"Celebrity" Design Line Telephone, 1979
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Artifact Overview
In 1973, AT&T partnered with Henry Dreyfuss & Associates to create a collection of specialty "Design Line" telephones--allowing customers to tailor their technology to fit their home decor. The Celebrity model references the opulence and glamour of Hollywood Regency design, popular from the 1920s-50s. Scaled for a bedside table, it was available in ivory and powder blue.
Artifact Details
Artifact
Telephone
Date Made
1979
Place of Creation
Creator Notes
Designed by Henry Dreyfus Associates with housing by the American Telecommunications Corporation of El Monte, California; transmission and signaling components by Western Electric Company.
Location
at Henry Ford Museum in Collections Platform
Object ID
97.50.10
Credit
From the Collections of The Henry Ford. Gift of Ameritech Corporate Archives.
Material
Plastic
Metal
Color
Blue
Dimensions
Height: 6.5 in
Diameter: 6 in
Length: 8.5 in
Inscriptions
On bottom:
COMPLIES WITH PT 68, FCC RULES/FCC REG. NO.AS593 M-7060-TE-T / RINGER EQUIVALENCE 1.0A
SERIAL # E519465 / THE TELEPHONE HOUSING IS YOUR PROP- / ERTY. TO ASSURE QUALITY OF SERVICE, ALL WORKING PARTS, e.g. DIAL, CORDS / AND ELECTRICAL COMPONENTS REMAIN THE / PROPERTY AND RESPONSIBILTY OF THE / BELL TELEPHONE COMPANY. / Western Electric
940C40-62 / 79346
LOUD
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Related Content
SetDesign Line Telephones
- 13 Artifacts
In 1973, AT&T partnered with Henry Dreyfuss & Associates, creating a collection of specialty "Design Line" telephones. From colonial pastiche to space age futurism, customers could tailor their telephone to fit a range of home decors. These devices were sold before the Bell System divestiture in the early-1980s. Customers paid a premium for the custom phone shell, but its interior mechanisms continued to be maintained and owned by AT&T.