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Replies: 1,004 / Views: 104,318 |
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Valued Member
United States
157 Posts |
 In this day and age, I think CoinStar machines would make more sense than payphones.
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Moderator
 United States
189767 Posts |
 Quote: In this day and age, I think CoinStar machines would make more sense than payphones. Truth. 
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
19230 Posts |
Payphones... Last coin find from a payphone was at Oakland International Airport back in the early '80s...
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Valued Member
United States
157 Posts |
Quote: Last coin find from a payphone was at Oakland International Airport back in the early '80s Was that your last find from a payphone, or the last one for anyone?
Edited by SquareCircle 05/07/2026 08:30 am
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Moderator
 United States
189767 Posts |
I cannot remember the last time I found change in a payphone, but the last time I used one was in 1989 when I ran out of gas.  In 1990 I installed my first car phone. No more payphones for me. 
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
18000 Posts |
Forum members -if you don't have one of these coins, then I recommend that you obtain one as soon as possible. This coin really revolutionized my life and made me much more efficient!  How often have your boss / wife / friends / colleagues / kids /parents asked you why you haven't done something, and you've replied "I'll do it but I haven't got a round duit yet!" So get a round duit and become efficient!
Edited by NumisRob 05/07/2026 11:30 am
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Moderator
 United States
189767 Posts |
 Quote: So get a round duit and become efficient! 
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10047 Posts |
As a teen I found the local dump where GE took phones, The GTE phone mart in the mall did not actually repair phones (as they said), instead they swapped a new one for your old one and tossed the old one. There was a gigantic pile of phones with small things like bad caps or loose wires. Our 12 room house thereafter had 15 phones in it. This included mostly push buttons (new concept back then) which allegedly did not work in our area and were very expensive to buy when the company said your area could use them. After a couple years of using them, the company (allegedly) implemented push button service in our area. Since they owned and rented all phones, the company upped the monthly price when you bought a push button phone from them. Back to the coin issue...the dump also included non-working rotary dial payphones. After swapping the guts I had a workable unit but took out the coin registering parts so I could use it at home. Had it for years but sold it in the 90s. I loved the dinging sound as coins were inserted and fell into the phone. Now it's one of those things I wish I had kept! Ironic I still have the coin box sitting on the small table next to my chair here b/c yesterday I was thinking of selling it on ebay!
How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halveshttps://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2
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Moderator
 United States
189767 Posts |
My dad's dad worked for Bell. We always had more phones than we were paying for.  After the breakup 1/1/84, that no longer mattered.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10047 Posts |
I had a huge boxful b/c it was fun to repair them. So I sold a lot at our garage sales as well as installed phones for free for a lot of friends. It helped that my brother once found 9 large metal spools of telephone wire beside the RR tracks. Still have one to this day hanging from my shop ceiling. Been using it all these years for odd jobs of tying things down, wiring computer circuits, running speaker wire (long before bluetooth!), etc. Used so very much of it but still a lifetime supply left on the spool even after all these years.
How much squash could a Sasquatch squash if a Sasquatch would squash squash? Download and read: Grading the graders Costly TPG ineptitude and No FG Kennedy halveshttps://ln5.sync.com/dl/7ca91bdd0/w...i3b-rbj9fir2
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Pillar of the Community
United States
521 Posts |
After spending two years in the US Navy, my father then spent 20 years in the USAF, before starting a 25-year career working for Ma Bell. I remember when phones were leased, not bought. And if there was a problem with your phone, they'd send a tech on a house call to either repair or replace it.
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Moderator
 United States
189767 Posts |
Quote: Still have one to this day hanging from my shop ceiling... a lifetime supply left on the spool even after all these years. Nice!  Quote: I remember when phones were leased, not bought. Yup, which is what I was hinting at about (not) paying for our (extra) phone(s).  The breakup put the kibosh on that. I remember our first non Western Electric phone, a Trimline knock-off bought at the mall.
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Bedrock of the Community
United States
10047 Posts |
DEPARTMENT OF THE TREASURY United States Mint Washington, D.C. FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE Subject: Introduction of the "Real America" Circulating Quarter-Dollar Series WASHINGTON — Today, the United States Mint is proud to pull back the curtain on our most ground-breaking numismatic development of the 21st century. Having exhausted our nation's geography, historic milestones, national parks, and sports leagues, we asked ourselves: What actually unites the day-to-day experience of the modern American citizen? The answer was clear. It is not our monuments, but our shared minor inconveniences, niche internet obsessions, and unhinged cultural phenomena. Beginning next quarter, the United States Mint will launch the "Real America" Quarter Dollar Series. This multi-year initiative introduces a revolutionary alloy designed to perfectly mimic the grimy texture of the modern economy while giving our citizens a currency that truly mirrors their daily lives. For the first time in history, the reverse of your 25-cent piece will not look backward at the deep past—it will look directly at the absurdities of the present day. We invite the public to look closely at their change starting next month, as we debut the first wave of our parodied realities. The inaugural designs include: 1. The US Infrastructure Pothole Classification series; We know everyone will feel a special attachment to these designs seeing as they represent what we all encounter in daily life!  2. The Great American. Mold & Mildew Series which includes the exciting binomial taxonomic nomenclature for each species!  3. Ever wonder where your drinking water comes from? The US Municipal Sewage Treatment Plants series is here to educate with this new exciting and educational series!  4. The Invasive Earthworm Commemorative Series. Now you will be able to identify those squished worms that show up after the first spring rainfall! Know exactly if your yard has been invaded by non-native species. A subject we all have lost sleep over at one time or other.  All of these exciting new themes are sure to be collectable to future generations. And lastly we are giving a sneak peak into the never ending boredom inspired by all these series. Below is a picture of a single example of four different US quarter design themes coming to you in the future. Note that just like the Canadian mint pioneered by gluing glass bugs etc. to coins to make collectors items, we will be following in their footsteps by gluing a genuine replica of a plastic bread clip to one of the coins int he junk drawer series (shown below). Note future series will likely include added items to coins such as real (!) paper clips, used staples, grains of sand, genuine Kansas wheat grain husks and dead stink bug carcases! Special proof set issues in clad may also be offered at only $500.00 a set! 
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Moderator
 United States
189767 Posts |
Oh my.  I would actually like to have some of these!  Someone send this to Dan Carr. 
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Bedrock of the Community
United Kingdom
18000 Posts |
They look great! 
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Replies: 1,004 / Views: 104,318 |
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