10 replies to this topic

[Atari Rescue Group]

I found a Mitsubishi Luma video phone today. Looks pretty cool but I have no idea how it works. Does anyone have the instructions for it they can make a copy of for me?

It looks like the one on this page but it doesn't have the Atari name on it of course:

Atari Museum Page

Edited by Atari Rescue Group, Wed Apr 20, 2005 12:45 AM.

[Atari Rescue Group]

Question #2 --

Does anyone have a Luma Phome like this who I can try to test it with?

[Ferris]

I have like six of them. PM me and we can talk.

[carmel_andrews]

Disn't they feature the 'Luma phone' in one of Kubrik's 'space' films , can't remember which one it was but, Leonard Rossiter (of rising damp fame) was seen using it in the film

[Retro Rogue]

Atari Rescue Group, on Thu Apr 21, 2005 6:49 PM, said:

Question #2 --

Does anyone have a Luma Phome like this who I can try to test it with?

Yes, I have one as well.

[Bruce Tomlin]

carmel_andrews, on Wed Sep 28, 2005 10:16 AM, said:

Disn't they feature the 'Luma phone' in one of Kubrik's 'space' films , can't remember which one it was but, Leonard Rossiter (of rising damp fame) was seen using it in the film

You're thinking of 2001. That was a bit before Atari would have made these.

And I prefer to think of him as Leonard Rossiter of The Fall and Rise of Reginald Perrin fame... the show where his character tried to come up with an idea which would utterly fail... a "grot shop", which was esentially a thrift store, so of course it was a smashing success.

[Retro Rogue]

Apparently some people in Japan are still using them -

http://www.jearn.jp/.../LumaTalks.html

[Clint Thompson]

Hmm.. I thought these were strictly prototype units and were never released? That's interesting to see they are still being used in Japan... and Ferris, you have 6 of them? Wow... Your selling me a pair when? heh...

[Retro Rogue]

Clint Thompson, on Wed Oct 5, 2005 6:47 PM, said:

Hmm.. I thought these were strictly prototype units and were never released? That's interesting to see they are still being used in Japan...   and Ferris, you have 6 of them? Wow...  Your selling me a pair when? heh...

Clint, no - Atari's video phone was actually released as the Mitsubishi Luma Phone (hence the name in the discission). Curt's model is a Luma Phone as well. As far as I know, it was the only product of Ataritel that eventually made it to market.

Edited by wgungfu, Wed Oct 5, 2005 8:53 PM.

[Retro Rogue]

Just thought I'd add a picture of this, does anyone else have one of these as well for their Luma Phone? Its a multiline/pbx type switch that connects through a large cable in to the unit.

[djdsl]

This topic has been dead awhile but I was just thinking of how this lumaphone is sitting in a closet. I've had it for a few years now. I like the video output, the images look great and blocky on my TV.
Anyone stateside on the forum still have one?