Posted 7 years ago
AnythingOb…
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Who remembers "CHARLIE'S ANGELS", the TV show from the late 1970's featuring 3 shapely female 'private detectives' employed by a mysterious "Charlie", who never actually physically appeared onscreen? Instead, viewers only heard his voice at the beginning/end of each episode, giving instructions (or congrats) for the 'mission' through -- y'all guessed it -- this VERY same type of "speakerphone" device. :-)
Found today at a junk store, this one could use a good cleaning but otherwise appears complete including its cord. Standard TELCO 'beige' color with brushed aluminum grille, it measures about 6-1/2" wide, 4-1/2" high, and 5" deep. In actual use, it would have plugged into some model of 'executive' telephone set which would allow it to operate -- as a standalone device it basically does nothing whatsoever.
It likely does really date from the 70's, but oddly doesn't appear to have date stamps on its bottom or inside its case. The bottom is stamped with the standard "BELL SYSTEM PROPERTY NOT FOR SALE" and "WESTERN ELECTRIC" name in a font used around then, (immediately before the Bell System got 'de-regulated' by the gov't and the whole idea of how phones work changed forever) and also identifies it as a "108 LOUDSPEAKER SET".
Had to laugh when purchasing it...it didn't have a tag on it so I had to take it to the counter and ask the clerks the price. Nice young lady immediately asked "what is it, anyway?" and when I said it was an old speakerphone, she looked again and exclaimed "oh -- like Charlie's Angels?" She got the trivia question correct, but as far as I'm concerned *I* left with the 'prize' for my $4...? <LOL>
