In the Sunday comics section of our local newspaper (the Orlando Sentinel) on 2/23/25, Dave Blazek had an homage to you in his Loose Parts comic. Two robots are talking inside a bar, and the window has the name of the establishment: Wayno's (written in reverse, of course, so that people outside the bar can read it).
Some early phones, including the one I used as a model for this drawing, did not have letters on the dial. I think that letters appeared sooner in the US, but I'm not certain about that.
This is the type of phone I referred to in the cartoon:
I was reading the email version of your newsletter, and found myself much confused when, under Franz Kafka’s Pinocchio, you described a wordless gag and a tiny window washer.
It was only after opening the online Substack version that the relevant cartoon appeared.
These things happen, and my curiosity is satiated. Thanks for the laughs and chuckles; we need them.
I found the Sad Sack comic books rather lame compared to the George Baker WWII strips for Yank magazine. My dad came home from WWII with the hardbound collection, which I pretty much memorized as a kid in the 1950s. I inherited it after he died.
Our phone in the 1950s was a wall mount converted crank set that had a one-piece ear-and-mouthpiece that hung from the converted earpiece hook and had a dial where the mouthpiece used to be. "Recycle, Reuse and Repurpose!"
Although I'm not quite old enough to have actually used one of the wall phones that had a crank and separate mouthpiece & receiver, I do recall "cradle receiver" phones without dials and my childhood phone number: New Brighton 5136
I'm not sure why inconsequential things stick with us. I seem to have a great mind for them, however. Many times friends who should remember things we've gone through together have no memory of the event.
In the Sunday comics section of our local newspaper (the Orlando Sentinel) on 2/23/25, Dave Blazek had an homage to you in his Loose Parts comic. Two robots are talking inside a bar, and the window has the name of the establishment: Wayno's (written in reverse, of course, so that people outside the bar can read it).
Yes! Dave is a good friend, and seeing the Sunday Loose Parts comic was a nice surprise!
Of course, now, he'll expect free drinks at the pub...
You didn't put any letters on the rotary phone dial. Maybe not enough room?
Some early phones, including the one I used as a model for this drawing, did not have letters on the dial. I think that letters appeared sooner in the US, but I'm not certain about that.
This is the type of phone I referred to in the cartoon:
https://antiquetelephones.co.uk/contents/media/l_IMG_2911_Wondershare.jpg
Thanks for the sharp eye, Marge!
I was reading the email version of your newsletter, and found myself much confused when, under Franz Kafka’s Pinocchio, you described a wordless gag and a tiny window washer.
It was only after opening the online Substack version that the relevant cartoon appeared.
These things happen, and my curiosity is satiated. Thanks for the laughs and chuckles; we need them.
Thanks for your patience and understanding. I corrected the online version after seeing the errors in the email.
I found the Sad Sack comic books rather lame compared to the George Baker WWII strips for Yank magazine. My dad came home from WWII with the hardbound collection, which I pretty much memorized as a kid in the 1950s. I inherited it after he died.
Our phone in the 1950s was a wall mount converted crank set that had a one-piece ear-and-mouthpiece that hung from the converted earpiece hook and had a dial where the mouthpiece used to be. "Recycle, Reuse and Repurpose!"
The two incarnations were quite different, I just have a soft spot for Roads's art.
That sounds like a wonderfully Frankenstein-like phone!
I also used to read Sad Sack comics!
Although I'm not quite old enough to have actually used one of the wall phones that had a crank and separate mouthpiece & receiver, I do recall "cradle receiver" phones without dials and my childhood phone number: New Brighton 5136
The phone in my childhood home had a dial, and our number was Browning 6 3512. Why do we remember these details???
I'm not sure why inconsequential things stick with us. I seem to have a great mind for them, however. Many times friends who should remember things we've gone through together have no memory of the event.