1934 CAR PHONE
1934 CAR PHONE
Elsewhere Darran Hughes posted a cover of the 1934 magazine Scoops and Ann Kennedy commented she would love to know what was reported about tomorrow in the publication. I found this page from the comic / magazine headed Can it be DONE - can you imagine they thought a car phone might be possible - as if!!
#scoops #carphone #cellphone
Actually it was possible to do just what they described back then. No new tech., just a different approach. Being able to "tap" phone lines, would have made great sense back then, and they could have done it.
ReplyDeleteOshi Shikigami I think you are right that system could be done - or maybe all cars could have had very long telephone cables fitted which unwound the further they drove :-)
ReplyDeleteWow! That's a neat comic page and a fun projection! I purchased a $1.00 scrapbook from the 1930s and researched the owner. Turns out her fiance had applied for the patent on a lighted dial for telephones. I thought that was a fun little discovery:-) The first old car phone I ever saw was huge, fit in the console between the seats and had a long, curled cord!
ReplyDeleteGreat follow-up post, Mike! Thanks!
Ann Kennedy I can also remember seeing one of those huge, early car phones. That scrapbook you bought was a fun purchase.
ReplyDeleteMy first 'cell phone' was described as a "Bag Phone". It came with a bag and sling. It still needed the 12 Volt car battery, using lighter plug. It was not dial though. LOL
ReplyDeleteActually though, my brother was making 'phone calls' from his car, in the '60s. He was as an amateur radio operator. Using a mobile HAM radio setup, in the car, you just radioed a friend (hopefully fairly locally) that was at home with their radio rig. That radio operator would plug his home phone into the ham radio, and you could chat by phone to almost anywhere. Of course you maybe had to workout the long distance charges, if any. Also everybody with a radio could listen in to the call, so you might not want to say some things. LOL
ReplyDeleteNice to see the vision of the past. Wonderful post Mike Perry. I don't know why the cord idea wasn't used...everyone says that is what you need with an electric car today.
ReplyDeleteOshi Shikigami I remember the short wave HAM radios in some cars, but mostly used by truckers. They all had a 'handle' - a special name. I think it's still going strong in some areas. The draw back was, as you say, the broadcast could be heard by anyone who tuned in, so had to be careful what you said.
ReplyDeleteModern technology, truly wonderful. The couple in the picture are impeccably dressed.
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