Fading Tech – The Payphone Project

LOwell-8-7600. Another Brucker Fence. Englewood, NJ

the payphone project — Fri, 15 Oct 2021 21:27:56 +0000

Spotted this new-to-me old Telephone EXchange Name number today: LO-8-6700. In NYC “LO” stood for “LOngacre,” and I thought that might be true for Englewood as well. But according to the Telephone EXchange Name Project in Englewood “LO” stood for “LOwell.” I found a few references to “Charles Brucker and Sons” and “Charles Brucker” at…

USPS Blue Mailboxes: The Next Vanishment

the payphone project — Mon, 08 Jul 2019 23:16:32 +0000

It's not that mailboxes are vanishing. Instead we are losing distinct stamps of age that showed how some humble little USPS dropboxes had been in place since the Eisenhower administration.

Those new outdoor phone booths are so doggone handy …

the payphone project — Wed, 23 Nov 2016 01:46:14 +0000

The advertisement below appeared in the August 6, 1957, edition the Panama City News-Herald. It appeared in numerous publications nationwide. Cutesy ads like this promoted the expansion of Bell telephone booths throughout the 1950s. doggone… “It’s a dog’s life, all right. Waiting while she talks. Can’t blame her much, though. Those new outdoor phone booths…

NBC Affiliate in Denver Talked to “The Guy Who Runs the Payphone Project”

the payphone project — Fri, 03 Jun 2016 19:44:29 +0000

I did a short interview yesterday with Channel 9, an NBC affiliate in Denver, on the occasion of anniversary of the pay telephone. Allegedly the first pay station appeared in New Haven, CT, on June 1, 1880. Certain evidence, however, suggests earlier pay stations had existed.

What Was “Tracekit”?

the payphone project — Fri, 22 Apr 2016 18:41:58 +0000

An abandoned payphone in Queens bears an interesting notice which claims that the phone is marked with something called "Tracekit", a permanent tracing system used by law enforcement. Did Tracekit really exist?

New York Public Telephones: There’s Nothing More New York

the payphone project — Mon, 08 Feb 2016 21:24:23 +0000

Once in a while in my research a charming cultural relic surfaces, such as this peppy New York Telephone commercial from 1987. This 60-second television spot shows several actors recreating real-world scenes of people using payphones in ways once common in New York.

Adele’s “Hello” Video: It’s All About The Phone Booth

the payphone project — Tue, 03 Nov 2015 02:33:00 +0000

Pundits and techies pounced on the appearance of a flip phone in the video for Adele’s latest song “Hello”, calling it all kinds of ridiculous. According to director Xavier Dolan, however, it is the grizzled, overgrown British K2 phone box which appears later in the video that has far more significance.

Radio Interference, Payphone Style

the payphone project — Mon, 27 Oct 2014 17:48:37 +0000

Even if you actually wanted to make a call from this payphone it would be very difficult to communicate with another human. Audio coming through the earpiece of this landline payphone (718-424-2798) at 82nd Place & 63rd Avenue in Queens was completely subsumed by the sound of Radio Disney. These unintended analogue overlaps, reminiscent of…

Trailer for “Hang Up” – A Payphone Documentary

the payphone project — Tue, 07 Oct 2014 17:18:31 +0000

Earlier this year John Porter (of East Harlem Unity Communications) and I appeared in “Hang Up” – a payphone documentary directed by French film maker Ugo Massa. The short film premiered at “The Auditorium” on May 27, opening the “Truth Be Told Festival” at The New School. The film is not yet available to the…

Vintage Chronographs and Payphones

the payphone project — Wed, 16 Jul 2014 17:27:44 +0000

What was the connection between chronographs and payphones? Find out at WristTimes.com.

The Phone Box (Poem)

the payphone project — Wed, 18 Sep 2013 06:04:08 +0000

A poem by Jax Leck.

Payphones and Pants, Pants and Payphones

the payphone project — Wed, 21 Mar 2012 15:00:57 +0000

It's a commercial for pants -- Dockers pants -- which contains some nice imagery of abandoned phone booths from around the world. I like it, even with the droll punchline at the end. Check it out.

Payphone History, by Ron Knappen

the payphone project — Fri, 02 Dec 2011 04:03:47 +0000

Here is a cool gift idea for the payphone enthusiast in your life, or for anyone with an interest in telephone nostalgia. I picked this book up a couple of years ago and check in on it once in a while if only to remind myself how interesting and even exciting the world of payphonery…

Telephone Exchange Names Redux

the payphone project — Tue, 18 Jan 2011 03:23:29 +0000

Back in March of 2010 I commenced a collection of Telephone Exchange Name Sightings. Like my interest in payphones, the exchange name sightings was another paean to telephone nostalgia in which I gathered photos and other relics of a faded era in telephony. Recently a friend, Ivy Nguyen, sent over this nice photo of an…

Telephone Exchange Names

the payphone project — Thu, 15 Apr 2010 05:14:08 +0000

Here is my latest paean to telephone nostalgia: My collection of Telephone Exchange Name Sightings. You don’t see too many of these in the wild any more, but if you keep your eyes open (and if you know what you are looking at) then you might find them. I first noticed these old phone numbers…