On this site, you’ll find my own version of the “Wonderfoon.” I’ve already restored many beautiful classic phones, but it’s time for a change of pace. It gnawed at my DIY heart to have to irreparably dismantle such a beautiful piece of vintage technology every time just to make the necessary modifications. A more pleasant solution would be a sort of “telephone switchboard” to which (virtually) any working classic phone could be connected without modifications.
What I envisioned (as early as 2022) was a small box that, depending on the preferences and characteristics (and connection options) of the phone to be used, could be made in various versions if desired. Any classic or modern telephone should be able to be connected to it. Since I am not aiming for mass production—and already have the production facilities and service department for that—the basis of this “musical telephone exchange” should, in principle, be open-source. The schematic, the software, the PCB design, and the 3D design of the enclosure should be accessible to anyone with some technical knowledge so they can build one themselves.
It soon became clear that my ideas weren’t unique; a few other people were already working on similar projects. But it’s striking that they’re primarily focused on the well-known Dutch rotary-dial phones. This is understandable, since they’re all further developments of the “Wonderfoon,” which was originally designed for people with dementia. In my development practice, however, a strong desire emerged to be able to operate not only the classic rotary-dial phones but also the more modern push-button (DTMF, such as the T65 TDK) phones. Push-button phones had already become completely commonplace, particularly in America, by the 1980s.
And because more and more acquaintances, artists, and clients were coming to me with requests for custom solutions that included additional requirements, I found myself looking for a more modular setup. After all, my dream “modular telephone exchange” didn’t need to be able to open doors for every application (an escape room), ring when someone approaches the phone (a Swedish museum and a restaurant in America), or always announce the correct time via a so-called real-time clock (an art project that wanted to mimic the old-fashioned time announcement).
All schematics, PCB designs, assembly instructions, basic memory card firmware, 3D printer files for the enclosure, and the firmware are now available on my GitHub account. The assembly tips, programming hints, and user manual can also be found here on the website.
So if you are someone—or know someone—who wants to take on this technical challenge, you are warmly encouraged to get started on the build. I would, of course, greatly appreciate it if you could keep me updated on your build results or any new applications you come up with.
If you are looking for a ready-to-use Retrophone, need assistance with audio editing (or studio production), or have a project or idea that requires customization, please contact us using the form at the bottom of this page for more information.
I have now developed a modular system with multiple circuit boards that allows for quick experimentation with various functional requirements of a custom telephone exchange, enabling the necessary hardware to be rapidly assembled into a prototype. Custom-tailored software and audio make each project unique, with specific software and functionality designed to meet individual needs.
I have already had the opportunity to contribute ideas to several custom projects for theater productions, museums, and exhibitions. And who knows—perhaps the ideas (and fantasies) from the list below will also be realized in the future?
Do you have any questions about the Retrophone or about how I can help you with custom solutions? Please enter your email address using the form below, and I’ll get back to you as soon as possible.
