A vertically standing, heavily built mobile phone with the colors gray, orange, white and black. Its materials are molded plastic with other internal electronic components. This Motorola phone was also known as “The brick” - a fitting name for its color and size. It has a black attena extending outside of the main body. The top portion has a small punctures serving as the ear piece reciever. It is followed by a slim black rectangular screen. The button interface is similar to the layout of a standard phone. At the bottom part is the text “Metro Mobile CTS” with a horizontal open slot below it.

See more objects with the tag numbers, antenna, cellular, personal electronic.

Object Timeline

1983	Work on this object began.
2017	We acquired this object. We photographed this object.
2018	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

DynaTAC 8000x Mobile Phone, 1983

This is a Mobile Phone. It was designed by Martin Cooper, Rudolph Krolopp and Donald Linder and manufactured by Motorola, Inc.. It is dated 1983 and we acquired it in 2017. Its medium is molded plastic, electronic components. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

First developed as a prototype by Motorola in 1973, the DynaTAC 8000x was the first commercially available handheld cellular phone, released ten years later. Motorola’s engineering team invested $100 million in the development of the phone alongside a high capacity system to carry the calls. Known as “the brick,” the phone comprised thirty circuit boards, facilitated a talk-time of thirty-five minutes, required ten hours to recharge, and sold for $3,995.

This object was donated by Robert Greenberg. It is credited Gift of Robert M. Greenberg.

Mobile Telephone (Germany)
Overall: 8.4 x 25 x 7 cm (3 5/16 x 9 13/16 x 2 3/4 in.).
Gift of AEG Mobile Communications GmbH.
1995-97-1

Angelo Cordless Phone
plastic (abs), electronics.
Gift of frogdesign, inc..
1995-59-7-a,b

A black, rectangular mobile telephone with platinum surround at its edges. On the front is a rectangular screen with a chevron shape cut from its top section. The screen is placed above six rows of eigtheen chevron-shaped, platinum function and number keys. Beside the phone is a long coiled chain which is looped with a link at the top and a small square medallion across the upper section.

Vertu MMII Cellular Telephone
platinum, sapphire crystal, ceramic, leather.
Gift of Vertu, Ltd..
2004-9-1-a,b

Our curators have highlighted 1 object that are related to this one.

Simon Cellular Telephone
plastic housing, metal, electronic components.
Gift of International Business Machines.
1996-23-1-a/d

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 19.5 × 7.5 × 4 cm (7 11/16 × 2 15/16 × 1 9/16 in.)

Cite this object as

DynaTAC 8000x Mobile Phone, 1983; Designed by Martin Cooper (American, born 1928), Rudolph Krolopp, Donald Linder (American, born ca. 1943); Manufactured by Motorola, Inc. (United States); molded plastic, electronic components; H x W x D: 19.5 × 7.5 × 4 cm (7 11/16 × 2 15/16 × 1 9/16 in.); Gift of Robert M. Greenberg; 2017-51-25-a/e

This object was previously on display as a part of the exhibition Bob Greenberg Selects.

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/2FZKPD/
Accession Number 2017-51-25-a/e
Object ID 1108968911