Rectangular white plastic telephone with a curved handset and narrow base. The handset is made to fit snuggly into the base; both are of a similar width. The handset is propped behind the base revealing its underside. It has a push button dial at center with earpiece at top and mouthpiece at bottom. The earpiece is square with a concave circle with a circle of six small holes at center. The dial is recessed into the handset with white push buttons with black numbers one through nine, zero, pound, and star. Under each numbered button starting under number two are the letters of the alphabet in groups of three “ABC” through “WXY”. Written under the number zero is “OPER”. The mouthpiece has a small white black button and a square grid of small holes six by six. The base has two recessed areas to fit the earpiece and mouthpiece and has a black base. The base is attached to the handset with a tightly coiled white cord.

There are 4 other images of this object. See our image rights statement.

See more objects with the tag communication, compact, streamline, white.

Object Timeline

1965	Work on this object began.
1975	Work on this object ended.
2015	We acquired this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2017	We photographed this object. We photographed this object. We photographed this object.
2018	We exhibited this object.
2024	You found it!

Trimline Telephone

This is a telephone. It was designed by Donald M. Genaro and manufactured by Western Electric Manufacturing Company and from the office of Henry Dreyfuss Associates and made for (as the client) Bell Telephone Laboratories. It is dated ca. 1970 and we acquired it in 2015. Its medium is compression-molded abs plastic, metal, electronic components. It is a part of the Product Design and Decorative Arts department.

The Trimline telephone is one of the most recognizable and commonly used devices to be produced by Henry Dreyfuss Associates. Donald Genaro presided over its design production between 1962 and 1965. The phone was notable for its movement of the dial from the base to the handset, a legacy that is carried on today with the use of the modern cell phone. It was among the first phones to use the RJ11 modular plug and jack, a connecting device now found on numerous electrical products. The phone achieved such great popularity due to its compact design of a smooth plastic shell under which all of the mechanical parts are contained. In the design process, special attention was paid to achieve unobtrusive seaming of the plastic parts and ensure a streamlined shape. Ergonomics was an integral part of the production of all products developed in the Dreyfuss office. In the case of this phone, extensive measurements were made to achieve the correct handset shape to fit the distance on the average user between the ear and the mouth so that the phone was comfortable to use and allowed for perceptible speaking and hearing. A prototype underwent a field trial in American homes to ensure consumer satisfaction and success in real time use. This phone represents the model that was most widely used in American households and is still produced and used today.

This object was donated by Donald M. Genaro. It is credited Gift of Donald M. Genaro.

Telephone (USA)
molded plastic, plastics, metal, electronic components.
Gift of Henry Dreyfuss.
1972-88-179-2

Model 500 Telephone
molded plastic, metal, rubber.
Transfer from Exhibitions Department.
2009-50-1-a/c

Parola Telephone
rubber with electronic components.
Gift of Becker Inc..
1987-91-4

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

Signature Princess Telephone
compression-molded abs plastic, metal, electronic components.
Gift of AT&T.
1994-50-1

Its dimensions are

H x W x D: 8.6 × 23 × 7.6 cm (3 3/8 in. × 9 1/16 in. × 3 in.)

Cite this object as

Trimline Telephone; Designed by Donald M. Genaro (American, b. 1932); Manufactured by Western Electric Manufacturing Company (United States); Office of Henry Dreyfuss Associates (United States); Client: Bell Telephone Laboratories (United States); compression-molded abs plastic, metal, electronic components; H x W x D: 8.6 × 23 × 7.6 cm (3 3/8 in. × 9 1/16 in. × 3 in.); Gift of Donald M. Genaro; 2015-43-1

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

Short URL http://cprhw.tt/o/rjmTP/
Accession Number 2015-43-1
Object ID 286494701