Otis Singleton
The Western Electric Trimline telephone was first introduced in Michigan in late 1965. The Trimline was developed with the help of Henry Dreyfuss Associates and produced by Western Electric. It was designed to be a modern, sleek, and stylish telephone that was easier to use. The Trimline included a lighted dial and was encased in a curved moulded-plastic housing that took up less space than earlier Western Electric telephones. The Trimline handset was produced in both rotary dial and Touch-Tone versions, with the former beginning production in late 1965 and the latter being installed in mid-1966.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Field trials | Started in 1959 in New Brunswick, New Jersey |
| First introduced | 1965 in Michigan |
| Design | Sleek, slightly curved, modern, stylish, and easier to use |
| Dial | Lighted |
| Housing | Curved molded plastic |
| Drawback | Difficult to retain between cheek and shoulder for hands-free communication without slipping |
| Dial light power source | Incandescent light bulb |
| Transformer | Bulky |
| Redesigned to use | Low-power green light-emitting diode (LED) to backlight the dial |
| Dial type | Rotary and Touch-Tone |
| Base type | Desk-top and wall-mount |
| Interchangeability | Handsets and bases were interchangeable |
| Production | Discontinued in 1985 |
| Production location | Moved overseas to Singapore and China in 1986 |
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What You'll Learn
The Trimline's design evolution
The Trimline telephone was first conceptualised in 1959, following the launch of the Princess telephone line. The design motivation was to create a stylish and user-friendly alternative to the traditional telephone. This was achieved by moving the dial from the base of the telephone to the underside of the handset, between the earpiece and mouthpiece. The Trimline was also more compact than its predecessors, featuring a sleek, curved moulded-plastic housing.
The first iteration of the Trimline, nicknamed the "Shmoo", was trialled in New Brunswick, New Jersey, in 1959. Following these trials, Western Electric modified the design several times before officially introducing the Trimline in 1965. The initial models featured a lighted dial, powered by a power transformer plugged into a standard electrical outlet. However, the bulky transformer and the need for a conveniently placed outlet drew criticism from consumers.
In response to consumer feedback, Western Electric redesigned the Trimline to use a low-power green light-emitting diode (LED) to backlight the dial. This new version was powered by the current from the telephone line, eliminating the need for a separate transformer. The handsets were produced in both rotary dial and Touch-Tone versions, with the Touch-Tone keypad being introduced in mid-1966. The base of the Trimline was available in desktop and wall-mount versions, and the handsets and bases were interchangeable.
Over the years, the Trimline underwent several modifications. In 1985, the rotary Trimline was discontinued, and further changes were made to the touch-tone model, making it convertible for desk or wall mounting. In 1986, with the closing of the Western Electric Indianapolis Works, Trimline production was moved overseas to Singapore and China. The Trimline was the first US telephone to achieve design recognition in Europe, where it was known as the "Manhattan" or "Gondola" model. Today, similar designs are sold by numerous companies.
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The Shmoo field trials
The Shmoo's bulky transformer and the need for a conveniently placed outlet were also criticised by consumers during the field trials. However, this design choice was necessary to meet the power demands of the incandescent light bulb. Western Electric addressed this concern in later models by redesigning the Trimline to use a low-power green light-emitting diode (LED) to backlight the dial. This new design was powered by the current from the telephone line, eliminating the need for a separate transformer.
The field trials also paved the way for the Trimline's design evolution, which transformed it from a simple rotary dial phone to a sleek and modern touch-tone phone. The initial Trimline models introduced in 1965 featured only rotary dials, with limited availability. However, in 1966, Western Electric added Touch-Tone keypads, including the pound and star buttons, to enhance the phone's functionality.
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The lighted dial
The Western Electric Trimline telephone was first introduced in 1965. The Trimline telephone is often confused with the Princess telephone because the Trimline dial lights up. However, the Trimline was a more advanced model that did not require an external electric transformer to power the lighted dial. Instead, it used incandescent dial lights powered by a power transformer plugged into a standard electrical outlet. This setup was criticised for its bulkiness and the need for a nearby power outlet.
Later, Western Electric redesigned the Trimline to use a low-power green light-emitting diode (LED) to backlight the dial, eliminating the need for an external transformer. This LED version of the Trimline was powered by the current from the telephone line. The production of the Trimline telephone evolved through several designs and refurbishments over the years.
The early Trimline models with incandescent lamps were rated at 6.3 volts and 0.25 amperes, with a transformer output of approximately 6-8 volts AC. These early models required a different voltage and more current than the telephone line could supply, hence the need for an external power source.
In the 1970s, Western Electric transitioned from incandescent lamps to LED light sources for the Trimline telephone. This change addressed the power demands of the earlier models and improved the user experience by removing the need for a separate power transformer. The exact year of this transition within the 1970s is not specified in the sources.
It is worth noting that the similar Princess telephone, also produced by Western Electric, did require an external electric transformer to power its lighted dial. The Princess telephone underwent production changes, including the addition of a ringer and touch-tone dialing in the 1960s. However, it appears that the Princess telephone never transitioned to an LED light source like the Trimline, as later models retained the external transformer for the lighted dial.
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The move to overseas production
The Western Electric Trimline telephone was first introduced in 1965 and became one of the Bell System's best marketing innovations. The Trimline was developed with the help of Henry Dreyfuss Associates and produced by Western Electric. It featured a sleek, curved design that took up less space than earlier telephone models. Over the years, Western Electric made several modifications to the Trimline, including replacing the incandescent dial light with a low-power green LED backlight, which eliminated the need for a bulky transformer.
However, in 1986, with the closing of the Western Electric Indianapolis Works, Trimline production was moved overseas to Singapore and China. This marked a significant shift in the manufacturing of the once-innovative telephone. While the Trimline had been through various iterations since its inception, the move overseas also brought about further minor modifications to its design.
One of the changes included altering the screw and screw cover location to below the dial pad, using only one screw to hold the handset together. This was a departure from the previous design, which had the cover saying "Trimline" and a different screw placement. Additionally, the new overseas production of the Trimline telephone offered both desktop and wall-mount versions, with interchangeable handsets and bases.
The decision to move production overseas was likely influenced by a combination of factors, including cost considerations and the availability of resources. By relocating manufacturing to Singapore and China, Western Electric could potentially reduce labour and operational costs, as well as take advantage of the manufacturing capabilities and expertise present in these countries.
This shift in production also reflected the changing global economy and the increasing integration of international supply chains. As companies sought to optimise their operations and remain competitive, they often looked beyond their domestic borders for more efficient solutions. Moving production overseas allowed Western Electric to leverage the manufacturing capabilities of other countries, ensuring the continued availability of the Trimline telephone for consumers around the world.
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The Bell System's marketing
The Trimline's development involved Henry Dreyfuss Associates, who contributed to its unique appearance. The telephone featured a lighted dial, initially powered by a transformer plugged into an electrical outlet. This feature, along with its curved shape, distinguished the Trimline from other telephones on the market. However, the bulky transformer and the need for a nearby power outlet drew criticism from consumers, prompting Western Electric to redesign the Trimline. The subsequent redesign replaced the incandescent light bulb with a low-power green light-emitting diode (LED) powered by the telephone line, eliminating the need for a separate power source.
The Trimline's production and marketing evolved over time, with field trials for the initial iteration, nicknamed the "Shmoo", beginning in 1959 in New Jersey. Western Electric modified the design based on these trials, leading to the Trimline's official introduction in 1965. The model's production continued to undergo modifications, including the switch from incandescent dial lights to the more efficient LED-backlit dial. In 1985, the rotary Trimline was discontinued, and further changes were made to the touch-tone model, making it convertible between desk and wall mounting.
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Frequently asked questions
The Western Electric Trimline phone was first introduced in Michigan in late 1965.
The Trimline phone was designed to be modern and stylish with a sleek, slightly curved shape. It featured a lighted dial, an electronic chirp ringer in the handset, and was encased in moulded plastic housing.
Over time, Western Electric made several modifications to the Trimline phone. In 1966, a Touch Tone keypad was introduced, and the phone was made available in desktop and wall-mount versions. Years later, the Trimline was redesigned to use a low-power green LED to backlight the dial, eliminating the need for a transformer.
