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Too Unusual to Sell / Shoe Phone on Ground

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This version of the Shoe Phone made it to the 1985 Guinness Book of Word Records as being the world's smallest phone.   Designed to be a portable lineman's handset, it could do everything that the unit worn on a telephone repairman's belt could do: it had a monitor mode, 16-button touch tone, polarity LED, and a neon bulb which flashed when it rang.  The other shoe had tools in it, such as screwdrivers, wire cutters, alligator clips, everything you needed to troubleshoot common telephone problems on premises.  The original soles could be reattached by velcro when walking or running, so they were real tools; not just an exercise in electronic engineering.  (See also this page for a photo of an earlier prototype.) 

Both shoes are currently on display at the Museum of Communications in Berlin (Museum für Kommunikation Berlin).

Below is a photo of the person who invented it (me!) at age 20.

These images are available for licensing.  Refer to my Pricing Page for a general overview of rates and policy regarding web use.  For price quotes specific to a need, contact  info@FriedmanArchives.com.  All images on this site Copyright  © 2000-2013 Gary L. Friedman

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