Hello, it is Vintage Black Friday. My blogging friend, Jill of Gypsy Brocante, is throwing this party every Friday through November 27th. Today is the kick-off.
I realized that I don’t have a lot of black around the house. I will have to get creative in my search. Let me start with this:
I bought this lovely vintage phone for my husband a few years back. He often mentioned how he missed the rotary dial, the style and the heft of older phones (today’s phones have no weight to them.) I found this 1940’s Bell System phone that worked beautifully. By the way, my Dad was employed by Michigan Bell Telephone all his working life so I loved seeing the Bell System logo in my home once again.
Husband was delighted and we actually used the phone for several years. Eventually, it got put away as every call nowadays seems to involve pressing buttons and touch-tones. Last week, I dragged it out from its hiding place and considered using it again. I thought my husband would be thrilled. He saw the phone, oohed and aahed, and I plugged it in. I tried to dial my cell phone and kept getting a recording from the operator. Okay. Let’s try again. I started dialing my husband’s cell phone (I forgot how hard it was to use the rotary dial on these phones) and instead of a recording, I heard “911.” Oh no. I hung up. The phone rang immediately. It was the 911 operator. I apologized profusely and explained what happened with the phone – that I was just dialing and suddenly I had 911 on the line. He understood and said “Must have been a rotary dial.” I hung up, totally embarrassed.
Not 10 minutes later, my husband was cooking dinner and I heard him say “Ah, honey… there’s a police car coming up the drive.” I was mortified. I went out on the porch and saw a police officer walking up to the house. I explained once again my inadvertent 911 call. She took our names and address. She told me that I would be surprised how much this happened – that sometimes people are on their computers and somehow get through to 911. Of course, she was doing her job, following up in case something was really wrong and I was under duress. It wasn’t until later that I realized she must have been checking both of us out, making sure nothing was really wrong. Boy, was my face red!
All because I tried to dial the phone. Needless to say, we are now using it purely for decorative purposes.
Great phone! Really interesting story. I don’t understand how it reached 911. Some strange occurance or is there something built into the 911 system for rotary dialed phones?
Dawn
Oh dear what an unfortunate mistake! I kind of had to laugh a little though…sorry! :) xxx
Wow- who would have guessed that would happen! Although it was embarrassing it is very good to know that police still come out to make certain nothing was wrong. The phone is gorgeous- I am old enough to have used a rotary dial when I was very young, and when I was a teenager you were still tied to a phone with a cord. Funny how much things change in our lifetime, isn’t it? Happy Friday Claudia!!
Sorry to giggle at you, but I can’t help myself. I was eyeing a vintage aqua phone recently, talked myself out of it. Maybe I should go back.
Sunshine,
~Julia
I loved my old phone. Good to know we should not plug it in. I doubt 911 gets called very often here outside of ski season so it would be a big deal.
I love your new white paint on the table-with-a-story, too.
Hi, Claudia,
Wow, does your phone bring back memories! How funny about the 911 call, too. I guess you can rest assured the police in your community are on the job to protect you. Thanks for sharing today. Vicki
I can’t even remember the last time I used a rotary phone … I am getting old! It does bring back memories. How nice this phone can bring memories back for you w/the logo and all … great choice. Sorry you had so much trouble … but sure does make for a great story ; )
xo
Jill
Hi Claudia
What a great phone – I actually have one from Pottery Barn made to look exactly like yours. I love it, DH says it sounds hollow.
See you tomorrow for PS.
Leann
LOL, Claudia, I can’t help but chuckle!
Love the phone!!
Hugs,
Marsha
That phone is great…..have been looking for one myself but they are expensive around here.
Happy, BLACK Friday!
Very funny! I would have love to have beenthere, I would have laughed my butt off.
Happy Black Friday…..I love the phone. I can even here the clicking when you are dialing. Brings back memories.
Oh my gosh your 911 story is to funny. I bet you thought that would never stop.
See you next Friday…julie
Love the story of your phone. Sad about the 911 thing…technology!!
I really like your phone, but that’s interesting about the 911 call. We have a newer, but still old rotary phone on hand, just in case there is ever a real emergency, when we won’t be able to use our usual phones. We’ve been told that in that case, a rotary phone, will be the only kind that do work. Hmmmm, I wonder if that’s true?
It’s nice to know that the police were polite and that they did check on things. They have such a tough job sometimes. I imagine that calls like yours are a bit of a relief at times.
All of your posts are very nice, Claudia. Lovely decorating!
I hope things pick up for you and your husband soon. We know quite a few people experiencing similar times. Things do have a way of working out, though.
Take care,
Lena
Love the phone! Great story! Sorry you were embarrassed. OH yeah! I got the papyrus font downloaded on my computer and I can see it now! YEAH! On my blog and yours! Sorry I get excited when I get something to work on the computer!
Hugs, Lisa
I love that phone! How nostalgic… I can just hear the sound of the rotary… too cute!
LOVE the phone! I have actually done the same thing and dialed 911 by accident, they really do come to your house to check everything out!
Love the rotary phone and so love the black post. Grea story too….
Beth
Well now, it sounds like you had a rather interesting experience. At least you got a great post out of it!
Love the phone though.
What a fun story! I really love your phone. I can remember being a kid and having a rotary phone and having to hang up and start all over again because you made a mistake on the last number! Can you imagine having one of these now? We are so spoiled!
I know you were embarrassed but that is so funny! As I was reading your story, I wondered if the phone worked. Now I know – ha! I have an old black phone very similar to yours. I’ve wanted to make it a working phone but I guess yours is a cautionary tale. That old Bell System logo is nice.