Celebrating National Telephone Day: Time to relive the old world charm

The National Telephone Day offers more than just an opportunity to celebrate modern communication; it serves as a reminder of how far telecommunication has come. From the bulky rotary dials of the past to sleek, pocket-sized smartphones, technology has advanced at a breakneck pace. Yet, tucked away in the corners of Delhi, there are still places where the legacy of vintage phones is carefully preserved.

The last technicians standing

In the winding alleys of Cycle Market in Chandni Chowk, time seems to move more slowly. Decades ago, this market was abuzz with the hum of busy technicians, the clinking of tools, and the satisfying sound of landlines being tested after repairs. Today, while the world has moved on, Qamar Mehmood and Ashvin Kularia remain, albeit in quieter shops, still holding onto the craft of repairing vintage telephones. For them, it’s not just about the work—it’s about preserving a piece of history.

Qamar recalls, “Earlier, we didn’t even have time to breathe. People used to come in with wires that were cut, bells that didn’t ring, dials that jammed. We fixed it all. There were queues outside.”

The queues are long gone now. The rise of mobile phones has rendered their services almost obsolete. The phones that once defined their careers have largely been replaced by digital devices, and their once-thriving shops have grown quieter. Yet, Qamar and Ashvin didn’t give up. They adapted, learning to repair radios, mixers, and small appliances. It was a survival strategy, but they never truly let go of their first love—vintage telephones.

“Whenever someone brings in an old set, we still know exactly how to fix it,” Qamar says with quiet pride. “The sound, the weight of the receiver, even the click of the dial—we remember it all. These phones aren’t just machines; they hold memories.”

Despite the decline in demand, these technicians are still the keepers of a rich legacy. Their shops are full of old phones, hidden behind piles of spare parts and forgotten appliances, waiting for the rare customer who still cares to restore a piece of history.

“But who are they?” Qamar asks. “The real collectors. They’re the children who grew up with these phones, now wealthy adults chasing childhood memories.”

A café that rings with memories

While Cycle Market holds on to its vintage repair shops, just a short metro ride away in Noida Sector 104, a different kind of celebration of the past is taking place. The Courtyard Diner, a retro-themed café, has transformed into a space that not only serves food but also honours the history of communication.

With soft lighting, vintage furniture, and retro music, the café is a carefully curated tribute to a time when telephones were not just tools for communication but symbols of nostalgia. Among the café’s most striking features is its collection of over 100 vintage telephones. From classic rotary dials to rare Bakelite phones, field telephones from wartime, and even collectibles from Ericsson and GEC, the collection is a treasure trove of history.

“These aren’t just props,” says Asim Ahmed, one of the café’s managers. “They belonged to our grandparents. Some of these phones are over 50 years old. When we opened the café, we brought pieces of our family’s legacy here.”

Each phone, along with other antique items like gramophones, radios, and clocks, is part of the café’s identity. Unlike traditional museums where artefacts are hidden behind glass, the phones at The Courtyard Diner are fully accessible. Patrons can touch, hold, and ask about the history behind each one.

“Every customer who walks in wants to touch them, ask about them,” says Renu Tanwar, another manager at the café. “And the good news is—we’re planning to put some of them up for sale soon. If someone really connects with a piece, they can take it home.”

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The café is not just a place to enjoy a meal—it’s a space where patrons can touch a piece of history, feel the weight of an era long passed, and perhaps even recall a time when the word “Hello” was accompanied by the click of a rotary dial.

Gandhi Museum: Preserving India’s communication heritage

For those who want to see telephony in its historical context, the Gandhi Museum in central Delhi offers an insightful look at how telecommunication was intertwined with India’s fight for independence. Among the exhibits dedicated to India’s freedom struggle, there is a discreet corner where telephones used by leaders of the era are preserved.

The collection includes a rotary desk phone once used in British administrative offices, another believed to have been installed during Mahatma Gandhi’s time at Birla House, and field telephones used for coded wartime communication. These phones are more than just tools for making calls—they are artefacts that tell the story of the revolution.

“These phones don’t just connect calls,” a museum curator explains. “They connect history. Imagine the conversations they carried—about freedom, decisions, and revolutions. They are artefacts of human connection.”

The collection includes:

British-era candlestick phones (early 1900s)

Rotary dial phones used in government offices (1930s-50s)

Field telephones from World War II

A timeless connection

While technology has advanced at an unprecedented pace, and our devices have evolved to fit the needs of modern life, the appeal of vintage phones remains timeless. Whether in the quiet repair shops of Chandni Chowk, the bustling café in Noida, or the historic halls of the Gandhi Museum, these phones serve as reminders of a time when communication was both a craft and a connection to the past. And for those who still care to preserve and restore them, they are more than just relics—they are links to a time that, though gone, is never truly forgotten.