEI

#171
Quote from: Wallphone on May 12, 2011, 07:20:15 PM
Dave, Sorry about the threat, that would just give me an excuse to come out and see the Maritimes which is something I've always wanted to do before my time is up.
Doug Pav

Hi Doug:

I know you were! Who needs an excuse. Here's one - it is almost summer. Great time to plan a trip!

If you do get to the Island some day, you will be able to see my budding telegraph display, too. I figured since I had the teletype display as well as the phones, I might as well add telegraph!

http://www.qsl.net/vy2ac/rtty.html

I was able to purchase a Western Union sounder tonight, and have my old Ham radio Speed-x key, and have another older key coming whenever I get together with a fellow in Kensington, on the other end of the island. As time goes on, I will add to that display. whenever my pays get going again after being forced into medical retirement.

What can I say. I love all old technology (so long as it isn't decorated!).

Dave
The Telephone Museum of Prince Edward Island:
http://www.islandregister.com/phones/museum.html
Free Admission - Call (902) 651-2762 to arrange a visit!
C*NET 1-651-0001

Greg G.

#172
Beyond saving, from the discription of the paint(s) and method(s) used.

http://tinyurl.com/3zwrk6v ( dead link 02-21-21 )
The idea that a four-year degree is the only path to worthwhile knowledge is insane.
- Mike Row
e

old_stuff_hound

Dredging up an old thread....

This one is a turkey:
http://funtimeshad.com/2011/11/thanksgiving-time-to-eat/


m1898

At least they didn't use a rotary phone.
"Oh lord it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, I get better looking each day"

m1898

#175
Quote from: Brinybay on July 18, 2011, 05:48:49 AM
Beyond saving, from the discription of the paint(s) and method(s) used.

Looks like they had way too much of that medical maryjane or something.
"Oh lord it's hard to be humble, when you're perfect in every way. I can't wait to look in the mirror, I get better looking each day"

TelePlay

This thread is always good for a laugh, some much louder and longer than others, and of course, at times its unfortunately a sad head shaking laugh. :-\

GG



I don't object to the hand-painted psychedelic paint jobs, as long as they're done on phones that aren't historically important such as 1950 500s.  (Medical MJ doesn't make people do that; I have a couple of friends who use it, and one of them is about to get the all-clear for permanent remission from a brain tumor, which means he's cured.)

Re. 80-E, I personally like them, particularly the 2-line/2-hold version, 85-E, which is highly practical for normal use with two lines or with one line and intercom.

However, they had a few serious flaws:  One, paper facemats rather than proper faceplates (or alternately, put the digits under the finger-holes, like GPO 746, at which point paper facemats are OK because they're easy to reproduce without the alphanumerics on them).  Two, the flexible mounting brackets for the dials, which caused the dials to wiggle during dialing.  Three, the solid fingerwheels mounted with a single screw at the center, which make it impossible to use conventional number cards.  Fix those three things and you have a phone that's at least as good as the European phones of its era, with the best audio of anything that ever used a carbon mic. 

You can fix two out of three by simply coating the facemat front & back with clear "contact" self-adhesive plastic.  This prevents the facemat from getting damaged due to ambient dampness or liquid spills.  Trim the interior circle just a tiny bit smaller than the original dial hole, and it will also prevent the dial wiggling around during dialing.  For those pesky dial fingerwheels, use self-adhesive "contact" plastic in white or ivory, applied to the dial center and then trimmed to size with an X-acto blade. 

---

My idea of "hideous phones":

Go here: http://www.britishtelephones.com/identify/candle1.htm

Scroll down to look at some of those reproduction desk stands.  Eeee-yow!  Especially the 4th picture down on the left, and the 3rd one down on the right. 

Some of those use ITI (India) dials.  However the phones are not real ITI, which made a GPO 150 that is a correct version in the same sense as ITI's version of the 332 is correct: it's another country's adaptation of a widely-used design, built to telco specs. 

In general, repros that are all gaudy with excessive brass and gaudy decorative nonsense, and/or have proportions that bear no resemblance to the proportions of the thing they're trying to emulate, are what I consider hideous.  The 1970s Japanese repro desk stands were OK because they got the basic proportions correct and used quality parts.  The awful things on the linked page are awful because they look like they were designed by someone who was drinking on the job.  But even those aren't as horrid as some of the truly nasty creations we occasionally see on Ebay.

Oh, one more special nomination for hideous: the "wine glass" phone that uses the general configuration of a candlestick, and something that looks like a bottle for the base and a glass for the receiver.  That one is so bad it ought to be illegal. 


bingster

RE: The turkey phone... Aren't the legs pointing the wrong way?  They seem to be for a turkey that walks upright.
= DARRIN =



JubileeCompact

#179
This works for me!

http://tinyurl.com/86gpk2b ( dead link 02-21-21 )
Seamus