• We’re currently investigating an issue related to the forum theme and styling that is impacting page layout and visual formatting. The problem has been identified, and we are actively working on a resolution. There is no impact to user data or functionality, this is strictly a front-end display issue. We’ll post an update once the fix has been deployed. Thanks for your patience while we get this sorted.

Rotary phones

F

FatJackSprat

Senior member
Why do all automated answering systems still ask you to stay on the line if you have a rotary phone? I guess know why they do it, my real question is how many people still have them.

 
My parents do. I couldn't understand why, but I think it's because they got it right after they got married. They still use it a lot too... Best part is that it keeps working if the power goes out, unlike cordless models.
 
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
My parents do. I couldn't understand why, but I think it's because they got it right after they got married. They still use it a lot too... Best part is that it keeps working if the power goes out, unlike cordless models.
Click to expand...

😕 This comes as a surprise to you?
 
Not all phone switches may have been upgraded to tone dialing.

I'm sure there are some out there.

If you want to learn something really neat, look up on how rotary dialing worked in the central offices of the phone network. Amazing really. What's even more amazing is it is exactly how the internet works today, same concept.
 
Another cool bit is if you stay on the line without inputting an option (pretend your a rotary) half the time you jump right to a live person.
 
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
My parents do. I couldn't understand why, but I think it's because they got it right after they got married. They still use it a lot too... Best part is that it keeps working if the power goes out, unlike cordless models.
Click to expand...

This is true of pretty much any corded phone...
 
I think you'd be surprised at how many people in rural areas still live in the past. My ex-wife's aunt just got indoor plumbing 4 years ago. They live in rural PA, and used an outhouse till 2002. So rotary phones are probably very common there.
 
Originally posted by: Rob9874
I think you'd be surprised at how many people in rural areas still live in the past. My ex-wife's aunt just got indoor plumbing 4 years ago. They live in rural PA, and used an outhouse till 2002. So rotary phones are probably very common there.
Click to expand...

OMFG...hicks much? Rotary phone, I can understand, but OUTHOUSE? No indoor plumbing? They grow or hunt all their own food too, I'll bet.

I'm all for camping and using an outhouse at a hunting shack...but damn...
 
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Originally posted by: Rob9874
I think you'd be surprised at how many people in rural areas still live in the past. My ex-wife's aunt just got indoor plumbing 4 years ago. They live in rural PA, and used an outhouse till 2002. So rotary phones are probably very common there.
Click to expand...

OMFG...hicks much? Rotary phone, I can understand, but OUTHOUSE? No indoor plumbing? They grow or hunt all their own food too, I'll bet.

I'm all for camping and using an outhouse at a hunting shack...but damn...
Click to expand...

Yes, hence the "EX" part of Ex-wife. I was the weirdo for making fun of living in trailers.
 
Originally posted by: NuroMancer
Apparently AT&T has something like 500k customers that rent rotary phones from them...
Click to expand...

I can verify that there are plenty of people still using them, i used to work at radio shack about 6 years ago and we had quite a few people come in to buy a phone becuause they just found out they no longer have to rent them from the phone company. I'm not sure about it being 500k tho
 
Originally posted by: MichaelD
Originally posted by: Rob9874
I think you'd be surprised at how many people in rural areas still live in the past. My ex-wife's aunt just got indoor plumbing 4 years ago. They live in rural PA, and used an outhouse till 2002. So rotary phones are probably very common there.
Click to expand...

OMFG...hicks much? Rotary phone, I can understand, but OUTHOUSE? No indoor plumbing? They grow or hunt all their own food too, I'll bet.

I'm all for camping and using an outhouse at a hunting shack...but damn...
Click to expand...

You'd be suprised.....
 
A lot of phones aren't touch tone still... and those are probably considered "rotary." That message just comes up because you need a touch-tone phone to be able to press numbers and them being accepted by the computer on the other line.
 
Originally posted by: d3n
Another cool bit is if you stay on the line without inputting an option (pretend your a rotary) half the time you jump right to a live person.
Click to expand...

ding ding ding! 🙂
 
Originally posted by: SonnyDaze
Originally posted by: Scarpozzi
My parents do. I couldn't understand why, but I think it's because they got it right after they got married. They still use it a lot too... Best part is that it keeps working if the power goes out, unlike cordless models.
Click to expand...

😕 This comes as a surprise to you?
Click to expand...
Not a surprise, but I went for a few years without owning a non-cordless phone.
 
I might put one in my house for novelty purposes. For example, if I had a bar in the basement, kind of like a lounge area, I might put one down there.
 
I remember about 20 years ago my grandmother had a rotary phone AND she also had a party line. If anyone remembers those, you could literally pick up the phone at random times and possibly listen in on someone else's conversation. I was pretty young, but I still remember getting chewed out by some lady once when I wasn't quiet enough and she heard me on the line.
 
Originally posted by: FatJackSprat
Why do all automated answering systems still ask you to stay on the line if you have a rotary phone? I guess know why they do it, my real question is how many people still have them.
Click to expand...

I still have one in the house, and its hooked up. So there.
 
I've got a rotary phone. I never phone ****** where I have to push buttons...

I usually use my mobile most of the time anyways, though.
 
Originally posted by: 0
Originally posted by: FatJackSprat
Why do all automated answering systems still ask you to stay on the line if you have a rotary phone? I guess know why they do it, my real question is how many people still have them.
Click to expand...

I still have one in the house, and its hooked up. So there.
Click to expand...

Answer: 500,002

🙂

 
The best feeling phone I ever used was a standard black Southwestern Bell rotary in my father's home office in the 80s.

Smooth, deliberate rotary action... and I swear you could bludgeon someone to death with one swing of the handset alone, nevermind the 10lb base... it was a beast :Q

/me heads to eBay :laugh:
 
My grandmother JUST got rid of her old rotary phone a few years ago and they still complain how they hate touch-tone phones.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.

TRENDING THREADS

Back
Top