E.T.s phone (yeah, I know...:-D)

Andymac84

Andymac84

Sr Member
Okay, E.T.s build this weird kind of phone, by using parts from an old calculator, or some kind of a childs computer (couldn't remember correctly at the moment...). So, was this type ever discovered?

It came in my mind again, as I took a quick search on the net for Exactra 20s. And the color of the calculator reminded me on ETs phone. Ok, I'm weird, too:lol
 
So ET must have been some kind of genius as far as the average alien of that race is concerned. Always bugged me how he could just make a phone.

How many of use could take random parts from toys and make a cell phone, or even an old style telephone? A walkie talkie? If I went back in time 50 or 25 years..what knowledge do I have that I could use to invent anything? I could tell them what an Ipod is..but I sure as heck couldn't make one!

Sorry for the OT post. ;)
 
Yep, kids were more easily amused in the 80's :lol

speakandspell.gif
 
hankey01 said:
So ET must have been some kind of genius as far as the average alien of that race is concerned. Always bugged me how he could just make a phone.

How many of use could take random parts from toys and make a cell phone, or even an old style telephone? A walkie talkie? If I went back in time 50 or 25 years..what knowledge do I have that I could use to invent anything? I could tell them what an Ipod is..but I sure as heck couldn't make one!
Click to expand...

ET was the Macgyver of the aliens....
 
You mean this:

et1a.jpg


blade.jpg



Yeah.....I'm building one. The only parts I don't have are a completely accurate coffee can and saw blade. I've been working on it for about 12 years now. I've interviewed the original inventor, completely documented an original one. It's an absolutely amazing contraption that actually works to some degree.

Gregg
 
Indeed, a stunning replica so far:thumbsup

I think I'm gonna catch me a Speak $ Spell.:)
Thank u guys for clearing this out for me. :thumbsup
 
Actually I can't take credit for that. It's not a replica, it's the real thing. It was one of 16 built by the original creator for the film and educational institutions across the country while ET was being released.


I know just about everything there is to know about this particular piece if you have any questions.

I was just looking on the bay last week for Speak and Spells and I was surprised how much they are going for. I'll dig out all of my parts this evening and take pics of what I do have for it if anyone cares.

Gregg
 
contec said:
You say it works to some degree....how? or what do it do....
Click to expand...


It's kinda conveluted to explain, but hopefully this makes sense.

A string gets tied at one end to a tree, and the other end to Fork/Knife assembly, turning the saw blade a notch everytime the wind blows the branch pulling the string.

One the coat hanger there are a bunch of bobby pins with wires that drag across the saw blade. The saw blade has a pattern painted onto it, and when one of the wires makes contact with unpainted portion of the saw blade, it sends a signal from the bobby pins, through cabling to the Speak and Spell, which then creates a custom character on the display.

This is where it stops being practical and more theoretical

The Speak and Spell then sends an audio signal from it's speaker to the Walkie Talkie, which is attached through cabling to an VHF tuner from a television that is attached to the umbrella, sending a signal through the coffee can, out of the funnel, bouncing off the reflective liner of the umbrealla and out to space.

The man who created this is PhD and a bloody genius. He's done many other projects for Speilberg too I guess.

Clear as mud?

Gregg
 
I bet the reason the speak and spells are going for so much on the 'bay is they're the premier piece in the circuit bending music crowd.
 
I just sent an email to the owner of the piece I documented 10 years ago to see if I can take pictures of it again with a higher quality camera. Keep fingers crossed.

I'll also work up a parts list.

The only thing I ask is that if anyone finds an extra of the correct coffee can, I get dibs :).

Gregg
 
Droidboy said:
I just sent an email to the owner of the piece I documented 10 years ago to see if I can take pictures of it again with a higher quality camera. Keep fingers crossed.

I'll also work up a parts list.

The only thing I ask is that if anyone finds an extra of the correct coffee can, I get dibs :).

Gregg
Click to expand...

depends on what kind it is , I might be able to find it. I have a lot of friends in the antiquing industry. Just not sure what kind it was ( been too long)
 
Cenobyte said:
There was a speak and spell
Click to expand...

I loved that thing growing up. I had a speak and spll and the math one. And my damn 13 yr old step daughter tells me she thinks she should have an iPhone because she's in 8th grade and she sees 6h graders with them. Lol!

I should buy her a speak ans spell.

Does anyone have photos of ET's phone replica they had at the old universal studios ET the ride? If I remember right it was pretty damn accurate and had movig parts.
 
It's an early 1980's Martinson Coffee can. The 2 pound size I believe.

Here is an interesting tidbit:

The Martinson Company only distributed coffee locally on the east coast in the New York, New Jersey area. ET was set in L.A., so that particular type of coffee would have never been sold out there, although it definitely gets some screen time.

I do have 2 slightly newer Martinson cans I was able to track down directly from the company that now owns Martinson. Of course I got those about 9 years ago and they sent me the only 2 cans they had. Their building that they used in 80's has been sold a couple times over. So what I'm hoping for is that some old guy has a wall full of them in his garage with nails in them.

Gregg
 
The ride at the studios is awesome. I really enjoyed it.

I would love to get my hands on one of those speak&spells with the rounded buttons.
 
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