Vintage Mobile Phones.

volvoman9
volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
500 Comments
edited February 2016 in Your Hobbies #1

This is my small but expanding collection of vintage mobile phones.They date from the mid 80,s through to the mid 90,s.They are all made by Motorola who were second too none for build quality in early mobile phone production.The cost of these phones when first made was astronomical for instance the MicroTAC flip-phone came in at £1765 back in 1989.All the phones worked on the old analogue systems so are not usable nowadays but they all still power up.The size and weight of some of these phones is unbelievable.The 4500x car/mobile weighed in at around 8lbs Surprised.Many of these early cell phones are becomeing very collectable these days.I display these phones in my BMW at classic car shows as the car dates from the same period and they go well together HappyDid you have any of these models ?

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Comments

  • EmilysDad
    EmilysDad Forum Participant Posts: 8,973
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #2

    The only one of your collection I ever saw was the Independant ... huge! Wink

  • JillwithaJay
    JillwithaJay Club Member Posts: 2,484 ✭✭✭✭
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #3

    First mobile I had was a BT Merlin (I think).  It was huge in comparison with today's phones and was very expensive.  

    I still have my Motorola Razr as a spare which I keep charged up and which then lasts me all week but obviously doesn't have the all singing all dancing apps but is a super phone.

    I felt I almost needed an IT degree to fathom out my new Motorola, moto e, with all it's facilities but the battery only lasts a day.

    300 siggy photo 6b161378-22ab-47bd-97dd-22af5e8f67ba_zpsbtkpqljt.jpg

     

  • Natasha2
    Natasha2 Forum Participant Posts: 306
    100 Comments
    edited February 2016 #4

    We have a Motorola 4500x, purchased a few years ago off EBay.

    My husband used one in the early 80s  on a building site. I remember him bringing it home every night in its shoulder bag case to recharge overnight  Even though they were so large the battery would only last until lunchtime!

  • ABM
    ABM Forum Participant Posts: 14,578
    1000 Comments
    edited February 2016 #5

    But  the  heat  off  the  valves  should  keep  you  warm  !!

  • SteveL
    SteveL Club Member Posts: 12,299 ✭✭✭✭✭
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    edited February 2016 #6

    The 4500x looks like the one we used to use on our onshore drilling rigs back in the 80's. I remember thinking how amazing it was to stand in the middle of a field and be able to make a phone call. Prior to that it had been a very complicated radio phone,
    which had to go through an operator, or we had to get land lines laid in.

  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited February 2016 #7

    When first on sale the 4500x cost between £2500 and £3000 but within 3 years was down to around £600.Where Motorola were slow was to invest in digital technology and they were soon overtaken by Nokia.Where Motorola were very succesful was in two-way communication.All the car to car two way radio,s we used at work were Motorola.

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  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited February 2016 #8

    But  the  heat  off  the  valves  should  keep  you  warm  !!

    Indeed Happy

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  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited February 2016 #9

    We have a Motorola 4500x, purchased a few years ago off EBay.

    My husband used one in the early 80s  on a building site. I remember him bringing it home every night in its shoulder bag case to recharge overnight  Even though they were so large the battery would only last until lunchtime!

    Well hang onto it they can only appreciate in value Happy

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  • volvoman9
    volvoman9 Forum Participant Posts: 1,053
    500 Comments
    edited February 2016 #10

    We have a Motorola 4500x, purchased a few years ago off EBay.

    My husband used one in the early 80s  on a building site. I remember him bringing it home every night in its shoulder bag case to recharge overnight  Even though they were so large the battery would only last until lunchtime!

    You have touched on a good point there what we tend too forget is that its the great strides made in the technology of rechargeable batteries that has contributed to makeing the mobile phone the success story it has become.The size and lifespan of todays
    batteries is amazeing.

    peter.