Motorola Cellular Telephone, 1988

01

Artifact Overview

With cellphones, users could be in constant contact with family, friends, and work, even while they drove. This Motorola "bag phone" was made for mobility. Besides the handset, the bag included the transceiver, battery, and even an adapter for a car's cigarette lighter. The phone was more portable than earlier cellphones-it weighed less than five pounds-but it was still too expensive for most consumers.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Cellular telephone

Date Made

1988

Place of Creation

Creator Notes

Manufactured by Motorola in the United States and China

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Driving America

Object ID

97.51.6

Credit

From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ameritech Corporate Archives.

Material

Plastic
Metal
Vinyl
Velcro (TM)

Color

Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 8.5 in
Width: 2.5 in
Length: 11 in

Inscriptions

Handset: TYPE SCN2497B / SER.NO. GUN (30) / MFG. IN USA BY MOTOROLA INC. AMERITECH Transceiver: SUN 1800 BA / 154A / C36364CO 404B-7-14-560 / JN723035 MFG. BY MOTOROLA INC. / FCC ID:IHDT5522 / MODEL NO.:19031 WASBA / MSN:781GUV5761 / TX POWER OUTPUT = 3W/MADE IN USA / Pri Pwr 12VDC Neg Gnd SKN 4651 A/H Case: ALWAYS SECURE YOUR PHONE WHENEVER IT IS IN A MOVING VECHILE BY FIRMLY ATTACHING THE SEAT BELT THROUGH THE LOOP ON THE CARRY CASE. AN UNSECURED PHONE COULD CAUSE SERIOUS INJURY OR INTERFERE WITH THE SAFE OPERATION OF THE VECHILE. / WARNING MADE IN CHINA / BY / SERVICE MAFG. / AURORA, IL, 60505