4035. Fisher Price Chatter Telephone

The Chatter Telephone is a pull toy for young children ages two to six. Introduced in 1962 by the Fisher-Price company as the "Talk Back Phone" for infants and children, the Chatter Telephone is a roll along pull toy. It has a smiling face, and when the toy is pulled, it makes a chattering sound and the eyes move up and down. The toy has a rotary dial that rings a bell, and was conceived as a way to teach children how to dial a phone. The original version was made of wood, with polyethylene receiver and cord. In 2000, Fisher-Price changed the rotary dial for a push-button version with lights in an effort to modernize the toy, but consumers complained and the rotary version returned to the market the following year. From its introduction through the 1970s, the Chatter Telephone was Fisher-Price's best selling product. It has been cited as one of the company's offerings that helped save Fisher Price in the 1990s following a failed attempt to market toys for older children in the late 1980s, and enjoys continuing popularity. It is available both as an authentic reproduction and in a modern form.

Cultural references In 1985, Fisher-Price offered to donate a Chatter Telephone, Rock A Stack, and Activity Center to NASA for Senator Jake Garn to play with while on the STS-51-D space shuttle mission. This offer was rejected as NASA felt there was insufficient time to test the toys for safety. In 2003, the Chatter Telephone was listed as one of the 100 most memorable toys of the 20th century by the Toy Industry Association. In 2005, the Chatter Telephone was chosen as one of Dr. Toy's Best Classic Toys. Chatter Telephone appears in the 2010 animated film Toy Story 3 as a minor character, assisting Woody and his friends in their escape from Sunnyside Daycare. He is voiced by Teddy Newton and speaks with a film noir style. The Powerpuff hotline somewhat bears a few resemblances to a Chatter Telephone. The Chatter Telephone influenced a real-life art car created by Howard Davis for his telecommunications company.

Fisher Price Chatter Telephone Small children love to answer the phone and chatter away. This pull-along telephone from Fisher Price definitely fits the bill. With its friendly, rolling eye face, the telephone pulls along with pull along string and its sturdy wheels and has a spinning dial. Lots of fun for children from 12 - 36 months.