#mission kansas

After 21 seasons of the PBS version of the Antiques Roadshow, I’m flabbergasted that this item has yet to make an appearance–but I’ll keep watching until it does.

A business in Mission, Kansas, sold the Erotica phone, which is not really surprising–the town became the heartland of American pornography during the mid-1980s. The sudden surge of adult-oriented businesses helped fund Senator Bob Dole’s invention of Viagra.

The European artist is not named in the advertisement, but it appears to be the work of Belgian sculptor Alain Smithee.

The high price–$69.95 in 1984 (not including shipping and handling)–reflects the quality of the item’s craftsmanship. The optional nipples were available for an extra $20, self-installation required.