Tough Talker Transportable Cell Phone, 1988

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Artifact Overview

Motorola created the "Tough Talker" phone to give construction workers and emergency responders a durable and portable device. A low center of gravity kept it steady while driving, and a carrying pouch allowed it to be used outside the vehicle. It operated using Ameritech's 1G network, the first in the United States.

Artifact Details

Artifact

Cellular telephone

Date Made

1988

Place of Creation

Creator Notes

Manufactured by Motorola in the United States

Location

at Henry Ford Museum in Collections Platform

Object ID

97.51.5

Credit

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

Material

Plastic
Metal
Vinyl
Velcro (TM)

Color

Black (Color)

Dimensions

Height: 10.5 in
Width: 6 in
Length: 12 in

Inscriptions

On case: MOTOROLA On handset: Ameritech Type / SER NO SCN 2330A / ERL / MFG IN USA BY MOTOROLA INC. On base: CUSTOMER / SERVICE / 1-800- / 331-6456 SLN8190A / CT212349 201
Tough Talker Transportable Cell Phone, 1988