Chatter Telephone

The Chatter Telephone is a pull toy for toddlers 12 to 36 months of age.^[1] Introduced in 1962 by the Fisher-Price company as the "Talk Back Phone" for infants and children, the Chatter Telephone is a roll along pull toy. It has a smiling face, and when the toy is pulled, it makes a chattering sound and the eyes move up and down. The toy has a rotary dial that rings a bell, and was conceived as a way to teach children how to dial a phone.^[2] The original version was made of wood, with polyethylene receiver and cord.^[3] In 2000, Fisher-Price changed the rotary dial for a push-button version with lights in an effort to modernize the toy, but consumers complained and the rotary version returned to the market the following year.^[4] The Chatter Telephone was designed by Ernest Thornell (shared in a phone conversation on 8-31-16 between Eric Smith and Mr. Thornell); he went on to share that the inspiration for the toy came from his daughter Tina who had a metal phone and would drag it around while playing. Thus the idea of wheels was born which permitted, with a bent axle, the movement of eyes which adds to the "whimsical" nature, that Herman Fisher desired, of all Fisher-Price toys (from phone conversation with Ernie Thornell and recollections of Herm Fisher by John Smith).

From its introduction through the 1970s, the Chatter Telephone was Fisher-Price's best selling product.^[5] It has been cited as one of the company's offerings that helped save Fisher Price in the 1990s following a failed attempt to market toys for older children in the late 1980s,^[6] and enjoys continuing popularity.^[7] It is available both as an authentic reproduction^[8] and in a modern form.^[9]

Cultural references

In 1985, Fisher-Price offered to donate a Chatter Telephone, Rock A Stack, and Activity Center to NASA for Senator Jake Garn to play with while on the STS-51-D space shuttle mission. This offer was rejected as NASA felt there was insufficient time to test the toys for safety.^[10]

In 2003, the Chatter Telephone was listed as one of the 100 most memorable toys of the 20th century by the Toy Industry Association.^[11]

In 2005, the Chatter Telephone was chosen as one of Dr. Toy's Best Classic Toys.^[12]

Chatter Telephone appears in the 2010 animated film Toy Story 3 as a minor character, helping Woody save his friends from Lotso. He is voiced by Teddy Newton and speaks with a film noir style.^[13]

In the 1999 movie, The Adventures of Elmo in Grouchland, Elmo owns a chatter telephone.

The Powerpuff hotline, a telephone from The Powerpuff Girls, somewhat bears a few resemblances to a Chatter Telephone.

In The Simpsons episode, "Moe Baby Blues", the Chatter Telephone appears in Maggie's room.

The Chatter Telephone influenced a real-life art car created by Howard Davis for his telecommunications company.^[14]

A Chatter Telephone appears on the cover of American rock band Thee Oh Sees' 2011 album Castlemania.

References

External links

• The official site of Fisher-Price for Chatter Telephone