Lost Highway Emergency Line....

gorfchampion

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Most of you have seen the old wall mounted bakelite crank phone I have. I wanted to update the text that goes with it to better fit my arcade's theme.

The Lost Highway Emergency Line is what I came up with. I wanted it to look old, abandoned and kinda creepy. If you were to walk up to the phone and read the paper above it, would the phone work, or would it be broken? You decide....

I wanted it on yellow paper because it goes well with the red of my walls, and looks better than on white. Helps a little with the "old looking" effect. I crinkled up the paper several times, tore some of the edges, ironed it flat and mounted it crooked. I like the "used" look, like it has been there for a while.

I mounted it with an old staple, an old nail would've been cool, too. Either one reminds me of what they maybe used to mount old "wanted" posters back in the old west. Nail it to a pole or a storefront or whatever....

The "downed pilot" is a picture of one of mine in my gameroom. I may go back and add more of a background, like a telephone pole or maybe something else. Opinions?

I like to share even the smallest stuff with everyone here. Thanks for looking...




 
That looks really sweet, definitely did a great job on the aging. The old staple is a nice touch, looks a bit like a small u-shaped nail that I saw a few things in childhood nailed up with that'd been there forever.
 
That looks pretty cool.

I'm not sure what the story you're going for is but you could burn the edge a bit. Also soaking it in some tea is a good way to make it look older. You could also add some graffiti to it, pretty much any sign that has been around for more than an hour has some sort of writing on it.
 
I wanted it on yellow paper because it goes well with the red of my walls, and looks better than on white. Helps a little with the "old looking" effect. I crinkled up the paper several times, tore some of the edges, ironed it flat and mounted it crooked. I like the "used" look, like it has been there for a while.

LostHighwayEmergencyLine.jpg

LostHighwayEmergLine3.jpg

LostHighwayEmergLine2.jpg

Looks pretty sweet Johnny Boy.
 
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That looks pretty cool.

I'm not sure what the story you're going for is but you could burn the edge a bit. Also soaking it in some tea is a good way to make it look older. You could also add some graffiti to it, pretty much any sign that has been around for more than an hour has some sort of writing on it.


Thanks for those tips, I hadn't even thought of those. That's why I like sharing with everyone here, so I can get opinions on things. I have extra copies I will experiment with.

Everyone else, thanks for the comments. I love this stuff!
 
Looks fantastic, but maybe a little out of place on your nice newly painted wall. Maybe some peeling, tobacco-stained wallpaper is in order ;) . But I kid!
 
Not sure how you would do it without messing up the paper, but maybe put something on the staple so it rusts, then it'll look like it's been there a long time.
 
So does the phone work?

A sipura (or unlockable vonage adapter) and a junk computer running Asterisk could make it work to a certain extent :)
 
LostHighwaytestpiece.jpg


Ok, I soaked it in green tea, but maybe not long enough. It did seem to soak into the cracks well. Maybe it would show up better if I left it in longer or if the paper was white to begin with. I dried it with a hairdryer.

I added some graffiti with 2 different kinds of ink. "Killroy was here" in the lower right and "Rush 2112" with the pentastar in the upper left. The Rush one streaked well when it was soaking in the tea.

I burned it too; and went a little too far on the pilot's leg! lol
Still it added a lot of character to the piece. I have more I can test with. Oh by the way, the paper is actually one of those yellow envelopes so its kinda thick....
 
So does the phone work?

A sipura (or unlockable vonage adapter) and a junk computer running Asterisk could make it work to a certain extent :)

Well, right now the phone is just hanging there. I believe it probably would work if it was hooked up to the right kind of line; all the old electronics are there and in good shape. The magneto works and sends the current to ring the bells when the crank is turned.

I'd like to be able have it do SOMETHING when the receiver is picked up. I would need help from someone with a few more brains than I have that's for sure. I do see what you're saying. I think there's a few possibilities for it no doubt....
 
You really need to add some sort of a 'Public Phone' feel to it. Doesn't have to be the full booth, but an older, wood/metal and glass wall mounted enclosure with a yellowed, lighted 'phone' sign would be sweet. A lost highway needs a lost filling station (with public phone) if you know what I'm saying.
 
You really need to add some sort of a 'Public Phone' feel to it. Doesn't have to be the full booth, but an older, wood/metal and glass wall mounted enclosure with a yellowed, lighted 'phone' sign would be sweet. A lost highway needs a lost filling station (with public phone) if you know what I'm saying.

Right on man. I originally wanted to either put in a REAL booth; but they are super spendy and I don't really have the room.

I wanted one of the pre-1966 public 10cent "dial" payphones but I refuse to pay $150 or more(that's about what they go for).

I justified the $25 I paid for this one with the excuse that anything can happen on the "Lost Highway", including having a weird phone that isn't a payphone.

I actually did think about building my own booth/enclosure for that area, but not quite sure if I could do it, or HOW I would do it without taking up too much room. Not sure if I want to relocate the phone either. Something to think about I guess....thanks for the input Phet.
 
Right on man. I originally wanted to either put in a REAL booth; but they are super spendy and I don't really have the room.

I wanted one of the pre-1966 public 10cent "dial" payphones but I refuse to pay $150 or more(that's about what they go for).

I justified the $25 I paid for this one with the excuse that anything can happen on the "Lost Highway", including having a weird phone that isn't a payphone.

I actually did think about building my own booth/enclosure for that area, but not quite sure if I could do it, or HOW I would do it without taking up too much room. Not sure if I want to relocate the phone either. Something to think about I guess....thanks for the input Phet.

Then just slap a "Dial M for Murder" sign above it. You should also have a looped version of the Close Encounters of the Third Kind tones playing in the receiver when you pick it up. Then throw in some recorded old ham radio broadcasts. Hell, maybe even add some bits and pieces of Orson Wells 'report' from the original War of the Worlds radio broadcast.
 
Then just slap a "Dial M for Murder" sign above it. You should also have a looped version of the Close Encounters of the Third Kind tones playing in the receiver when you pick it up. Then throw in some recorded old ham radio broadcasts. Hell, maybe even add some bits and pieces of Orson Wells 'report' from the original War of the Worlds radio broadcast.

Those are good ideas Phet, thanks. I'm one step ahead of you with the old radio broadcast idea. Stay tuned...I have something really really cool that I'm working on.....
 
Then just slap a "Dial M for Murder" sign above it. You should also have a looped version of the Close Encounters of the Third Kind tones playing in the receiver when you pick it up. Then throw in some recorded old ham radio broadcasts. Hell, maybe even add some bits and pieces of Orson Wells 'report' from the original War of the Worlds radio broadcast.

After a few bits and pieces...you need a messed up busy signal, like a busy signal that kinda bends down and up a little, like they do in the movies when something really bad is about to happen.
 
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