Phones that really ring

My new phone arrived with a bunch of iffy ring tones pre-installed. The one that puzzled me the most sounded like an old-fashioned telephone ringer played through an AM radio. I heard it recently on the train and noticed how my seat mates jumped. Perhaps it subconsciously reminded them of the days before the Internet, texting and voice mail -- when we actually had to talk on our phones.

If you're hunting for a classic phone set, check out Oldphones.com. They have some brand new military surplus Western Electric Model 500s. The Model 500 was introduced in the 1950s, and millions were made in a multitude of colors before being supplanted by the touch-tone Model 2500. These $65 desk phones have been rewired with modular line cords and come in shades of white, black, beige, or brown that are guaranteed to clash with every bit of furniture purchased in this century.

Classic Phones (Oldphones.com)