"Space Tel" Telephone

DESIGNERS Michael A. Cousins, American, born 1938; Morrison Cousins, American, 1934–2001; Cousins Designs Inc.

MANUFACTURER Warner Communication (Atari Division)

MEDIUM Plastic, rubber

Place Manufactured: Taiwan

DATES Designed 1984; Manufactured 1985

DIMENSIONS Overall: 3 3/4 x 7 1/4 x 8 1/4 in. (9.5 x 18.4 x 21 cm) (a) Telephone: 1 1/2 x 7 1/4 x 7 1/4 in. (3.8 x 18.4 x 18.4 cm) (b) Handset: 7 3/4 x 2 1/16 x 1 9/16 in. (19.7 x 5.2 x 4 cm) (c) Wall Mount: 6 1/4 x 1/4 x 1 1/8 in. (15.9 x 0.6 x 2.9 cm)

MARKINGS Two printed labels applied to underside of phone: (1) "Model type: ST-5001 / Serial No: 86526184 / F.C.C, No. EBW6FQ-15524-TE-T" and (2) "Space-Tel is in the design collections of: / The Museum of Modern Art, New York / Staaliches Museum fur angewandte Kunst, Munich / Museum fur Kunst & Gewerbe, Hamburg / Museum Boymans-van Beuningen, Rotterdam / Space-Tel was designed by Cousins Design, New York"

COLLECTIONS Decorative Arts and Design

ACCESSION NUMBER 1993.110.1a-d

CREDIT LINE Gift of Michael A. Cousins/Cousins Designs, Inc.

CATALOGUE DESCRIPTION "Space-Tel" Telephone model ST-5001 T/P; white plastic and rubber; (a) telephone, (b) handset, (c) base support, (d) wall mount. Telephone: a square form with rounded corners, top proper right corner cut-out and replaced with a circular receiver; top proper left corner shows perforated circular opening, below is a loudness control button; additional buttons, all gray and flush with surface of phone: rectangular arrangement of dialing buttons in the bottom proper left corner; in the middle four buttons in a backward L-shape labeled "Store, Pause, Reset, and Redial"; bottom center is a capsule-shaped "Hold" button with a small red light; bottom proper right is a raised half-spherical knob for the handset. Underside of phone shows various brackets for wall mounting, and small button on top proper right with switch for positions "T" or "P". Base support: large and small cylindrical-shaped with canted bottom to elevate the phone toward the desktop user; long gray cord to plug to jack. Handset: Oblong form with one rounded end at receiver, under which is gray volume switch; central recessed plaque with slot with printed label with "Space", and another slot for the posting of phone number; spiral cord connecting receiver to phone. Wall mount: Oblong form with bracket feature and screw hole at each end; small package with 2 screws. CONDITION: Unused.

MUSEUM LOCATION This item is on view in Luce Visible Storage and Study Center, 5th Floor

RECORD COMPLETENESS