It’s Bizarre To Think That South Carolina Is Home To The World’s Largest Collection Of Telephones, But It’s True

It’s been almost five decades since The Guinness Book of World Records broke a record itself in 1974, becoming the biggest-selling copyright book in history with sales to date totaling nearly 24 million. Some of the types of world records set and broken are quite impressive and some are downright bizarre. And to think that the world’s largest collection of telephones is right here in South Carolina seems … well, a little strange, too. But it’s true!

Now just for a little overall historical context, Alexander Graham Bell patented the telephone in 1876.

And it’s really no surprise that the first telephone exchange in South Carolina was in Charleston. This happened in less than three years from the time of the patent.

A nod to our friends in Connecticut is in order, as they hold the record for the first telephone exchange in the world.

There’s a tiny phone collection on the wall of the Brown Dog Deli in Charleston.

But the record for the world’s largest telephone collection is held by a resident of Greenville, South Carolina, Michael Phillips.

Greenville has held other significant records as well. It was known as the “Textile Center of the World” in the early 1900s.

The iconic 12-story Poinsett Hotel was even built in 1925 to provide rooms for visitors to the city’s annual Southern Textile Exposition.

Now by telephone collection, we’re not talking about a bunch of old mobile phones that are simply no longer in use due to routine upgrades we’ve all become accustomed to in the digital age.

Mr. Phillips started his collection in the early 1980s with a Superman statue telephone. It’s believed to be valued at approximately $1,000.

As of August 6, 2011, the collection consisted of 1,135 telephones. It includes racing cars, food and beverages, musical instruments, flying machines, vehicles, superheroes, animals, cartoon characters, sports, and branded novelty phones.

The telephone has evolved in different and fascinating ways throughout the years. The Comporium Telephone Museum in Rock Hill offers hands-on learning experiences about the history of communication through videos and audio devices, and you can see a telephone booth, a Mack truck, and a switchboard. Admission is free.

Every now and then you even see a phone booth still around, like this one outside the Hampton Inn in the Harbison area of Columbia.

Communication is so crucial in our lives and the invention of the telephone certainly made it easier and quicker when there’s distance between two parties needing to talk. It’s neat to see older versions of these devices preserved and even still in use!

What’s the strangest world record you’ve heard about? Share with us in the comments below!