Accredited Museum

Please Note: Not all of the objects on this website are on display at the museum.

MOTOROLA CELLULAR PHONE, 1980's

An early example of a mobile phone, before true hand-held mobile phones were introduced.
This one would normally be mounted in a vehicle because of its weight.
Model S 1551A

A0041

MOTOROLA DYNA TAC MOBILE PHONE 8000S, 1986

The world's first mobile phone was the Motorola Dyna TAC 8000x. It went on sale in 1983 in the US at the staggering price of $3995, and despite the price tag, was an instant success and had waiting lists of up to six months! It went on sale in the UK on 1st January 1985 and the very first phone call was made by Ernie Wise! It was followed in the UK in 1986 by the 8000s & in 1988 by the 8500x and in the US in 1990 by the 8000m. These phones are all analogue.

• Showing the Illuminated Screen
  

A1336

MOTOROLA 8800X MOBILE PHONE, 1990

The 8800x, 8900x & 888 were the new generation of the brick phones as they were slimmer than the previous 8000 and 8500 series models. They were just as high and wide, but a whole 2cm less deep! The 8800x and 8900x were made from 1990 to 1994 and were designed for the UK market. In the US they were branded as Classic and Ultra Classic. Some have an LED (Light Emitting Diode) display and some have a modern LCD (Liquid Crystal Display) display that we still use today. Some had a large LED display and some early ones had the smaller rarer LED display. The ones with the small LED's are the most collectible. All these phones are analogue.

A1343

MOTOROLA MICRO TAC 9800X FLIP TOP MOBILE PHONE, 1991

The worlds first flip phone was the Motorola Micro TAC 9800X launched in 1989. It's a design that is still seen today on millions of mobile phones around the world. The phones and batteries may have got smaller and more powerful, but the basic design is still there. The early phones were all analogue, and had the small LED display that is sought after by collectors. The later phones had the modern LCD display and some of them were digital and can still be used today. One of the best features of these phones is the antenna, which pulls up from the top of the phone. The antenna is just a piece of plastic and has no affect on reception. The phones antenna is internal, but it was felt that customers would want to see an external antenna, so one was added! On the 9800X the microphone was built into the flip part of the phone, but on all other models, it was in the body of the phone and the grooves cut into the flip are just for show. The basic design was used in many different types of phones, branded with many different names. Some of those phones didn't have the flip, some did.

• Illuminated Screen
  

A1346

PANASONIC MOBILE PHONE, 1990's

Panasonic mobile phone used in the late 1990's.

A0930

NORTHERN TELECOM DISPLAY TELEPHONE, 1979

Only stores phone Numbers and addresses, and other general information, once the number has been selected the unit phones automatically.

A0042

GPO EARLY TELEPHONE DIRECTORY, 1906

South East England Phone Directory.
This very interesting Directory has a hard red cover, and was donated to the museum by the daughter of it's original owner.

A1111

1968/9 LONDON TELEPHONE DIRECTORIES A-Z, 1968

Four Telephone Directories from the 1960's.
The curator found her mothers old telephone number in one of these books.

A1147

GPO LINE INSULATORS AND WALL BRACKET, 1940's

Fitted to walls, and can still be seen to this day, they were used by the Post Office Telephone Department, to suspend bare wires made of a mixture of Cadmium and Copper in exactly tested proportions to carry the weight of the telephone line over long distances. Before 'Drop Cabling' which was two wires insulated in Vulcanized Rubber, and underground Ducts were introduced in the early 1930's , all telephone lines were suspended airborne between poles and brackets similar to these.

A0350

GEC TELEPHONE No 312, 1955

Standard Telephone produced for the GPO in the 1950's known as the 'Cheese Dish' Telephone. Used from 1938 to 1965.
Fitted with a plastic curly cable, which was replacing the cotton cables, as the new plastic telephones came into use.

A0053

GPO BELL SET No 25, 1940's

Bell set for use with Post office Systems or the 200 series telephone that had no bell incorporated.

A0739

GPO TELEPHONE BELL SET No 41, 1930's

Originally a Bell Set No1 later converted to a No 41 in 1985.
Designed to be used with pillar phones or the series 200 types.

A0746

TELEPHONE No 332, 1950's

332 type telephone, which is part of the Telephone Exchange Item A0798. Below
The Telephone Exchange was reported as being used in the police station, in the TV series Z Cars, seen in the 1950's.

A0800

TMC OPERATION BOX, 1950's

Telephone Exchange that was reported as being used in the police station of the TV series Z Cars in the 1950's
See Item A0800

A0798

FONADEK TELEPHONE ADAPTOR, 1960's

A 2 X Valve Amplifier for Bakelite Telephones this was still being used in the 1960's, thus enabling 'Hands Free' conversation.

A0892

ANSAFONE J10 OR MK1 ANSWERING SET, 1950's

Ansafone Ltd launched their newly named company with this model.
Until the 1970's Ansafone was one of only 3 companies to be licensed by the Post Office to make and sell Telephone Answering machines in this country.
Two of the museum's Trustees worked for Ansafone, and this item brings back happy memories for both of them.

A0782

GPO UNIT TRANSFER INTERCOM, 1935

This unit is fitted with two 'doll's eye' indicators, one (labelled Exch) for exchange line calling and clearing and one, (labelled EXTN) for non-multiple station calling and clearing.
The unit contains a buzzer which can be operated by both indicators.

A0779

GPO SECRECY PHONE 300 TYPE, 1941

For use with secrecy scrambler box.
See item A0753.

A0039

SECRECY SCRAMBLER SET No 8, 1950's

The Secrecy Set No8 distorts the signal to an unrecognisable mush, the circuit is then reversed at the receiving end.
It would not be difficult to un-distort the message that is sent down the line. This machine is a Transistorised version of the valve equivalent used after the war, and supplied by the British Post Office for commercial use only.

A0753

PREDETERMINED AUTO DIALLER, 1930's

Telephone early automatic dialler, on the drum are a selection of names when the drum is moved such that the name required is in the window on the front, the lever handle is turned, this resets all the pins inside accept those for the name chosen, also at the back of the pins is a dial mechanism that is set to the movement scanning all the pins, as it passes over the protruding pins set earlier by the drum, the contact on the dial pulses out the correct number across the telephone line.

A0757

WALL TELEPHONE No 311, 1930's

Wall Telephone for use with internal systems around the 1930's probably supplied by the GPO.
Manufacturer unknown.

A0726

GPO TELEPHONE 248, 1930's

The 248 two extension phone replaced the bell set No20, see item A0012

A0013

BELL SET 20 ONE EXTENSION, 1930's

Used by butlers & secretaries to transfer one telephone line to two extensions. Also used for home extensions.

A0012

WESTERN ELECTRIC WALL TELEPHONE, 1940's

Telephones of this style were still being used in the southern states of U.S.A. well into the 1960's.

A0078

GEC RAILWAY TELEPHONE, 1940's

Type of instrument commonly used by the railways.

A0067

ERICSSON LOCAL BATTERY WALL TELEPHONE, 1940's

Wall telephone for internal use only, normally found on railway installations, and fire stations, the Magneto generator, attached to the handle on the side, is big enough to drive many bells, and the box is big enough to carry local batteries.

A0066

HOUSEHOLD WALL TELEPHONE, 1930's

Household Internal Telephone, with six extensions and no external line capability

A0006

GPO 312 TELEPHONE, 1936

Black version of 300 series telephone. Used from 1938 to 1965.

A0017

GPO 162F TELEPHONE, 1932

The first British phone of this design using the new material (Bakelite) Siemans Brothers called the new handset the Neophone. Introduced in 1929.
General Electric GEC called it the Gecophone. This could replace the tele 150 in almost all applications as it also required a bellset, however the GEC version could have an internal bell.
The old candle stick design was still provided, as the 162F transmitter was not suitable for central battery use.

A0014

GEC 332 TELEPHONE, 1950's

Dating from the late 1930's and originally conceived in Sweden by Ericsson this is an improved version of the 232 type.
With self contained bell.
Also available in Red, Black and Green.
Many variants are seen, some with internal bell generators, green handsets for scramble use (secrecy) or red handsets for priority use.

A0016

GPO 232 TELEPHONE AND BELL SET 26, 1949

As the 232 telephone had no bell internally, see item A0015, one option was to mount a standard wall Bell Set underneath the telephone as in this assembly.

A0020

GPO 232 TELEPHONE, 1949

Follow up to the 162F almost identical but made using different moulds, Used from 1929 to 1959, also it provided an anti side tone coil which reduced the level of the users voice in the earpiece prompting them to speak up.
Also provided in Chinese Red and Ivory, or they could be painted provided the subscriber paid the cost of restoring them back to black.
This unit also requires an external bell set.

A0015

PINK TELEPHONE COVER, 1955

Rare plastic cover for 300 series Telephone, probably a limited edition, this along with the telephone was donated by Mrs Goodall, a lady who lived in Wembley, Middlesex. Date unknown.

A0023

BTH FRENCH DUMPY CANDLESTICK TELEPHONE, 1941

Made in England for France and known as a French Candlestick.
Telephone Model 3231.

A0019

TEAPOT TELEPHONE, 1950's

Style used in Britain, but made in Belgium.
Known as a ''Teapot Telephone''.

A0022

SIEMENS RAILWAY WALL TELEPHONE, 1960's

Type of instrument normally used for internal use in offices, and also by the railways.

A0068

AMERICAN SHIPS WALL TELEPHONE, 1940's

Type of telephone used on board ships, probably during the Second World War.
Model SW

A0069

ERICOFONE, 1960's

Made by Ericsson of Sweden and sold in this country via Post Office Telephones, as the risk of de-monopolising the GPO by the Government got closer.

A0038

GEC TELEPHONE No 706, 1970's

The 706 telephone preceded the 746 type. It had hand wiring inside with only one small PCB that plugged into the base, the body was made of injection moulded strong plastic.
This model replaced the 300 series Bakelite telephones of the 1940's.

A0530

TELEPHONE WITH SECRECY BUTTON No 710, 1960's

Telephone used in the Museum as a handling item for demonstrating the Secrecy Set No8, see Item No A0753

A0749

2/764 PUSH BUTTON TELEPHONE, 1978

The 756 was a push button loop disconnect telephone first introduced in 1979, based on the 746 telephone. With the advent of new style wiring the 756 was renumbered the 8756 and was fitted with a 4000 ohm high impedance bell and a new style line cord fitted with a 431A plug.
The 756 was initially available in two standard colours, ivory and grey, later a brown version was added.

A1381

GPO WALL TELEPHONE No 706, 1960's

Standard GPO style 706, wall mounted version.

A0056

GPO IVORY TELEPHONE WITH NEON HANDSET No7, 1970's

Table top telephone with neon indicator on the top of the handset which flashes when the phone rings.
Designed for the deaf or hard of hearing.

A0523

GPO TRIMPHONE (DELTAPHONE), 1960's

The Trimphone was introduced as the threat of de-monopolising the GPO was about to be introduced, it suffered from one problem, the transmitter (microphone) was poor quality.
It also introduced a chirping sound instead of a bell,
Originally developed in 1964 by STC and known as the Deltaphone.

A0037

WINDSOR SEE THROUGH NOVELTY TELEPHONE, 1970's

Typical novelty phone with see through case and flashing neons when it rings.

A0018

GPO TELEPHONE 746F, 1960's

Replaced the 300 series style in 1959.

A0036

GPO TELEPHONE 706, 1960's

Supplied by Advance Telephones.
Standard GPO Style 706.

A0054

WALT DISNEY PHONE, 1976

The original version with dial sold in America then imported. Phones similiar to these with buttons are still available today, and can be found in antique shops selling for twice the price they can be purchased for new. Date unknown.

A0055