Howdy mpenrod99-ga,
The phone used in both the "Charlie's Angels" television show, and
then as an "homage" to the original series, used in the "Charlie's
Angels" movies, is a vintage Bell Systems "4A" speakerphone.
You can see a picture of it, shown in green instead of the usual
beige, on the Bell System Memorial web site.
http://www.bellsystemmemorial.com/images/b1958_speakerphone_set.jpg
"1958 - SPEAKERPHONE SET - Hands-free telephoning arrived with the
introduction of the Speakerphone, which also permits conference calls
between groups at different locations. [Shown] is the '4A' model,
introduced in 1974, which has improved sound qualities and an
omnidirectional microphone."
From the Bell Labs web site.
http://www.bell-labs.com/org/1133/Heritage/Foil/
"In 1977, a new control pad containing the electret microphone became
part of the standard 4a speakerphone and was made available to customers
throughout Bell System telephone companies."
As these were analog systems (note the dial instead of keys) the "4A"
was a "half-duplex" (one way) and not a "full-duplex" (two way) system.
At least in "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle," it is very notable that
only one person speaks on one "side" of the line, then the person on
the other end takes their "turn" at apeaking.
The "Charlie's Angels" television show debuted in 1976, so the "4A"
must have been as "high tech" as one could imagine at the time.
For the movie, they wanted to reproduce the "look and feel" of some
aspects of the series.
From the Boston Herald review of "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle."
http://theedge.bostonherald.com/movieReviews/view.bg?articleid=40
"Later, the angels visit Bosley (Bernie Mac subbing for Bill Murray)
and get their instructions from Charlie (the voice of the original
Charlie, John Forsythe), who speaks to them through that vintage Bell
telephone speaker box."
The "Bell" logo on the speakerphone actually produces a continuity error
in the movie. From the Internet Movie Database (IMDB) "Goofs for Charlie's
Angels: Full Throttle" web page.
http://www.imdb.com/title/tt0305357/goofs
"The Bell System logo (embossed in the bottom left corner of the speaker
phone) disappears in some scenes."
If you need any clarification, feel free to ask.
Search Strategy:
Watched "Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle" in detail and my memories of
the original television series.
Google search on: "Bell System" speakerphone
://www.google.com/search?q=%22Bell+System%22+speakerphone
Looking Forward, denco-ga - Google Answers Researcher |
