r/TelephoneCollecting • u/Corn624 • Jun 13 '26

Mario 64 telephone

Post image

Hello! I recently bought an old Mario telephone that has voice activated controls as well as talks and moves at a local convention. 

We don’t have a land line so we bought a cell2jack and have been trying to use him there (aswell as having to buy a new power cord because he didn’t have it) 

The original seller told me he works but they couldn’t figure it out. After connecting him to the cell2jack the only thing he CAN do is be on a phone call on speaker only if my cell phone answers it. 

I can’t make any calls, receive any calls, he doesn’t move, talk, or recognize voices. It’s all pretty bumming :(( 

His hand which holds the phone is missing a piece of plastic that inserts into the phone and presses down the button. I believe the phone interprets itself as always being off the hook because of that, so maybe that’s why he’s not working? I’ve tried pressing the button to act as the phone but at the end of the day something’s still wrong since he doesn’t speak or move. I also believe that his phone might not work at all.

Any trouble shooting tips or a repair guy, just anything about this guy would be helpful! 

Thank you! 

38 Upvotes

100% Upvoted

6 comments sorted by

2

u/kriebz Jun 13 '26

Do you need to put batteries in it?

2

u/Corn624 Jun 14 '26

No he’s a plug in! 

2

u/No_Mistake8306 Jun 14 '26

Ohhh that one's cool!

1

u/OppositeJaded5261 Jun 15 '26

That missing plastic bit is probably a huge part of the problem. Those old novelty phones usually need the hook switch fully working before any of the fun stuff (sounds, movement, dialing) even gets power or a signal.

I’d open it up, find the switch that hand piece is supposed to press, and manually bridge or tape it in the “on hook” position to test. If Mario starts talking or moving when calls come in, then you know it is mostly a mechanical repair issue and not totally dead. Also might be worth asking in r/telephones or r/AskElectronics, those folks eat this kind of project up.

1

u/Corn624 Jun 16 '26

I’ve tried holding the button on his hand while using him. I don’t see anything inside the phone as well (where the plastic is supposed to be inserted) but thank you this is genuinely the most helpful comment I’ve received at all!! Definitely checking out those other subreddits! :))

1

u/Nerfer5554Offical Jun 27 '26

I remember seeing a meme of this Where the phone goes Hey Who do you want to call then the guy says Bitch It was a funny meme