Personal Resilience: Low-Tech - the Rotary Phone
Hi there. Here is my pride and joy: my Northern Telecoms (when it still made things, before it descended into crookery) rotary phone. I bought it on Kijiji. It probably anchored some bureaucrat’s desk in Ottawa for donkey years. Anyway, my son showed me how to fix its cable and it works great. More below, including disgusting photos of its gizzards :=)
I like it because it reminds me of my youth and it will work just fine during power outages. I have no problem dialing it the old, long way. The action and sound is comforting to me.
I’ve added photos of its gizzards to show it’s mechanical parts. Unlike a cell phone, it’s mechanical parts are replaceable (even if parts are scarce nowadays. :=)
(The volume dial is on the base.)
When I use it, I have to be seated next to it. I couldn’t walk around with it and talk while doing other things. I can focus just on the call and the person with whom I am conversing. (I have trouble with phones - sigh, ptsd.)
This phone is for outgoing emergency calls and incoming emergency calls from the kids if they can’t reach the cell number. That’s all I use it for. Well, it would also be good for clobbering an intruder over the head :=) It’s solid metal, except for the top cover, which is a heavy plastic, and weighs a hefty amount.
BTW, I’m not a complete Luddite: I took the photos with my (hand-me-down-from-one-of-the-kids) iPod :=)
Marching back to the 70s - and whistling while I do so :=) I do hope you would tell us about your own low-tech doo-hickeys.
Peace be with us, if we work towards personal resilience,
gerrit
Comments
An idea I had not thought of.
I like them, too. Have to see what I can find.
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
Hi Bisbo, hope you're having a great day, mate. Cool, I hope
you find one nearby with ease. Mine brings me great joy :=)
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
What did you pay??
I have two, one black like that, weighs a ton, wires sticking out. One is a more modern beige, that one is wired in, in the basement.
We got a modern phone, corded, touch buttons. That is my backup in power outages, and it is so dumb/smart I can leave it pre-dialed to my electric company to find out when power might be restored. Being all wired-in, power Co knows my number and location, ain't it grand? 7V on the line, IIRC.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
I paid CAD40 - it would prolly be USD30 or so. I found it on
Kijiji and bought it from a guy in Ottawa. All I had to do is repair the cord. Lovie and daughters have iPhones. I have no need for a cell phone. Unless I get put into a cell, I suppose :=) I'm glad you're all set up phone-wise for emergencies. That's exactly what we need heading into a world of climate hurt. Enjoy your day, my friend :=)
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Back in the day...
Speed Dialing meant pushing the dial backwards to help it go faster... LOL
I did that to try that when I was trying to win radio station contests...
I'm the only person standing between Richard Nixon and the White House."
~John F. Kennedy~
Economic: -9.13, Social: -7.28,
I can remember
trying that, too. I never did win a contest, though
"I’m a human being, first and foremost, and as such I’m for whoever and whatever benefits humanity as a whole.” —Malcolm X
Hah, hah, yes, those were the days, Oldest!
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
"telegraph" dialing
But can you "telegraph" pulse-dial using the switch-hook (the "hook" the receiver is "on" or "off")?
I can!
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
somewhat insanely, in canada (or at least manitoba) the
emergency code was originally 999, instead of 911.
can you imagine having a heart attack, and having to wait for that damned dial to swing all the way back from 9, three times in a row?
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.
Hah, hah, Untimely, who thunk of that number combo?
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Originally, area codes matched high population to fewer pulses
NYC Manhattan = 212, 5 pulses (the minimum)
Los Angeles = 213, 6 pulses
Chicago = 312, 6 pulses
. . .
Hawaii = 808, 26 pulses
Alaska = 907, 26 pulses
I always thought that was kind of cool.
I have one like this
and I find it essential for troubleshooting my phone lines. No dial tone--is it my phone, this outlet, this line, neighborhood, or the phone company system itself?
Phone goes down, I disconnect it and plug in my army tank heritage phone. If there's still no dial tone, I know it's not the (iffy) modern phone causing the problem. By checking the other plug-ins the same way, I know it's not my local wiring. Then I check the other lines (home office, work #'s) the same way--if they are down too, I know it's a global problem and can call to report this (using my cell phone).
This happens from time to time. I'm not sure why--the whole system is not as robust as it used to be...back in the old days when everything was better, LOL.
There you go, sillia :-) A rotary phone is most useful. And yes,
our phone systems are on the decline and will decline more during the climate days to come. I can foresee the day when we will return to more local phone systems again. I can remember when phoning long distance was quite an adventure. We had to plan for it! Have a great day my friend,
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Ha ha! Yes! Freshman year at college I wanted to call my parents
from the northeastern U.S. — this was in the mid-Sixties.
It cost something like $20 for three minutes and I had to reserve the undersea cable to Hawaii weeks in advance!
And calls to Europe via undersea cable!
The time lag! Fish could swim faster (well, not, but you know what I mean). And there was an echo-ey underwater quality of the sound. At least in my imagination. And now I can't remember who I talked to and why did I have reason to...
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Morning Lotlizard :=) Too funny that. Oh, the downside of
low-tech is that it doesn't compute with globalism. And it requires planning and adjustment. fortunately, all those activities promote consciousness :=) Have a great day,
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Mine's yellow, CuzG.
I've had it since the 70's. I use it when my cordless phones expire. Interesting that this phone has never expired! You are tied to one place, though. No wandering around and multitasking. Your caller has your complete attention. Imagine that!!
"The “jumpers” reminded us that one day we will all face only one choice and that is how we will die, not how we will live." Chris Hedges on 9/11
There's ONE phone in the Chateau that rings.
We're not tethered to the infernal devices here. There's one phone upstairs to cover 1200sq.ft. There's one phone in the kitchen with a 25' cord, one in the studio (that's the one that rings), and the one at AB's desk. It doesn't ring but it lets me see who's calling. Not that I ever answer it unless I recognize the #. (SWPUWM has an iPhone.)
There's an ancient black monster in the cellar made by Western Electric but it's not hooked up.
[edited for typo]
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Right on, AB! That's the better way to live :=)
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Tell a kid to turn off the
Tell a kid to turn off the cell phone and he immediately develops "the thousand yard stare."
Need to round them up? Make a sign: "iPhones this way -->" and it's off to the cattlechutes, no argument.
"Evolution's gonna be real interesting." someone said recently.
Gonna be? Read an article that said millenials and younger are losing the ability to look sideways without turning their heads like dogs and sheep, due to constantly focusing on tv and "devices". (lost the link)
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SMASH THE SYSTEM! Read a book!
Heh. My daughter actually said that at one point. I love my kids.
(Don't personally own a smart phone, and never will. I plan to remain a desktop man for all time... have also made certain my kids don't own em...)
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
You got real smart kids, DMW! Check this photo out:
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Too right, AB" the "smarter" the phone, the "dumber" the human.
I read a news article recently of a university that had to move a giant ugly statue thing because the students kept walking into it. $1.5 mill to move it too. You can't make this shit up :=)
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Hooray for Cuz R.A! You had the sense never to get rid of your
rotary phone. Old footloose here wasn't so smart.
Too right:
The rotary phone never expires.
It never needs software upgrades - what a rip-off those are.
I never lose it - don't need no find-my-phone software :=)
It works when the cell towers have problems.
It works during bad weather.
Its number is restricted to only my kids - no buy-my-crap or take-our-survey calls.
I can repair it should a mechanical part fail. Try that with a cell phone.
Hooray for low-tech solutions! w00t. Enjoy your day; say hi to Cuz R.Andy for me :=)
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
I understand why everyone thinks the rotary phone is
muy coolimundo. In fact, I'm pretty sure I have one in my basement. However, I think there are telephone systems that can no longer process the series of clicks that the rotary phones generate. (For a long time, bell companies were charging extra for touch-tone, even though it cost them more to provide rotary service than to provide touch-tone service.) Folks planning for a somewhat-lower-tech, less disposably-minded future, might be better off getting one of the older corded touch-tone phones. I have one of the not-quite-so-indestructible-as-the-western-electrics, comparable to the contempra phone ("with touch-push!") that Northern Telecom used to offer.
It's funny to think of paying $30 or $40 for one of these phones -- there are probably warehouses full of them, unless they all ended up in landfills.
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.
At least they were not e-waste
and come to think of it, were the "skins" ever Bakelite? The oldest are a very hard plastic, weight was reduced in the second generation.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
i'm pretty sure the older models were bakelite,
but i could be wrong.
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.
In the 1950s our black phone was made of Bakelite
Some of the later rotary phones were made of Cycolac (acrylonitrile butadiene styrene), also used for football helmets.
The Cycolac trade name originally belonged to an American company, but now, like so many other things, the Saudis own it.
Right you are, Untimely. My rotary phone can't deal with
these stupid automated "push 1 and wait for eternity to be told to FO and die" systems.
Since the ptsd, I can't deal with those things either: they make me want to reach through the lines and rip some exec's throat out. So my rotary phone and I have zero intentions to contact any of those :=)
Your point about contacting emergency services is well taken though. I will look for one of those corded touch-tone phones as a back-up. I have an emergency radio:
And I would contact emergency services with the rotary phone (and the old touch-tone as back-up), should Lovie's iPhone crap out.
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
I find if you pretend to be senile...
they get a person on the phone amazingly quickly.
Computer: What can I help you with today?
Me: Who are you? What's your name?
Computer: I'm having trouble understanding you. What can I help you with today?
Me: No, you just aren't listening!
Computer: I'm having trouble understanding you. What can I help you with today?
Me: You just said that! Are you mocking me?
Computer: Hold on, I'll get an operator on the line for you...
I do not pretend I know what I do not know.
Ahah! Fiendishly clever moves you have, DMW :=)
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
The other devilish option I have heard
when there is a slight possibility of choosing a second language, is to go there. Faster connect time. Humans will flip right away. My Canadian anglophile friend opts for French.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
True dat, riverlover :=) Plus, we sent our kids to French
schools. In all the Anglo provinces, they give extra money to the French schools. So our kids had loads of extras that public schools don't usually get :=) And as a side benefit, they became bilingual.
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Incoming robot callers
...... get the following type of treatment at my house:
Robot: We're just calling to ask you a few questions. May I have your name, please?
Me: Marijuana.
Robot: Do you find yourself pro-life or pro-choice?
Me: General Electric!
Robot: .... .... ....
Robot: Do you believe that taxation should be completely abolished and all societal functions privatized?
Me: Pontius Pilate Che Guevara!
Robot: click..... [dialtone]
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
Too funny, thanato :=) Way to outsmart the robots!
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
If your telco allows pulse dialing...
... And you only have touch tone, but your keypad is broken...
You can still dial your phone by tapping on the switch hook (handset cradle). It's a bit tricky to tap it quickly enough — "0" for operator is hard, but 611 (telco maintenance line, usually) is doable.
“We may not be able to change the system, but we can make the system irrelevant in our lives and in the lives of those around us.”—John Beckett
and my touch tone phone also has a pulsed-mode, from the
days when touch-tone either wasn't available, or cost extra. you push the buttons, but instead of generating the distinct tones of the different digits, it generates the same pulses as a rotary would.
The earth is a multibillion-year-old sphere.
The Nazis killed millions of Jews.
On 9/11/01 a Boeing 757 (AA77) flew into the Pentagon.
AGCC is happening.
If you cannot accept these facts, I cannot fake an interest in any of your opinions.
That's known as "telegraph dialing"
...... and I spoke about it above. So far, you're the only one besides me who appears to know it exists!
(and yes, dialing an Operator is a pain using that method, and "9" not much easier!)
"US govt/military = bad. Russian govt/military = bad. Any politician wanting power = bad. Anyone wielding power = bad." --Shahryar
"All power corrupts absolutely!" -- thanatokephaloides
hey, gotcha all beat for low tech
This is what I grew up with in the back woods of northern Minnesota:
We didn't have the electric or indoor plumbing, but we did have our phone and our number was two shorts and a long (as memory serves). Would love to have one just for sentimental value. Everyone's ring would ring on your phone, the rule being that you were only supposed to pick it up when you heard your special ring. Can only say that us kids were often told be quiet when Grama picked up the phone and stood there listening...she wrote the gossip column for one of the small town papers near our farm.
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons
LOL! Now you're tlking, JaeRay :-) I saw an instructable once
for building one of these beauties. Did I have the sense to save it? My mac is like a raven's nest: filled with sparkly things and junk and nesting material and bird droppings and whatnot. I should hunt for it.
Too funny - picturing granma scribbling down the gossip over the community line while the kids shush :=)
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
Damned modern new-fangled contraptions.
AB got ya all beat...
Hafta admit the reception ain't so good if the wire isn't tight.
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OK, well, AB, gotta admit, ya got me beat with that contraption!
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons
Tin-can telephone.
My brother made one — there was a sketch of one in his cub scout handbook. Whether Wolf, Bear, or Lion, I don’t remember.
Hey, that’s the kind of phone the family in “Lassie” had!
The original 1950s Lassie TV series, with Tommy Rettig as Jeff.
Ditto for the farm family in The Real McCoys with Walter Brennan.
ps, I shoulda found a better pic, on the hidden side there is a
crank, and that's how you make the phones ring up and down the line.
For households not on your line, you'd have to get the operator to help.
Never be deceived that the rich will allow you to vote away their wealth.-Lucy Parsons
Bakelite - it will probably be reincarnated
As the space ship casing on our first manned trip to Mars. That stuff is pretty near to indestructible. I think that the AED had film of Bakelite phones surviving a nuclear test while everything else is blown to bits.
lol, see above ^^^^^
I suspected that the early ones were Bakelite. Bakelite jewelry is still quite collectible, never goes away.
Hey! my dear friends or soon-to-be's, JtC could use the donations to keep this site functioning for those of us who can still see the life preserver or flotsam in the water.
Buena Dia, Peep-itos y Peep-itas
How many of you living fossils remember using the Person-to-Person Collect call dodge?
AB calls home.
"Operator, I'd like to place a p-to-p collect call to AB."
[slight pause, Operator places the call]
O: "I have a p-to-p collect call for AB. Will you accept the charges?"
Home: "AB's not here right now. Can I take a message?"
O to AB: "Would you like to leave a message, Sir?"
AB: "Sure, thanks. 'Have AB call me on Thursday at 5:30.' Thanks."
Home: "Will do. We'll tell him. Goodbye."
[click]
(AB's coming home on Thursday at 5:30)
At $3/minute you had to "improvise."
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Vote Smart - Just the Facts - 40,000 politicians by name or zipcode
LOL AB! This thread has shown some fiendishly ingenious
communication stratagems, but this is platinum quality ingenuity :=) Enjoy your day mate,
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
People used to do this with letters
in the 19th century, when the recipient had to pay the postage.
Mailperson: I have a letter for you ma'am.
Woman: Let me see. (gazes at the envelope thoughtfully)
Mailp: That'll be 5 cents. (Likely around $12 in today's money, LOL)
Woman: I don't have the money (shakes head and hands the letter back.)
Result: Son Frederick is fine and is in Chicago now.
My word, sillia, we humans just pass the old trick on through
new technology :=) How ingenious. TY, hope your day is going great.
Resilience: practical action to improve things we can control.
3D+: developing language for postmodern spirituality.
The Post Office had these funnylooking red “Postage Due” stamps!
That reminds me of another thing about the 1950s — you could send a letter to Hawaii from North America for 3 cents, or 6 cents airmail.
The cumulative effect of inflation since I was a child has been unbelievable.
I think that even before the Iran hostage crisis, a big reason people lost faith in the Carter administration was its economic experts and their unwillingness or inability to prevent double-digit inflation.