Special Report
The Most Popular Phones of All Time
January 18, 2022 1:00 pm
Source: Nuberger13 / Wikimedia Commons / Public Domain
11. 50AL
> Manufacturer: Western Electric
> Release year: 1919
Rotary or dial phones were invented in the 1890s but did not become popular for several decades. The Western Electric 50AL was one of the first to use dial technology that required no operator assistance.
Source: phonedoc.com
12. 300 Type Desk Set
> Manufacturer: Western Electric
> Release year: 1937
The 300 type desk set phone was the first to include the bell and circuitry in the base of the unit, a convenience that made the phone widely popular.
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Source: phonedoc.com
13. 500 Type Desk Set
> Manufacturer: Bell Telephone Company
> Release year: 1949
After World War II, the Bell Telephone Company refocused on consumer products with the 500 type desk set phones, which came with improved voice clarity and adjustable volume control.
Source: phonedoc.com
14. 554 Type Desk Set
> Manufacturer: Western Electric
> Release year: 1955
A variant of the 500 model desk set, the 554 became one of the most popular models of wall-mounted rotary phones.
Source: phonedoc.com
15. Princess Telephone
> Manufacturer: Western Electric
> Release year: 1959
The small size and attractive design made the Princess phone a popular household choice as a second phone to be used in bedrooms. As an added bonus, the phone had an illuminated dial.
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