Telephone-timer
The telephone timer helped you keep track of how long you had talked – and how much it would cost. (From catalogue 1944.)
Connecting to each other
Type writer
The first typewriters arrived in the mid-1800s. The first big seller was the Remington number 3, which came to market 1878. The typewriter was an instant hit and growing paperwork demanded more typists which helped more women join the workforce. The typewriter remains an icon for authors. The first author to buy a typewriter was allegedly Mark Twain in 1874. (From the catalogue 1957.)
Mobile phones
Mobile phones came into usage in Sweden in the early 1980s but by 1987, only two percent of the population had their own phone because they were expensive. Thirteen years later that number had risen to 71 percent and, by 2004, 100 percent had a mobile phone (and many had one for work and one for private use). (From the catalogue 2008.)
String phone (toy version)
Two tin cups and some string was all that was needed if you wanted to talk to someone far away – so long as “far away” was no more than 300-400 metres, of course. (From the catalogue 1931.)
Fax machine
Before email conquered the world, the fax (which was invented as far back as 1843!) was the technology used for the electronic transfer of images. That’s how we sent signed contracts or interesting articles to each other. From a technical perspective, the fax read the image that was sent and turned into electrical impulses that were sent via the telephone grid. The receiving fax interpreted the signal and printed the message. (From the catalogue 1999.)
Chest microphone
A predecessor to today’s headset was the chest microphone. It was very comfortable for anyone who spent a lot of time on the phone. (From the catalogue 1969.)
Phone holder with belt clips
The mobile phone holder that clips onto a belt was once a hugely popular accessory soon after the dawn of the mobile phone era. (From the catalogue 2001.)
Speed-dial phone
This classic model could store 10 numbers for speed-dialing. Plus, you could dial the last number called with one simple button push. (From the catalogue 1993.)
Pager set
The pager allowed middle management across the country to call up to six people at the office with just one push of a button. (From catalogue 1984.)
