I'm tired of wireless this, cellular that. The DECT-whatever phone system I got a year or two ago is crap. One of the handsets is dead already, and it's not the battery. I want a new kitchen phone, and I'm going old-school. Anybody make a high-quality wired phone anymore? I don't care what it costs. I just want a phone that works when I pick it up, whether the power is on or not.
http://www.amazon.com/Crosley-Black-Candlestick-Phone-CR64/dp/B0002Z2U6A/ref=sr_1_15?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1357912997&sr=1-15
Hit up the thrift stores. The old phones there are not there because they did not work, rather were just unwanted. Find a nice touch tone princess phone or trimline.
http://www.amazon.com/Crosley-Phone-CR55-BC-Brushed-Chrome/dp/B0002LX8BK/ref=sr_1_8?s=office-products&ie=UTF8&qid=1357912997&sr=1-8
Also at question here is who is your phone company. If your phone service is through you cable/internet provider then you are still subject to power outages. When your router looses power, your phone system looses power.
You need service from a real, copper wire, phone company to still have service during a sustained power outage.
In reply to JohnRW1621:
Still got POTS (Plain Old Telephone Service) via Verizon. Two nice copper wires. 
JohnRW1621 wrote: Also at question here is who is your phone company. If your phone service is through you cable/internet provider then you are still subject to power outages. When your router looses power, your phone system looses power. You need service from a real, copper wire, phone company to still have service during a sustained power outage.
keep in mind that if there's a power outage it's often for trees pulling down power lines ... phone lines are usually on the same pole ... therefore no phone either
our last outage was like that ... sure the cordless didn't work ( no power ) but the wired phones also no worky
I have far more outages on my internet (Verizon) than I have power outages. I use my cell then.
It's funny, but I can only recall one or two times out of many, many power outages that the phone was also out of service. For whatever reason, the phone is far more dependable than the power.
Actually, this looks pretty rockin'. Made in USA for bonus points:
http://www.smithgear.com/itt-2554-v-wh.html
1988RedT2 wrote: It's funny, but I can only recall one or two times out of many, many power outages that the phone was also out of service. For whatever reason, the phone is far more dependable than the power. Actually, this looks pretty rockin'. Made in USA for bonus points: http://www.smithgear.com/itt-2554-v-wh.html
If I had a land line, this is the phone I would have in the kitchen. Well, this or a used classic version of it. There's not much that can kill these things.
In reply to dculberson:
Hey! We actually agree on something!
In reply to 1988RedT2:
I'm going to say no on new quality. I do a lot of phone installations and the only quality corded phones I see are old phones. All the new ones you find are poor quality and I have seen them fail. A 15 year old corded phone is better than the junk they make today.
Edit: I'd check out that smith gear phone, that actually looks like it could be descent.
JohnRW1621 wrote: Also at question here is who is your phone company. If your phone service is through you cable/internet provider then you are still subject to power outages. When your router looses power, your phone system looses power. You need service from a real, copper wire, phone company to still have service during a sustained power outage.
Not true, my companies modems have batteries in them so if the power goes out, the phone still works. Also, the cable plant has battery backup as well, just like the copper wire phone company. If you have something like Vonage, than yes, you will lose phone service during a power outage.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:JohnRW1621 wrote: Also at question here is who is your phone company. If your phone service is through you cable/internet provider then you are still subject to power outages. When your router looses power, your phone system looses power. You need service from a real, copper wire, phone company to still have service during a sustained power outage.Not true, my companies modems have batteries in them so if the power goes out, the phone still works. Also, the cable plant has battery backup as well, just like the copper wire phone company. If you have something like Vonage, than yes, you will lose phone service during a power outage.
We have Time Warner VOIP at work, and the VOIP modem has a power backup ... but the fiber to copper converter at the building entrance does not. Brilliant.
@1988RedT2: First Giant Purple Snorkel and now you! What's going on these days? ;-)
Anything made in the past by Western Electric.
I've been looking for a Western Electric 211 for years.
1988RedT2: how about a chrome version with an armored cord? Just $200 and it looks awesome.
http://www.fivestarphones.com/product_info.php?products_id=1075&osCsid=d3ec1cba98863d6b48d8e33d49520a70
dculberson wrote: 1988RedT2: how about a chrome version with an armored cord? Just $200 and it looks awesome. http://www.fivestarphones.com/product_info.php?products_id=1075&osCsid=d3ec1cba98863d6b48d8e33d49520a70
What?! Not available in brushed stainless? What gives??
Hmm. I wonder if I should let the wife see that before I buy it...
spitfirebill wrote: Anything made in the past by Western Electric. I've been looking for a Western Electric 211 for years.
It's pretty hard to beat any of the old phones from before the Bell breakup. They're built like tanks and last forever - I have a 1940s era dial desk phone in my living room that still works great and I could probably use it to drive nails.
The only problem is the receiver is so heavy, my arm gets tired while making calls. 
stuart in mn wrote: The only problem is the receiver is so heavy, my arm gets tired while making calls.
That's called a "fringe benefit." You can cancel that expensive health club membership and get your workout while you make those calls!
+1 on the Western Electric. They were built to be rebuilt many times. We've got a black rotary desk phone from the '60s sitting in the kitchen. We use it principally as a "ringer" because both my wife and I prefer the sound to the electronic warbling of modern phones. My wife also favors it for long conversations because the sound quality at both ends is superior. Plus, it's always fun watching young people try to figure out how to use it.
SyntheticBlinkerFluid wrote:JohnRW1621 wrote: Also at question here is who is your phone company. If your phone service is through you cable/internet provider then you are still subject to power outages. When your router looses power, your phone system looses power. You need service from a real, copper wire, phone company to still have service during a sustained power outage.Not true, my companies modems have batteries in them so if the power goes out, the phone still works. Also, the cable plant has battery backup as well, just like the copper wire phone company. If you have something like Vonage, than yes, you will lose phone service during a power outage.
ok, help me out here ... how does battery back-up help when the lines are laid out on the ground ... cut in multiple places ? not trying to be a smart ass .. serious question
$30, Ebay and it will work just as well as it did in 1981.
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