How to Dial a Rotary Phone

Rotary phones are a style of telephones that were largely replaced by punch-button telephones and later by mobile and smart phones. Even though they have become obsolete, you still may encounter rotary phones in certain situations like...

Method 1 of 3:

Using a Rotary with a Phone Cradle Dial

  1. Picture 1 of How to Dial a Rotary Phone
    Remove the handset from the cradle.
  2. Picture 2 of How to Dial a Rotary Phone
    Place the handset to your ear and listen for a dial tone. The dial tone should be a mid-ranged, constant pitch.
    1. If you do not hear a dial tone, something is wrong. 3 Ways to Diagnose Landline Phone Problems
  3. Picture 3 of How to Dial a Rotary Phone
    Place your finger on the first number you wish to dial. Each number has a corresponding hole that will allow you to place your finger in to begin dialing that number.
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    Rotate the dial clockwise until your finger touches the metal stop.
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    Remove your finger from the opening. This will allow the dial to return to its original position.
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    Find your second number and repeat steps three through five. Do this for the remaining numbers.
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    Return the phone to the cradle when you are finished with your conversation.
Method 2 of 3:

Using a Rotary Phone with a Handset Dial

  1. Picture 8 of How to Dial a Rotary Phone
    Remove the handset from the cradle.
  2. Picture 9 of How to Dial a Rotary Phone
    Listen for a dial tone. The dial tone should be a mid-ranged, constant pitch.
    1. If you do not hear a dial tone, something is wrong. 3 Ways to Diagnose Landline Phone Problems
  3. Picture 10 of How to Dial a Rotary Phone
    Hold the handset with the dial up. The dial is located between the earpiece and mouthpiece of the phone.
  4. Picture 11 of How to Dial a Rotary Phone
    Place your finger on the first number you wish to dial. Each number has a corresponding hole that will allow you to place your finger in to begin dialing that number.
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    Rotate the dial clockwise. Push through the metal stop until both the metal stop and the dial no longer move.
  6. Picture 13 of How to Dial a Rotary Phone
    Remove your finger from the opening. This will allow the dial and the metal stop to return to their original positions.
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    Find your second number and repeat steps four through six. Do this for the remaining numbers.
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    Return the phone to the cradle when you are finished with your conversation.
Method 3 of 3:

If the Dial is Missing or Broken

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    Remove the handset from the cradle. Notice the two prongs that rise from the cradle of the phone when the handset is removed. Sometimes you will find a rotary phone that still works, but has a missing or broken dial. Pressing these two prongs down simultaneously is what will allow you to dial the phone despite the damage.
  2. Picture 17 of How to Dial a Rotary Phone
    Listen for a dial tone. The dial tone should be a mid-ranged, constant pitch.
    1. If you do not hear a dial tone, something is wrong. 3 Ways to Diagnose Landline Phone Problems
  3. Picture 18 of How to Dial a Rotary Phone
    Press both prongs down simultaneously to dial stop the dial tone. Releasing the prongs should bring back the dial tone.
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    Dial the first number of the phone number by pressing down on the prongs simultaneously. To dial a 4 you would rapidly press the prongs down four times.
    1. To dial 0, press the prongs down rapidly ten times
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    Pause briefly.
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    Repeat steps four and five until you have dialed all the numbers in the phone number
  7. Picture 22 of How to Dial a Rotary Phone
    Return the phone to the cradle when you are finished with your conversation.
Update 24 March 2020
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