Interphone VL-290 (The Prisoner, TV, 1967)

[Keats]

Mmm, the company was "National" here in Australia, with the "Panasonic" brand name being slowly rolled in through the latter half of the 70's / early 80's - "National", then "National Panasonic", and finally "Panasonic".

[gpo706]

Mmm, the company was "National" here in Australia, with the "Panasonic" brand name being slowly rolled in through the latter half of the 70's / early 80's - "National", then "National Panasonic", and finally "Panasonic".

It's unreal its a "Pana" handset considering my PBX is a 616, thanks for the additional info.

[tallrick]

It is good this mystery has been solved. Now what kind of box was used for the wireless speaker system which connected to the Village PA and Muzak system?

[FABphones]

It is good this mystery has been solved. Now what kind of box was used for the wireless speaker system which connected to the Village PA and Muzak system?

I did a quick search but can't find any images of it, could you add a few screenshots.

Meantime, found an image of number 6 making a call on a village phone (VL-290).

[tallrick]

You can see it at the beginning of The Chimes of Big Ben, Number 6 puts it in the refrigerator when the music bothers him.

[19and41]

I got to watch the final 2 episodes earlier this week.  The phones were more of a standout this time around.  It appeared that only the curved handsets were in use in the underground chamber where #6 gets his graduation started.  I  finally noticed also, in the second to last episode Once upon A Time, that the character played by Leo McKern, playing the part of a schoolmaster, calls #6 into his office adressing him as "Drake".  I didn't remember any reference to his identity mentioned before.

[FABphones]

...what kind of box was used for the wireless speaker system which connected to the Village PA and Muzak system?

Here are the ( somewhat belated     ) screenshots of the speaker. Cannot see any name/brand on the images.

[HarrySmith]

Looks like a plain old stereo music speaker.

[FABphones]

Finally, after many years searching I have managed to source a pair of these Interphones. Hard to find. Only two have become available for sale in the last few years. These unused, still in packaging.

Time now to sit and watch the boxset, and arrange a visit to the village of Portmeirion.

https://portmeirion.wales

Be seeing you.
👁👌

[paul-f]

Congratulations on the successful culmination of a long-term search. What a great feeling!  Enjoy it.

[HarrySmith]

WOW! CONGRATS. What a great find.

[MMikeJBenN27]

...handsets from the Patrick McGoohan series "The Prisoner"...

I know who Patrick McGoohan is, but never heard of that show.  Was it shown only in England?

Mike

[HarrySmith]

It was also in the US. Probably before your time.  I was a kid when I watched it.

[FABphones]

...never heard of that show.  Was it shown only in England?

Season 1, Épisode 1. Arrival.
https://m.youtube.com/watch?v=osNmf_zmSyE

[TelePlay]

Aired in 1967, one season with 17 episodes. Came to a scripted end, the last episode concluded the series plot.

It's on Amazon Prime, YouTube and other places I don't recognize.

It was a great series!