What did phones look like in the 1930s?

In the 1930s, phones typically looked like rotary telephones. They had either a round or square base with a numbered dial that spun when you dialed and a handset receiver with both an earpiece and a mouthpiece. A cord connected the handset to the base. Find a variety of rotary phones on 1stDibs.

1930s Phone

Vintage Phone, 1930s/40s

$763

H 13 in W 10.24 in D 5.12 in

Vintage Phone, 1930s/40s

Located in Roma, IT

Vintage telephone is an original design object realized in the 1930s/40s. A brass and wood vintage telephone. Fair conditions due to the time. Give a touch of vintage to you...

Category

Early 20th Century Italian Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Brass

Danish Art Deco Oak Double Tambour Archive Cabinet, 1930s.

$2,820

H 63 in W 43.71 in D 18.9 in

Danish Art Deco Oak Double Tambour Archive Cabinet, 1930s.

Located in Asaa, DK

Made in Denmark in the 1930s for the Copenhagen Phone Company (Denmark's oldest phone company).

Category

Vintage 1930s Danish Art Deco Cabinets

Materials

Oak

Edwardian Wall Hung Shop Sign, Kirbys’ Wardrobes Purchased

$1,497

H 20 in W 49 in D 2 in

Edwardian Wall Hung Shop Sign, Kirbys’ Wardrobes Purchased

Located in Godshill, Isle of Wight

Edwardian wall hung shop sign, Kirbys’ wardrobes purchased A great piece of social history, this is a wooden sign painted on both sides and hanging on a blacksmith made Iron brack...

Category

Early 20th Century Folk Art Signs

Materials

Wood

Recent Sales

Thorens "Excelda" Camera Phone Phonograph Player circa 1930s Very Rare

Unavailable

H 2 in W 11 in D 4.5 in

Thorens "Excelda" Camera Phone Phonograph Player circa 1930s Very Rare

By Thorens

Located in Oakland, CA

This is an authentic Excelda portable gramophone, the portable phonograph of the 1930's that resembled the pocket cameras of that time (usually referred to as a “Cameraphone”). It wa...

Category

Vintage 1930s Swiss Art Deco Musical Instruments

Materials

Metal

Mid-1900s Red Gamewell Cast Iron Fire Alarm Master Box w/ Western Electric Phone

Unavailable

H 62.25 in W 19 in D 10.75 in

Mid-1900s Red Gamewell Cast Iron Fire Alarm Master Box w/ Western Electric Phone

Located in Vineyard Haven, MA

This highly collectible cottage style Gamewell fire Masterbox is unrestored and in its original condition, except for the 1930s-1940s Western Electric phone which has been converted ...

Category

Mid-20th Century American American Colonial Historical Memorabilia

Materials

Iron

Original 1930's Siemens Brothers & Co Ltd Phone

Sold

H 7.88 in W 8.27 in D 6.7 in

Original 1930's Siemens Brothers & Co Ltd Phone

Located in Forest Row, East Sussex

An original, 1930's Siemens Brothers & Co Ltd black telephone with a Braided handset cord. Dimensions: H 20cm, W 21cm, D 17cm Origin: German Date: circa 1950 Item No: 29...

Category

Vintage 1950s Desk Sets

Materials

Bakelite

1930s Catalin Gold Mono-phone Telephone

Sold

H 5.5 in W 9 in D 6 in

1930s Catalin Gold Mono-phone Telephone

Located in Van Nuys, CA

1930s White Catalin (colored Bakelite) Mono-phone Telephone with gold plate accents and a wonderful Art Deco style.

Category

Vintage 1930s American Art Deco Desk Accessories

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Iron strong box or safe. 19th century

$1,599

H 13 in W 18.9 in D 11.82 in

Iron strong box or safe. 19th century

Located in Madrid, ES

Safe box. Iron. XIX century. Rectangular safe made of iron, with a rectangular base, two handles on the sides and classicist-influenced molding decorations on the fronts and top. It...

Category

Antique 19th Century European Neoclassical Revival Decorative Boxes

Materials

Other, Iron

19th Century French Large and Finely Gilt Bronze Casket

$10,500

H 6 in W 12 in D 9 in

19th Century French Large and Finely Gilt Bronze Casket

Located in Dallas, TX

Finest quality French 19th century bronze doré box. Beautiful scenes of cherubs at play on all sides. Boucher scenes. Lined with a beautiful silk original key.

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Louis Philippe Decorative Boxes

Materials

Bronze

Fine Steinway & Sons Wedgwood Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Baby Grand Piano Model M

$50,000Sale Price|23% Off

H 39.5 in W 56 in D 65.5 in

Fine Steinway & Sons Wedgwood Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Baby Grand Piano Model M

By Steinway & Sons

Located in Roslyn, NY

Steinway & Sons Ormolu Mounted Mahogany Baby Grand Piano Model M, serial no. 244684, circa 1926 With Wedgwood Light Blue Jasperware / Wedgwood Framed Oval Plaques Decorated With Clas...

Category

20th Century American Regency Musical Instruments

Materials

Bronze, Ormolu

Antique Camera / Enlarger Circa 1910s

$1,550

H 35 in W 13.5 in D 35 in

Antique Camera / Enlarger Circa 1910s

Located in Newfoundland, PA

Early Wooden Antique Camera / Enlarger Circa 1910s Please look at the photos, this has not been touched in decades. It is just the way you would like to find it, untouched. True anti...

Category

Vintage 1910s American Late Victorian Scientific Instruments

Materials

Metal

IMPORTANT BISHOP JAMES STANLEY 1508 KING HENRY VII ENGLiSH OAK TUDOR TESTER BED

$163,318

H 90.95 in W 61.03 in D 77.56 in

IMPORTANT BISHOP JAMES STANLEY 1508 KING HENRY VII ENGLiSH OAK TUDOR TESTER BED

Located in West Sussex, Pulborough

Royal House Antiques Royal House Antiques is delighted to offer for sale this very rare and highly important, Museum quality, English Tudor King Henry VII Oak tester bed made for an...

Category

Antique 15th Century and Earlier English Renaissance Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Oak

Antique 19th Century French Chateau Oak Paneled Salon Room "Boiserie" circa 1865

$500,000

H 144 in W 228 in D 199 in

Antique 19th Century French Chateau Oak Paneled Salon Room "Boiserie" circa 1865

Located in New Orleans, LA

A complete boiseries from the French country estate: "Chateau de Quatres Barbes." The antique 19th century French Louis XVI style grand oak paneled salon room or "boiseries" from the...

Category

Antique Late 19th Century French Louis XVI Panelling

Materials

Marble

Bed Italian Venetian Painted Trompe L’œil Baroque Fortuny Superking 6ft 180cm

$34,024

H 83.47 in W 74.81 in D 88.19 in

Bed Italian Venetian Painted Trompe L’œil Baroque Fortuny Superking 6ft 180cm

Located in BUNGAY, SUFFOLK

Magnificent, 18th Century, Venetian, Trompe-L’œil, Painted, Bed, Superking 6ft, 180cm wide, With Massive 213cm, 6ft 10in Shaped Headboard & 149cm, 5ft Shaped Footboard & Fortuny Bedc...

Category

Antique 1730s European Baroque Beds and Bed Frames

Materials

Paint

Charming Vintage Gentleman's Library Telescope

$1,950

H 17 in W 4.25 in D 2.25 in

Charming Vintage Gentleman's Library Telescope

Located in Chicago, IL

A vintage gentleman's library telescope Not sure exactly of it's age. Estimated Mid Victorian Period ( 1860-1880). Uncertain to maker and origin. Has wear overall and missing som...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century Victorian Mounted Objects

Materials

Brass

19th Century Trade Sign Clothing Wood Double Sided Wooden Hudson Valley NY

$27,500

H 25 in W 36 in D 2.25 in

19th Century Trade Sign Clothing Wood Double Sided Wooden Hudson Valley NY

Located in Newfoundland, PA

Take a look at this fantastic double sided early 19th or late 18th century wooden trade sign with original wrought Iron bracket. Came out of a Hudson Valley, N.Y. estate - "Clothing ...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century American Primitive Architectural Elements

Materials

Iron

Rare Fraad Jr. Child's Size Talking Machine, circa 1916

$4,900

H 34 in W 15.25 in D 15.25 in

Rare Fraad Jr. Child's Size Talking Machine, circa 1916

Located in Bridgeport, CT

A New York firm established in 1915. An advertisement of 1916 offered ten models of disc players under the names Symphony, Fraad Jr. and Symphony Jr. (the firm went bankrupt in Augus...

Category

Vintage 1910s American Hollywood Regency Musical Instruments

Materials

Mahogany

German Mother of Pearl Snuff Box

$68,500

H 1.75 in W 3.13 in D 1.88 in

German Mother of Pearl Snuff Box

Located in New Orleans, LA

Magnificent layers and inlays of multi-colored mother-of-pearl cover each side of this breathtaking German snuff box. Each incredibly detailed scene is framed by finely engraved yell...

Category

Antique 18th Century German Other Decorative Boxes

Materials

Gold

AirPlane Phone

$950

H 7 in W 9 in D 9.5 in

AirPlane Phone

By N. T. Co.

Located in Westport, CT

Airplane phone Star and US flag decale

Category

Vintage 1960s Canadian Desk Accessories

Materials

Plastic

Mid-Century Functional Tesla Phone 1982, Czechoslovakia

$575

H 3.55 in W 8.67 in D 7.49 in

Mid-Century Functional Tesla Phone 1982, Czechoslovakia

By Tesla

Located in Praha, CZ

- Very Good original condition - Fully functional. - Tesla manufacturer typ-TA 32.

Category

Vintage 1980s Czech Mid-Century Modern Desk Sets

Materials

Plastic

A Wonderful Ormolu Ritual Dagger

$7,485

H 18.12 in W 3.75 in D 1.58 in

A Wonderful Ormolu Ritual Dagger

Located in Lincolnshire, GB

A mid 19th century French ritual dagger with a superb figure of skeletal father death, the blade engraved and the scabbard also mounted in ormolu and made to look as if it's much old...

Category

Antique Mid-19th Century French Arms, Armor and Weapons

Materials

Ormolu

19th Century English Travelling Dressing Case

$38,788

H 8 in W 16 in D 13 in

19th Century English Travelling Dressing Case

By Edward & John Barnard

Located in London, GB

A mid-19th century lady’s travelling dressing case. The case is constructed in a finely marked coromandel, with inset brass handles and brass guard bands to the angles. The hinged l...

Category

Antique 19th Century British Victorian Decorative Boxes

Materials

Silver

Swiss Gold and Enamel Musical Vinaigrette

$22,500

H 0.38 in W 1.25 in D 0.88 in

Swiss Gold and Enamel Musical Vinaigrette

Located in New Orleans, LA

A musical movement distinguishes this wonderful early 19th-century gold vinaigrette box. The vessel is covered in delicate engraving highlighted by blue and white champlevé enamel de...

Category

Antique 19th Century Swiss Neoclassical Decorative Boxes

Materials

Metal

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1930s Phone For Sale on 1stDibs

Find many varieties of an authentic 1930s phone available at 1stDibs. Each 1930s phone for sale was constructed with extraordinary care, often using metal, bakelite and plastic. You’ve searched high and low for the perfect 1930s phone — we have versions that date back to the 20th Century alongside those produced as recently as the 20th Century are available. A 1930s phone, designed in the Art Deco or Mid-Century Modern style, is generally a popular piece of furniture. You’ll likely find more than one 1930s phone that is appealing in its simplicity, but L.M. Ericsson produced versions that are worth a look.

How Much is a 1930s Phone?

A 1930s phone can differ in price owing to various characteristics — the average selling price 1stDibs is $1,288, while the lowest priced sells for $310 and the highest can go for as much as $3,500.

Questions About 1930s Phone

What did phones look like in the 1930s?
1 Answer
1stDibs ExpertMarch 31, 2023
In the 1930s, phones typically looked like rotary telephones. They had either a round or square base with a numbered dial that spun when you dialed and a handset receiver with both an earpiece and a mouthpiece. A cord connected the handset to the base. Find a variety of rotary phones on 1stDibs.