GPO 150

[wds]

Does anyone have any experience with GPO Candlestick 150?  I purchased what was advertised as a Kellogg Candlestick, which looked just like a F 301.  Turns out it's a GPO 150.  It's marked on the perch somewhere PX 20 235.  Does the PX indicate that this is a GPO replica?  Did I just buy an expensive paperweight, or this still a good collectible phone?  Hopefully the picture will upload ok.

[LarryInMichigan]

Dave,

I saw that phone on ebay.  The receiver is obviously not original to the phone, but the rest may be authentic.  I also recently bought a GPO No 150 and posted about it on this forum: (http://www.classicrotaryphones.com/forum/index.php?topic=3694.0).  In the thread there are links to web pages about British phones.  The "PX" should mean that your phone was made by Phoenix Telephones & Electrical Works Ltd..  Somewhere on the britishtelephones.com site there is information about spotting a fake.  The page: http://www.samhallas.co.uk/collection/bits_candle.htm has useful information about disassembling the phone.  Look at it before attempting to take appart the transmitter.

Larry

[wds]

I found a website that talks about the reproductions, and it seems to indicate that the 150 with the manufacturer PX were repro's. 

http://www.britishtelephones.com/identify/candle1.htm

I'm not familiar with GPO, so I wasn't sure if that web site meant that all PX designations were fakes, or that only only some of the phones labeled PX were fakes.  When I first started bidding on the phone and thought it was a Kellogg, I wasn't worried about it not having a dial, but now that I know it's a GPO, is it going to be hard to find the correct dial?  I'm thinking I paid way too much for this phone the way it sits.   

[LarryInMichigan]

Dave,

I just looked again at that page.  It doesn't mean that the 'PX' necessarily means that it is a repro, but that the particular company making some pf the repros used 'PX' on all of theirs.

Finding a GPO dial to fit should not be very difficult.  They were commonly used in parts of Canada.  I have a NE Uniphone here with a GPO dial which I bought from an ebay seller in Washington, DC.

From your picture, the phone appears to be in good condition (unlike mine which needed to be stripped and repainted and needs cords), so you probably didn't get such a bad deal.

Larry

[gpo706]

Larry - cordage here:

http://www.antiquetelephones.co.uk/contents/en-uk/d12.html

http://www.abdyantiques.co.uk/

[LarryInMichigan]

Scot,

Thank you for the links.  I may need other things as well as the cord, especially as I just bought this: http://cgi.ebay.com/ws/eBayISAPI.dll?ViewItem&item=270663060080 a few minutes ago.

Larry

[gpo706]

$9.50? You guys are SO spoiled!

Is that a 332 clone?

That'd be 100 pounds upwards here!

All that money you've saved you can afford all the spares now!

[gpo706]

I was puzzled by the two chrome knobs at the front of cradle, is it one of these?

http://www.britishtelephones.com/gec/st3500.htm

[LarryInMichigan]

is it one of these?

I suppose that it is.  Thank you for the information.  The thing at the front of the cradle is apparently an air vent.  This model should come in handy here in tropical Michigan

I suppose that $9.50 is a pretty good price compared to the obscene prices I see quoted on the British websites.  I already have the Australian version of the phone, so this one can keep it company.  I am anxious for it to arrive.

Larry