How to Make a Miniature Telephone

Make a model of a rotary telephone with polymer clay.

There are several types of telephones to choose from when making a miniature replica. The first telephone that was invented by Alexander Graham Bell featured a hand crank and was an operator-directed party line used in the late 1800s. Other telephone designs include the rotary dial, cordless phone and cell phone. Make a miniature of any style of telephone using polymer clay. A rotary dial telephone can be simple to make. Allow 30 minutes to complete the project.

Things You'll Need

• Black polymer clay
• Round toothpicks
• Soap
• White polymer clay
• Cookie sheet
• Oven

Instructions

1. Make a 1-inch cube of clay from black polymer clay. Place the cube on a flat work surface. Position the cube so the edges are on a horizontal and vertical axis.

2. Position your finger across the top edge of the cube along the bottom horizontal line. Press down on the edge, toward the center of the cube, to create a wedge shape. Stop pressing when the front of the cube is approximately 1/4 inch thick and the top of the cube still maintains 1/4 inch of the flat surface. The flat surface on top will create the cradle for the hand piece.

3. Press and smooth the sides and edges to create defined edges.

4. Place a round toothpick on its side across the hand cradle location. Press down on the toothpick to create an indentation 1/8 inch deep and 1/8 inch wide, leaving a 1/16-inch edge to the front and back for the telephone hand cradle.

5. Roll a piece of black clay into a snake-like rope that is 1/4 inch in diameter and 1 inch long. Pick up the snake-like coil, and place your thumb and forefinger over the middle of the coil. Roll the coil between your thumb and forefinger until the center of the coil is 1/8 inch in diameter. Both ends should be larger.

6. Shape the two ends of the snake-like rope into half-sphere shapes to form the ear and mouth piece on the telephone handle. Place the handle in the cradle.

7. Wash your hands with soap to remove any traces of black clay.

8. Roll a 3/8-inch diameter ball of white clay. Press the ball between your thumb and forefinger until the clay creates a 3/4-inch disk.

9. Place the disk on a flat work surface. Create a ring of holes 1/16 inch from the outer edge of the disk to create the telephone dial. Press the toothpick through the clay to create the holes.

10. Position the white rotary dial in the middle of the wedge directly in front of the hand cradle. Secure the white clay to the wedge.

11. Place the complete miniature telephone on a cookie sheet. Place the cookie sheet in a 250-degree Fahrenheit oven for 20 minutes. Remove the cookie sheet when complete. Allow the miniature telephone to cool for 10 minutes.

References

• Telephony Museum: Telephone History