The Garfield Wall Phone was an analogue telephone in the shape of the Garfield character from the 1978 comic strip of the same name. Manufactured by Tyco Toys, the Garfield Wall Phone was a successor to the original Garfield Desk Phone design released in various iterations between 1984 and 1986.
Features and Concept
Basic specifications:
- All new Model No. 1209 was a successor to the original Garfield Desk Telephone.
- Head turns (manually) when you mount it, to face required direction
- For use on any phone system (pulse or tone)
- Fits AT&T standard wall mount, includes mounting pins.
- Last number redial, mute button for privacy in both modes
- Attachable tail helps Garfield stay on the wall!
This all new model with Garfield clinging to the wall by his claws achieves the 'animated' and mischievous look of Garfield without requiring the mechanical animated eyes as per the previous model, with this one using great design to convey the same meaning. While the head does turn, this is only manually turns by hand to set his head looking in the correct direction for where you've mounted it.
Personally this is the model I'd love to have, it just looks great, and has nothing too complex inside that's likely to break, such as the eye movements of the original.
Creation of the Wall Phone Prototype by Jim Davis
During my research I stumbled across an auction for the original prototype of the Garfield Wall Phone, and it gave quite some interesting detail about its creation. I encourage you to visit there before its taken down, as I expect the auction has long since passed.
The prototype, pictured, was created with what looks like a clay model, then fibre glass to build the final prototype body.
It was then hand painted by Garfield creator Jim Davis, who added Garfield's black stripes on his head and body, while his tail had what looks like electrical tape applied to create the stripes on his tail, finishing with a painted tip.
Added here is a copy of an initial sketch showing how the core feature for the phone was designed in its initial stages.
This provides some insight into the process for toy design in the early 1980s, with initial work illustrated on pieces of paper, covering the basic shape, the key elements, and the main mechanism - a spring, level, and eye insert.
It's these kinds of practical, down-to-earth artifacts that help remind me that almost everything begins as a simple sketch, an idea, a rough draft on paper, yet it's the hard work and determination which are the real magic that make things happen in our world.
Availability and Collectability
Collectability is obvious for an item such as this, both for Tyco Collectors, but certainly also fans of Jim Davis, and 80s nostalgia and pop culture fans also.
Thankfully then, much like the original Garfield Desk Phone, this Wall Phone version is very easy to obtain, and is often in fairly reasonable condition. Boxed variants will be more expensive than loose variants, and a NIB / New In Box would likely set you back between $350 - $500 USD, though they'll be much harder to find.