Rotary Phones

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All About Rotary Phones

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Whether you are into vintage rotary phones as a collectible, you long for the nostalgic feel of the dial and the distinctive ring, or you simply want the retro look for a home or office, there are antiques and modern counterparts to suit your needs.

Use the expandable Table of Contents below to quickly find the information and rotary phones you want.

History of the Rotary Telephone 

The first telephone line in the US was completed in 1877. Users were able to place calls originally through telephone switchboard operators.

In the late 1880's Almon B Strowger invented a switch which allowed users to connect to other lines by tapping a button on their phone.

The rotary dial came along four or five years later around 1896 and gradually took over the industry. Rotary phones phased out in favor of touch tone phones primarily in the 1980's after nearly a hundred years in service.

Rotary phones today are still known for their outstanding reliability and durability.

Learn More About the History of the Rotary Phone 

Privateline.com article
A history of how the rotary phone came to be and related developments.
Privateline.com article II
Further discussion about the inventors work.
Google Books
A book preview that covers the history of the rotary system. (For those who are Really Interested)
Wikipedia
The history and function of the rotary phone according to Wikipedia.

Rotary Phones as the New Thing 

Hear the Ring, the Dial, and the Busy Signal

Dial Telephone Conversion

How dial telephone was first introduced in U.S.A.

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Dialing a Rotary Telephone 

The vast majority of people know how to dial a rotary telephone. However, it's possible for kids, or perhaps, even young adults to have never used a rotary phone.

Dialing is simple. For instance, if you're dialing 9-1-1: place your finger in the hole on the dial marked with "9". Pull the dial around to the stop and then release it. After the dial rotates back around and stops, place your finger in the hole on the dial with "1". Pull the dial around to the stop and release it. The dial will rotate back around and stop. You can then dial the final number in the same manner.

The history video posted above demonstrates this type of dialing.

What Do You Say? 

Is a Rotary Phone Your Style?

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Yes, I love cool old stuff, it makes a statement

mbrownauthor says:

Love the Rotary Phones!

Posted April 03, 2009

ElizabethJeanAllen says:

We have a rotary phone. It came in handy the last time the power went out. The portables didn't work and my cellphone wasn't holding a charge.
Liz

Posted April 15, 2008

RickBasset says:

Yea, Rotary phones was all there was when I was a kid. Why I remember running to answer my rotary phone one day and slamming right into my stegosaurus! LOL! No, not really...

Posted March 24, 2008

JewelryCollectibles says:

definitely brings back good memories

Posted March 11, 2008

awelldressedbullet says:

* looks down * ya, what Gypsy said LOL

Posted February 15, 2008

No Way, it creeps me out

ShortSaleRealtor says:

The rotary phone is way outdated

Posted February 17, 2008

 
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Collecting Vintage Rotary Phones 

Vintage rotary phones are valuable as an important piece of history. They are also durable and quite functional. Vintage rotary phones are like any collectible. The more you know, the more potential value a purchase will have. Choosing a true vintage rotary phone offers far more value of course, and certainly a phone that has all the necessary parts to function is important. Learn more about the colors, models, and years in which certain designs were manufactured before starting on a journey of collecting. See the resources below to get you started.

Collectors, or potential collectors, can make a visit to the Antique Telephone Collectors Association website which offers inclusion in an organization with membership covering the US, Canada, Australia, and Europe. Members receive a newsletter and have access to the regional and national Telephone Shows. Membership is around $35 per year. Another organization for collectors to consider is Telephone Collectors International.

For those who hope to use their vintage rotary phone it can be important not only to get the phone in working order but to assure compatibility with their phone line. Interested readers can learn more via this Waybacktimes.com article.

Finding Rotary Telephones and Retro Style Modern Telephones 

If you're merely wanting a modern phone with a retro look or a retro sound, such phones are available. From old style handsets that attach to your cell phone, to new phones that look like old phones, and cell phone ringtones which have that traditional sound, there are many options. We will introduce you to these products below.

However, for others, collecting real vintage rotary phones is more of an interest, or in some cases a passion. First, we will show you some retro looks, then a few styles of vintage rotary phones, and then phones arranged by color.

Retro Look for the non-Collectors 

Perhaps what you want is just a retro look, not the true collectible. These phones offer a distinctive appearance but the convenience and modern features that most people want in a telephone.

123electronics.com is a site that offers a number of retro products including retro style rotary phones.

Retro Look Modern Telephones 

Build it Yourself Wooden Wall Phone (Looks Only) Select Wood Type: Walnut

Build it Yourself Wooden Wall Phone (Looks Only) Select Wood Type: Walnut

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009) Buy Now

A Rotary Cell Phone and Old Telephone Ringtones 

Go Modern with a Retro Twist

SparkFun Electronics
Looks like an old rotary phone but uses your SIM Card. It's portable and can be used as a rotary car phone.
Retro Handset
A retro handset to attach to your cell phone.
Computer Audio Engineering
Find the dial tone, ring, off hook alert, and other old rotary phone sounds you want.
Ringtones Direct
Several options for getting old telephone Ringtones.
ablecomm.com
A simple rotary phone, new with an old look.

Rotary Desk Phones 

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eBay

Rotary Wall Phones 

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Candlestick Rotary Phones 

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Princess Rotary Phone 

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French Rotary Phone 

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Western Electric Rotary Phone 

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Rotary Pay Phone 

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Rotary Phone Parts and Rotary Phone Repair 

Looking for some parts or have an old rotary phone in need of repair? You can find help here.
Telephone Tribute
A resource page to help you find the right parts and the right person to make repairs.
Telephone Accessories and Parts
From brackets to dials and cords. A huge collection of pictures and a number of parts for sale.
Navysalvage.com
A repair service; one that offers advice over the phone as well.
Telephone Schematics
Find the telephone schematics for your vintage rotary phone here.
Oldphones.us
A site selling old telephone parts.
Oldphoneman.com
One more repair and parts site worth checking out.
ZDNet.com
Not a repair per se, but...a blog that describes how to get your rotary phone to work with Vonage, a VOIP provider.

Rotary Phone Repair 

Old Time Telephones : Restoration & Repair

Old Time Telephones : Restoration & Repair

by: Ralph O. Meyer

Amazon Price: (as of 07/05/2009)Buy Now

If you have a vintage rotary phone and you are a do-it-yourselfer this book can provide the guidance you need in making any necessary repairs. Don't throw it away, it's valuable!

Old Rotary Phone Parts: Dials 

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Black Rotary Phone 

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Blue Rotary Phone 

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Brown Rotary Phone 

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Green Rotary Phone 

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Orange Rotary Phone 

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Pink Rotary Phone 

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Red Rotary Phone 

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Tan Rotary Phone 

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White Rotary Phone 

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Yellow Rotary Phone 

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Rotary Phones: Was This Page Helpful? Let Us Know! 

Lensmaster

mbrownauthor wrote...

We had one of these for years. I even remember having a party line (sharing a line with someone you didn't even know...for you youngsters out there). Rotary phones I like. Party lines I don't. Great lens! Welcome also to the group, "Everything Vintage!" Love the rotary phone instruction video. Had to laugh. Also great eBay items!

ReplyPosted April 03, 2009

Lensmaster

RichLeigh wrote...

A very interesting lens you've written there! I have no experience of using a rotary telephone myself... I do however remember my grandparents having a phone of this sort when I was younger. I never used it... it always intrigued me however and I always very much appreciated the look of it. As I say; a very interesting lens and I must say that I thoroughly enjoyed the read! :) Interesting, informative, and also very well written!

ReplyPosted September 14, 2008

Lensmaster

JaguarJulie wrote...

Ah, you can't be old enough to remember the rotary phone, can you? Well -- there's a cool snapshot of a rotary phone in that pic of me and my grandmother Julia Nagy ... so I guess I'm old enough. They were cool. Awesome lens that brings back some cool memories. 5*****

ReplyPosted August 23, 2008

Lensmaster

enslavedbyfaeries wrote...

Sweet, I love it!

ReplyPosted April 25, 2008

Lensmaster

ElizabethJeanAllen wrote...

What a fun lens!
Liz

ReplyPosted April 15, 2008

Lensmaster

rms wrote...

Veryy cool lens. I miss these!

ReplyPosted March 28, 2008

Lensmaster

JewelryCollectibles wrote...

waaaay cool lens! gave you 5 stars and added you to my group. love your retro phones!

ReplyPosted March 11, 2008

Lensmaster

rockycha wrote...

very cool! high fives!

ReplyPosted February 17, 2008

Lensmaster

ShortSaleRealtor wrote...

great lens 5 stars 4 u

ReplyPosted February 17, 2008

Lensmaster

stampslore wrote...

Fun lens!! 5*****

ReplyPosted February 16, 2008

 
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You can review this site at The Isle of Squid.
Photo Credits- photos are copyrighted as indicated. No derivative works allowed.
Introduction: spierzchala.
History of Rotary Phones: thenandagain.
Dialing a Rotary Telephone: karl151k.
Retro Look: psd.
Collecting Vintage Rotary Telephones: tylerdurden1.
Finding Rotary Telephones: proudmurphy.

This site is listed at LensMasterWorld.com.