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Ring Ring; in Style

Posted on: Monday, 18 July 2005, 15:01 CDT

"IT'S for you . . ." Before you answer, spare a thought for the handset you're using. It's in illustrious company: The presidents of the United States and Russia have special `red phones' in case of nuclear war, Spielberg's lovable alien ET just had to "phone home" and Doctor Who's Tardis is disguised as a blue police telephone box. Our telecommunication love affair began in the late 1870s with two American men, Elisha Gray and Scottish-born Alexander Graham Bell. Both filed for a patent on their phone designs in New York on February 14, 1876, with Bell beating Gray by only two hours. Gray later become discouraged at being unable to create a workable transmitter, so the title of inventor went to his rival. History textbooks note that the first fully intelligible phone call occurred on March 6, 1876, when Bell said: "Come here, Watson, I want you." His assistant heard the request in another room through a receiver connected to the transmitter Bell had designed, which led to the founding of the Bell Telephone Company -- later to become AT&T, the world's largest telephone company. Mobile phones, also credited to Bell Telephone Company, were introduced into New York City police cars in 1924 but it wasn't till 1981 that the US got a nationwide cellular telephone system. Cellphone users, no longer tied to home or office, quickly switched allegiance and lapped up every new model available, from the first bricks to today's clam-shell examples -- drastically affecting landline phone sales. Which is all the more reason to buy yourself a novelty phone. Just check it has a tick from Telecom (indicating network suitability) first. British website unicornkiosks.com even sells its bright-red telephone booths internationally, so you can own `Tardis'.

Compiled by Kylie Walker

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GONG

Calling all Star Wars fans . . . Remac Alarms sells this R2D2 Phone for $269. The handset is located on the droid's arm and his whole body lights up when the phone rings.

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CRANK CALL

Heavy breathers will love this replica Darth Vader Phone ($290) from Napier's Remac Alarms. The Star Wars baddie's head moves when the phone rings, while buttons on his chest activate extra sound effects from the films, including Vader's infamous breathing. The handset and keypad are located on the back of his helmet. www.remac.co.nz/shopping/shopdisplayproducts.asp

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IN THE BOOK

Your fingers really will do the walking with a yellow rotary telephone ($85) from online store Antique Phones. Used from the 1960s to 1970s, these dialers are also available in red, blue, black, green, white and cream -- though price depends on the particular model and colour. Newtown store Gawjus Fings sells the similar-looking 1970s `100 Series' push-button phone in yellow, red,blue and green from $90. www.antiquephones.co.nz or www.gawjus- fings.co.nz

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MOUTHPIECE

Let this shrimp off the hook and use it as a phone instead, on sale for $20 from Mr Thank-You.

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JACK RUSSELL

Telecom used to employ a terrier called Spot as its mascot, now you can have one too after buying this dog phone ($7). Or choose from a pig, panda and cat at the 2Cheap store in Manners St.

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PARTY LINE

A toast to this Coke bottle phone . . . Made in the 1970s, it's still working and comes with the original box. $200 from Antique Phones.

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DIAL-TONE

Put a smile on your dial with this 1980s reproduction of a classic French Phone, $299.99 from Antique Phones.

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PRESS BUTTON A

"Lift receiver and deposit money. Listen for dial tone before dialing number . . ." with a red PT1000 pay-phone ($250) from Antique Phones, the online division of Auckland Telephone Services. It takes 20 cent coins, but can be adjusted for free dialing. www.antiquephones.co.nz

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BELLS & WHISTLES

Give someone a bell on this metal Kellogg wall-mounted phone ($649). The post-World War I phone is a very rare specimen but is still in "very good condition", according to its vendor Antique Phones. It measures 175mm x 130mm.

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FLASH

One look at the Metro Star touch-tone phone ($150) and you'll lose any hang-ups you might have about telephone communications. It's distributed in New Zealand by Auckland company The Limit. For a list of Wellington stockists, see www.thelimit.co.nz

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HOTLINE

Dial-a-meal . . . with this hamburger phone, $40 from Mr Thank- You (Newtown and Manners St).

Source: Dominion Post

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