Got myself a great British classic, GPO 232 (how to date this phone?)

[Matilo Telephones]

The postman really made me happy today. I got myself a real GPO 232.

It was advertised locally in a lot by a recycle shop. It was not very well described and a hard to find ad. It was also placed in a section that was not the first place to go looking for vintage phones.

Anyway, I snapped it up for 30 euros plus 6.95 euros shipping. And it seems to be all original, not messed with, in good condition.

I understand from the markings on the handset that it was made in 1936 by Siemens Brothers.

But the markings on the bottom say 58/2. Is that 1958? I could not find any more dates on the phone. Not on the dial, not on the coil. (Wikipedia says production ended in 57).

[wds]

Very nice.  The 232 is one of the best looking desk phones ever made.

[unbeldi]

The postman really made me happy today. I got myself a real GPO 232.

It was advertised locally in a lot by a recycle shop. It was not very well described and a hard to find ad. It was also placed in a section that was not the first place to go looking for vintage phones.

Anyway, I snapped it up for 30 euros plus 6.95 euros shipping. And it seems to be all original, not messed with, in good condition.

I understand from the markings on the handset that it was made in 1936 by Siemens Brothers.

But the markings on the bottom say 58/2. Is that 1958? I could not find any more dates on the phone. Not on the dial, not on the coil. (Wikipedia says production ended in 57).

The mark FWR 58/2 is a mark of the GPO factory in Cwmcarn, Wales.  It means the phone was made or refurbished there that year.

This site also shows samples of the 232 made in the 50s:  http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/phones_pre1960.htm


PS: this site also shows the markings:  http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/ident_codes.htm
But here it seems to imply that phones where only refurbished at Cwmcarn, while I have seen other descriptions in the past.

[unbeldi]

This record of a Commons Sitting on June 16, 1959 indicates that most of the work at Cwmcarn was indeed repair work.

http://hansard.millbanksystems.com/commons/1959/jun/16/post-office-telephone-factories
The role of the GPO factories was declining as more work was contract out.  It turns out that this factory stayed in GPO service until the 1990s when it was sold off.

[Matilo Telephones]

Thanks for the info Unbeldi. And the links.

[Owain]

01 866 was Pinner exchange in London.

The telephone number shows all-figure dialling which was introduced in 1966.

For labels which fit in the tray see
http://www.britishtelephones.com/traylab.htm

[Matilo Telephones]

Thanks, very much. I was looking for these too. I used the term tray card to search them. Didn't know they were called labels.

So I need one for Pinner, right?

Couldn't find anyone selling these. Are they very rare?

[Owain]

So I need one for Pinner, right?

They really died out by 1966, when all figure dialling was introduced, and would only have been used for calling exchanges outside the London director area but not requiring a Toll or Trunk call.

This is an example of a Birmingham director area card:
http://www.telephonesuk.co.uk/images/small/A5599_bham_61.jpg

The * shows that some exchanges at this time were not yet automatic; dialling the code would connect to a distant operator who would extend the call. You could use that as a guide and an interesting selection of exchange names/codes from the following

http://www.rhaworth.myby.co.uk/phreak/tenp_01.htm

[david@london]

great find at a great price, arwin !......... it'll polish up to a beautiful piano black, i'm sure.

vintagetelephony.co.uk is a good supplier of parts, but i see that the plastic wallet is  fortunately still attached to the tray.
you might be lucky and track down a north london information card (no idea where, though.)

i believe the S 36 on the handset denotes siemens, 1936.

owain,
excellent list of london exchange names.........thanks.

[Matilo Telephones]

Thanks guys, I'll keep my eyes open for a mathing card. I'll be in London this januari for a couple of days, if all goes well. So mayby I can use that trip to find a good card.