These telephones were used on private automatic exchanges (PAXs). Before the liberalisation of the PABX market it was quite common for a company to have a totally separate internal telephone system and a parallel network of extensions from the public exchange switchboard.
An unusual front-to-back handset position from Siemens & Halske. In addition
to the white recall button on the body, this phone also has a red button on
the handset. It is probably intended as a microphone mute feature, but is
not actually wired up on this model.
A table telephone from Telfonbau und Normalzeit as used by General Telephone Systems Ltd,
44/50 Osnaburgh Street, London NW1, who rented telephone systems to companies
up until the 1970s. You can see a similar instrument at:
Historische Telefone See the section on Private Firm Telephones (Fernsprecher/Firmenfernspr.).
Although this telephone has strong similarity to the German and Scandinavian designs
above, the base is stamped "Made in England". A sticker on the base proclaims
it is the property of the British Home and Office Telephone Co. Ltd., Autophone
House, 73 Great Peter St, SW1. The bell coils have distinctly German markings,
but the capacitor says it is GPO Batch Sampled. A curious mixture!
This telephone is badged "Modernphone", the name of a telephone systems
rental company. The base says "Made in germany". Inside I found a circuit
diagram folded up and pushed under the induction coil, which says it is a Type
W48 Desk Telephone. The Induction coil and bell spill the beans on who is the
manufacturer, they have the legend "DeTeWe", or Deutsche Telefon Werke,
a well-known supplier of telephones and switchboards.
A telephone from Plessey which incorporates all the features of the Planphone 1 (see Plastic Era) within the telephone case. It was quite popular with the Railways.
Next some exchange and testing items.
Plastic
Test