rotary phones
Spin-to-call devices
Rotary phones are telephones with a circular dial that users rotate to enter each digit of a number.
The dial returns to its resting position after each rotation, generating electrical pulses that signal the number.
Rotary phones were standard from the early 20th century until touch-tone keypads replaced them in the 1970s and 80s.
The phrase now evokes technological obsolescence: Kids today have never seen a rotary phone.
Held telephone component
- receiverOne who accepts transmission
- bellHollow resonating instrument
- ringerImpostor in competition
- cordFlexible twisted strand
coil · switchhook · pulse · earpiece · mouthpiece · cradle · baseplate · spring
Graduated circular indicator
- numbersCounting and calculation symbols
- ringingSustained resonant sound
- callContact by phone
- connectJoin or link
operator · exchange · directory · busy signal · area code · long-distance · receiver · hang up
Quality from past eras
- antiqueOld valued collectible
- retroEvoking recent past
- classicOf lasting excellence
- midcenturyAround the 1950s
collectible · heirloom · memories · bygone era · old-fashioned · sentimental · analog · keepsake
No longer available
- outdatedNo longer in use
- supersededReplaced by something newer
- antiquatedOld and outdated
- replacedRemoved and substituted
landline · phased out · smartphone era · museum exhibit · forgotten · abandoned · outmoded · anachronistic
handset
Held telephone component
cord · coil · switchhook · pulse · earpiece · mouthpiece · cradle · baseplate · spring · contacts
dial
Graduated circular indicator
connect · operator · exchange · directory · busy signal · area code · long-distance · receiver · hang up · redial
vintage
Quality from past eras
midcentury · collectible · heirloom · memories · bygone era · old-fashioned · sentimental · analog · keepsake · relic
discontinued
No longer available
- outdatedNo longer in use
- supersededReplaced by something newer
- antiquatedOld and outdated
replaced · landline · phased out · smartphone era · museum exhibit · forgotten · abandoned · outmoded · anachronistic
- analog technologyanalog clocks, analog clock, analog computers, film cameras, analog meter
- obsolete thingsdodo, dodo bird, passenger pigeon, dinosaurs, mammoth
- vintage collectiblestube radios, vintage signs, cash registers, pinball machines, vintage jewelry
- BoomersAARP, AARP member, empty nester, empty nesters, grandparent
- 70sdisco, bell-bottoms, Saturday Night Fever, pet rock, leisure suits
- obsolete techfloppy disk, VHS, dial-up modem, cassette tape, floppy disks
rotary phonessmartphones
Handheld touchscreen computers
iPhones · cell phones · mobile phones · cellular phones · smart devices
phone, telephone, rotate, rotation, rotating, rotated, rotary, rotates, rotisserie