A small town company in western Wisconsin is getting some big screen attention on the west coast. When Hollywood bigwigs need a telephone for an upcoming movie, they know just who to call for that prop: Don and Mary Knapper in Galesville!

Ron Knapper's collection started a long time ago.

"All through the 60's I bought phones here and there," Ron says.

Those little purchases led to one big buy.

“I went out and spent all the money I had. I think it was around $220," Ron says.

"Actually it was $400 and he bought eight phones and stuffed them in a '55 Buick with three kids," Ron wife’s Mary clarifies.

Twenty-seven years later, those eight phones have multiplied into 16 semis, several sheds, an entire barn and a four floor factory full of thousands and thousands more. And Phoneco's phones just keep on ringing.

"In 1977, we started selling to prop people," Ron says.

That's right, even Hollywood calls the Knappers to furnish phones for the stars.

Keanu Reeves answers an art-deco one in "The Matrix." Sienna Miller walks by a pay phone straight out of the sixties in "Factory Girl." And if you look closely, you can catch some early 20th century versions in "The Aviator.” And, sometimes you really do have to look.

"We were in the movie “Chicago,”” Mary says. “Afterwards, I asked my friends if they saw the phones. They said no. There were four of them!”

But Mary and Ron say they rarely watch their famous phones in action.

"I’m not much of a movie-goer. I don’t have time is the problem,” Mary says.

"I don't take time to watch TV,” Ron adds. “I just don't.”

What Ron and Mary are willing to make time for—retirement.
Phoneco is up for sale. You can check out the entire company on page 20 of Phoneco's catalog. It'll cost you $850,000.

The most expensive phone to ever ship out of Phoneco: A $9000 silver-dollar payphone.