Home & Family

9 Telephones That Rang in American Homes Over the Decades

George Michael
By George Michael 6 min read

Long before smartphones, the telephone sat in a fixed spot in the hallway, kitchen or bedroom of American homes. Each generation of equipment brought a new look, from upright brass-and-black stands to compact bedside models and the first handheld cell phone. Here are nine telephones and phone icons that rang in American homes and on American streets over the decades.

1. Candlestick telephone: The upright stand that started the home phone

An upright black candlestick telephone with a separate receiver — Image Credit: Ethan Long - CC BY-SA 2.0/Wikimedia Commons