Category:
Telephones

Yellow Pages Dress

The Yellow Pages? What are those?



Source.

Posted By: Paul - Tue Oct 22, 2019 - Comments (1)
Category: Fashion, Telephones, 1970s

The man who phoned for peace

In 1936, American businessman Abraham Pickus started calling world leaders, trying to convince them to seek peaceful solutions. Amazingly, he got through to quite a few of them, including Hitler.

Of course, his efforts didn't produce any tangible results, but you can't fault him for trying.

Newsweek - Apr 18, 1938



Posted By: Alex - Thu Aug 08, 2019 - Comments (1)
Category: War, Telephones, 1930s

Mobile Phone Throwing

It's a sport that got its start in Finland in 2000. From wikipedia: "participants throw mobile phones and are judged on distance or technique. World record holder is Tom Philipp Reinhardt from Germany with a throw of 136,75m."

But the competitions seem to have ended. The last title winners listed on wikipedia are from 2014. I can't find any more recent elsewhere. Perhaps people are reluctant to throw their smart phones?

Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 16, 2019 - Comments (4)
Category: Sports, Telephones

Ankle phone-holder

From French fashion house Maison Margiela.



If you have the tolerance for it, you can check out the video of their runway show in which a few of the models are wearing the ankle phone-holder. Though the phone holder may be the least weird part of the show. I think at least one of the models was wrapped in fiberglass insulation (see picture below). Others seemed to be wrapped in carpets.



Posted By: Alex - Thu Jul 26, 2018 - Comments (8)
Category: Fashion, Technology, Telephones

Western Electric Design Line Phones

Introduced in 1974, these phones were intended to spice up the boring old device that had been around for decades.

I would have gone for the Chestphone, because then I would have felt like I was a member of U.N.C.L.E. or SMERSH.

Full set of pics and other info here.







Posted By: Paul - Tue May 15, 2018 - Comments (8)
Category: Business, Advertising, Telephones, 1970s

Follies of the Madmen #365



Posted By: Paul - Sat May 12, 2018 - Comments (2)
Category: Business, Advertising, Tobacco and Smoking, Telephones, 1960s

Avoid Saying Hello

Wall Street Journal - Apr 25, 1983

Posted By: Alex - Thu Apr 05, 2018 - Comments (3)
Category: Business, Telephones, 1980s

Doral Telephone of Tomorrow

In 1974, Doral cigarettes ran a promotion featuring a telephone of tomorrow. "A $125 Value... It's Yours For Only $69.95."

I'm not sure how it was supposed to sell cigarettes, but I was curious if any of these tomorrow telephones were still around. Found one on eBay. Bidding is currently at $2.



Posted By: Alex - Tue Apr 03, 2018 - Comments (4)
Category: Telephones, 1970s

Phone Number Sweater

Give every weird pervert in the world your phone number. What could possibly go wrong with that plan?

Carlisle Evening Sentinel - Sep 30, 1971


Melanie Myers, a Los Angeles secretary, wears the latest fad — a made-to-order sweater with her telephone number knitted on the front — as three girl watchers take note.

Posted By: Alex - Mon Nov 20, 2017 - Comments (6)
Category: Fashion, Telephones, 1970s

Infraphone

The Infraphone, invented by Douglas Reddan circa 1960, used infrared light to allow people to communicate wirelessly at distances of several hundred yards. You had to aim your infraphone at another infraphone, which you did by looking through a sight on top of the unit. Then you could talk into the device, just like using a phone.

It's an interesting idea, but I can't really think of a situation when this would provide an advantage over using a radio walkie talkie. Maybe because the signal can't be intercepted as easily? But then there's the awkwardness of having to aim the device. Articles about it frequently suggested it could be used as a wireless intercom.

Eugene Guard - Nov 14, 1960



Palm Beach Post - June 4, 1961



Popular electronics - Feb 1961 (via RF Cafe)

Posted By: Alex - Sat Aug 12, 2017 - Comments (3)
Category: Inventions, Telephones, 1960s

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Alex Boese
Alex is the creator and curator of the Museum of Hoaxes. He's also the author of various weird, non-fiction, science-themed books such as Elephants on Acid and Psychedelic Apes.

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Paul has been paid to put weird ideas into fictional form for over thirty years, in his career as a noted science fiction writer. He has recently begun blogging on many curious topics with three fellow writers at The Inferior 4+1.

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