1920's Telephones - By: Dean Dooley

No antique item from the early 20th century creates as much
emotion as the telephone. For many who grew up in a world before
cell phones and text messaging, using a telephone was a means of
formal communication. Because many families did not have a
direct dial phone number until the 1950's or 1960's, phone calls
were brief and to the point. Phone lines were shared by an
entire neighborhood and someone was seemingly always waiting to
place a call - with the operators assistance.

Today's teenagers find it hard to believe there ever was a time
when their ancestors didn't spend 3 hours every night gossiping
on the telephone. Decades ago that would have been unthinkable.

Antique telephones hearken back to a simpler time when life was
less complicated. Perhaps that is one of the reasons antique
telephones have become increasingly popular in recent years.
From appearances in movies, television shows, on desks in
magazine layouts, everything old is new again. However, unlike
many other collectibles, most antique telephones can still be
used today, adding a touch of style and uniqueness to any home
or business.

Antique telephones made in the 1920's are among the most popular
old phones, mainly because the Roaring Twenties were when
candlestick phones became more widespread, starting to appear in
the houses of the wealthy. Candlestick phones were made out of
mostly brass and still look great today.

The 1920's also saw the introduction of the desk phone,
sometimes called a desk set. Desk phones were made out of
Bakelite (an early form of plastic), or metal. Wall phones from
the 20's are also available, although they are more rare and
were normally made out of wood and metal.

Candlestick phones and desk phones often had the bell and other
equipment in a separate box that was often hidden. The square or
rectangular box was what actually rang, not the phone. Thus the
term 'set' is used to refer to the phone and the box.

Telephones made before 1910 did not have a rotary dial. The
person placing the call would pick up the ear piece, hold the
mouthpiece up, and ask the operator to place the call. An
example of a non-rotary candlestick phone can be found in almost
any television episode of the Andy Griffith Show. Andy would ask
Sarah the operator to help place his call.

By the 1920's almost every phone had a rotary dial, which is one
of the reasons they are more popular with collector's today.

Desk phones were introduced in the 1920's and quickly gained
widespread popularity. By the end of the decade manufacturers
had phased out candlestick phones. The desk phone of the 1920's
would also introduce the shape of the traditional home telephone
for the rest of the century.

For most antique telephones with a rotary dial, the only
updating needed to use the phone with today's phone lines is
putting on a modular jack, which costs less than a dollar and
can be done in minutes.

Some collectors offer restored antique phones for sale. They
replace worn parts, install a modular jack, clean and repair the
base if needed, and the phone is ready to plug in and start
calling.

No antique item from the early 20th century creates as much
emotion as the telephone. For many who grew up in a world before
cell phones and text messaging, using a telephone was a means of
formal communication.

Dean Dooley owns and operates href="http://telephonesantique.com/">TelephonesAntique.com,
a website about antique telephones.