when did airlines stop using plastic tube headphones?
Jul 11, 10, 5:14 pm
#1
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 90
when did airlines stop using plastic tube headphones?
I was cleaning out my attict and found a couple pairs of airline plastic tube headphones that I probably stole more than 20 years ago. (said Northwest Orient)
when did airlines stop using these antiques? are they worth anything on eBay?
when did airlines stop using these antiques? are they worth anything on eBay?
Jul 11, 10, 6:06 pm
#4
Original Poster
Join Date: Jul 2010
Posts: 90
Originally Posted by sbm12
It can't have been that early because I remember flying on planes that had them.
on an unrelated note, I'm now officially scared of Google. I posted this thread and it appeared in Google search results within one hour?
Jul 11, 10, 6:16 pm
#5
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: May 2002
Location: Pittsburgh
Programs: MR/SPG LT Titanium, AA LT PLT, UA SLV, Avis PreferredPlus
Posts: 28,087
I'm sure I used plastic tube 'phones as late as the early '80s. if not earlier. I'm sure it was later than '79.
Your post was probably on Google much earlier than an hour later. They post real-time feeds from Twitter, news sites, etc., when you search on a breaking topic. I wouldn't be afraid of a search engine just because it's very good.
Your post was probably on Google much earlier than an hour later. They post real-time feeds from Twitter, news sites, etc., when you search on a breaking topic. I wouldn't be afraid of a search engine just because it's very good.
to use them this year (only in Y).
Jul 11, 10, 6:31 pm
#7
Join Date: Apr 2005
Location: PHX
Posts: 3,796
The Delta 757 I flew on last week (first flight 1990) still had a pneumatic socket in addition to the two-prong electronic socket. Too bad I didn't have your set with me, I could have seen if it still worked.
Lightweight Walkman-style headphones killed them off; prior to that, all headphones were the jumbo over-the-ears type. The pneumatic system let them leave the bulky speakers in the armrest.
Lightweight Walkman-style headphones killed them off; prior to that, all headphones were the jumbo over-the-ears type. The pneumatic system let them leave the bulky speakers in the armrest.
Jul 11, 10, 6:51 pm
#8
In Memoriam
Join Date: Feb 2000
Location: Easton, CT, USA
Programs: ua prem exec, Former hilton diamond
Posts: 31,801
1979 was the first conversion. They did not convert every plane in the sky overnight, so there was a period of time till they converted the last one. I don't know how long that took, I only know when the first electronic one was installed.
Jul 11, 10, 6:54 pm
#9
Join Date: Sep 2009
Posts: 376
Originally Posted by alanh
The Delta 757 I flew on last week (first flight 1990) still had a pneumatic socket in addition to the two-prong electronic socket. Too bad I didn't have your set with me, I could have seen if it still worked.
Jul 12, 10, 5:50 pm
#10
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2002
Location: Durham, NC (RDU/GSO/CLT)
Programs: AA EXP/MM, DL PM, UA Gold, WN A-List, HH DIA, Hyatt Disc, IHG Spire/AMB, Marriott Titanium, Hertz PC
Posts: 31,248
I used them on AA DC-10s up through 1996 and am pretty sure I used them on Delta 767-200s in 1998. Those were the last I saw of them.
Jul 12, 10, 6:44 pm
#11
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Oct 2006
Location: Marriott or Hilton hot tub with a big drink <glub> Beverage: To-Go Bag™ DYKWIA: SSSS /rolleyes ☈ Date Night: Costco
Programs: Sea Shell Lounge Platinum, TSA Pre✓ Refusnik Diamond, PWP Gold, FT subset of the subset
Posts: 12,497
In the 80s, a catalog retailer (The Sharper Image, IIRC) sold an electronic adapter that looked like a Walkman that plugged into the sound ports so you could use "real" headphones. I really wanted one, but it was expensive! 
Jul 12, 10, 7:22 pm
#15
FlyerTalk Evangelist
Join Date: Jul 2000
Location: in the vicinity of SFO
Programs: AA PLT 1MM
Posts: 18,736
Originally Posted by bitburgr
I can remember using them on a UA flight around 1990.
Originally Posted by greenery-travel
I used to fly DL a lot in the early 2000s and saw the tubes as recently as then. Perhaps on a 727 or L10-11.
